Favorite Jerkbait

[VABassin'14]

As a few people have said, the Xcalibur Eeratic Shad is an absolute great lure. This is my favorite jerkbait that I have fished. I love throwing a jerkbait and spend a fair amount of money on them, but  I just can't make myself spend $15+ for a single lure when I version half the price produces as well as the eeratic shad does. Also, I have never had much luck with the Rapala X-raps. I know a lot of people on here love them, but me not so much.

[hookset on 3]

I must admit, growing up we threw Husky Jerks, Bomber Long A's, Rougues etc. Two years ago a Dick's Sporting Goods nearby had a clearance bin full of Lucky Craft Pointers and Slender Pointers for, get this, $3.64 each! I cleaned them out and scored maybe a dozen.

Well....forward to present, the lures just flat catch 'em. I've tried some of the others when they are biting the Pointers, but it's really no contest.

Tell you what, if you ever see them priced anywhere close to what I paid, grab every single one that your wallet will stand.

[Zach P]

Yeah I've recently looked into the Luck-E-Strikes and will probably invest in a good amount of these when I get a chance.

 

I wish I could find Lucky Craft's for so cheap but don't see it happening anytime soon lol. I've also never thrown the bomber long a's but might have to try a few of these out also.

[Dwight Hottle]

DHJ12 Rapala in glass perch has put more smallmouth in my boat than any other jerkbait I have ever fished. Period.

[rockchalk06]

I own most every color of the RC sticks in both the full size and small size. Like I said earlier, they're one of my favorite baits. Like cbass said, change out the hooks, you'll have to do it after a big fish straightens them out otherwise. French pearl, secret night, pro blue, herring bone chartreuse, and cosmic shad are my favorite. The herring bone color probably looksthe most like a baby bass, purple flash would be my choice to imitate a bluegill or crappie. 

The Cosmic Shad and Pro Blue have been my top two producers this year.

[SudburyBasser]

Megabass Vision 110 if money is on the line but I also don't mind the Rapala Husky Jerks, though as others have said they do suffer from castability issues.

[Jeff H]

DHJ12 Rapala in glass perch has put more smallmouth in my boat than any other jerkbait I have ever fished. Period.

In my entire collection, I don't have a deep model.  I was thinking just last month I need to try them.  I guess this will convince me!

 

My favorite and best all time producer has been the HJ12 in Tennesee Shad.  That goes for both bigmouth and smallmouth.

[RandySBreth]

DHJ12 Rapala in glass perch has put more smallmouth in my boat than any other jerkbait I have ever fished. Period.

That's funny - down here I like that color in the 10 size for the brown fish, too. I also am a big fan of the Tennessee Shad in the 12 size, but maybe just because I throw it more. Like someone else said, funny how that works out.

[Primus]

My top 2 would be Lucky Craft Pointer 100 & Ima Flit. That said a lot of different jerkbaits work well and I've had a number of different baits end up being the hot bait for the day.

[roadwarrior]

DHJ12 Rapala in glass perch has put more smallmouth in my boat than any other jerkbait I have ever fished. Period.

 

Geez...

 

It must be Christmas. It's not everyday you are handed the Golden Key.

 

 

[Zach P]

Yeah it really does see after this forum topic that more and more people agree that lots of different jerkbaits perform well under different conditions.....which should surprise nobody since that's the case with most lures haha.

[RoLo]

DHJ12 Rapala in glass perch has put more smallmouth in my boat than any other jerkbait I have ever fished. Period.

 

 Interesting! 

 Even with 10-lb braid, does it really get down 20 feet?

 

Roger

[bigbill]

The Rapala Orginal Floater is still one of my favorites. You can reel it slow, jerk it or let it sit any way we present it she'll work.

The rapala orginal minnow in the countdown in blue & yellow jointed we can drop it till it stops them get jiggy with it. The bass love this jointed lure. I use this off a low bridge were I know a hole or pocket in the rocks is. There's a bass there every time I hit that spot. I'm sure it will work when the bass are suspended under the boat too.

Any floating crankbait can be used topwater. In the low light as it gets dark I put on a Norman thin N in chartreuse killer. Cast it out let it sit and just twitch it.

During the satellite I use the bomber FAT A or model A in redapplecraw and pause over the open weed pockets and twitch it. It pulls everything out of the submerged weeds.

The rapala glass shad rap. I just cast it out and reel it slow.

With spooks I hold the rod tip down and reel it slow. Making the spook run under the water. Once it's under the water I twitch it making it dart every which way and erractic.

Don't forget the scents

[Dwight Hottle]

 Interesting! 

 Even with 10-lb braid, does it really get down 20 feet?

