Best jerkbait?

[Rangerphil]

Hey all getting ready for a tournament that I think should have a good jerkbait bite. Just wondering which ones have worked for you all the best in the past? I am not as familiar with fishing these as I should be, I have used lucky craft 78's before with limited success. The lake is clear and rocky if that will help, thanks!

[roadwarrior]

Lucky Craft 100SP MS American Shad is a good place to start.

8-)

[soccplayer07]

Lucky Craft 100SP MS American Shad is a good place to start.

8-)

x2

[deep]

No doubt