 

Roger

 

 

Roger it consistently hits 17-20 feet. As always each bait runs a little differently in action and depth. I caught my first couple of 5lbers & my very first 6lber on that exact bait  about eight years ago. They get hit the most when they are at depth & suspending without hardly any forward motion. The pause right after a long pull does it best. My buddy Roy caught this 7-1oz beauty on that same bait. The glass perch looks very much like a perch & we all know there are millions of those swimming in lake erie waters.

 

[RoLo]

Roger it consistently hits 17-20 feet. As always each bait runs a little differently in action and depth. I caught my first couple of 5lbers & my very first 6lber on that exact bait  about eight years ago. They get hit the most when they are at depth & suspending without hardly any forward motion. The pause right after a long pull does it best. My buddy Roy caught this 7-1oz beauty on that same bait. The glass perch looks very much like a perch & we all know there are millions of those swimming in lake erie waters.

 

 

Thank you for your detailed reply Dwight, my Tackle Warehouse gift certificate isn't long for this world  

[Zach P]

Roger it consistently hits 17-20 feet. As always each bait runs a little differently in action and depth. I caught my first couple of 5lbers & my very first 6lber on that exact bait  about eight years ago. They get hit the most when they are at depth & suspending without hardly any forward motion. The pause right after a long pull does it best. My buddy Roy caught this 7-1oz beauty on that same bait. The glass perch looks very much like a perch & we all know there are millions of those swimming in lake erie waters.

 

That is one BEAUTY of a smallie. That right there is why you fish jerkbaits

[thehooligan]

 Favorites for me is the mb vision 110, regular and diving mb flapslap, the lc pointer 78, and evergreen escarda.

 

The bait that always works for me is the old yozuri pins minnow though, ive nailed really nice trout and bass on that one...

[tallen316]

LC Pointer... Yeah they do cost a bit more but imo they are worth it. I purchased one last year and caught more fish on it than I would have expected. I would highly recommend them.

[Munkin]

I noticed you are from Maryland so where are you fishing? On the average day I carry about 40 different jerkbaits to get dialed into the one they want. Overall Lucky Craft baits in ghost minnow work best around here.

 

My top 5 baits in no particular order:

 

LC pointer 78sp

LC slender pointer 97mr

Xcaliber XS4 (This was discontinued but came back as the eeratic shad everyone has been talking about)

Smithwick suspending rogue

Team Diawa minnow 1091

 

Allen

[Zach P]

I noticed you are from Maryland so where are you fishing? On the average day I carry about 40 different jerkbaits to get dialed into the one they want. Overall Lucky Craft baits in ghost minnow work best around here.

My top 5 baits in no particular order:

LC pointer 78sp

LC slender pointer 97mr

Xcaliber XS4 (This was discontinued but came back as the eeratic shad everyone has been talking about)

Smithwick suspending rogue

Team Diawa minnow 1091

Allen

Allen - currently I don't own a boat but I fish a private very large pond (borderline small lake) in Anne Arundel County. It's about 6-7 foot at it's deepest and contains a good population of bass ranging from ounces up to 7lbs as the largest I've caught. In addition I know that there is a healthy population of crappie and small minnow with several catfish and carp as well. More than anything I'm just trying to work on becoming a better jerkbait fisherman

[CJ]

Hey guys, been awhile since I've been on here. I glanced over the responses and didn't see mention of the Megabass 110 Vision +1?

 

RW and Dwight, ya'll better add one to your arsenal! Brownfish really like em!

[Munkin]

Allen - currently I don't own a boat but I fish a private very large pond (borderline small lake) in Anne Arundel County. It's about 6-7 foot at it's deepest and contains a good population of bass ranging from ounces up to 7lbs as the largest I've caught. In addition I know that there is a healthy population of crappie and small minnow with several catfish and carp as well. More than anything I'm just trying to work on becoming a better jerkbait fisherman

 

In that situation I think you should try some Rapala Husky Jerks and Smithwick Rogues. Both of these are really good baits and are like $5 each so you won't be out much if you lose them.

 

I don't know if you tried them but a soft jerkbait should really work there. Zoom super flukes in albino and pearl white are about all you need.

 

Allen

[Zach P]

In that situation I think you should try some Rapala Husky Jerks and Smithwick Rogues. Both of these are really good baits and are like $5 each so you won't be out much if you lose them.

I don't know if you tried them but a soft jerkbait should really work there. Zoom super flukes in albino and pearl white are about all you need.

Allen

Thanks and I actually previously had some Smithwick and recently picked up some husky jerks and a couple of mcsticks also. I just need the pond to thaw in the coming days or to get a boat first haha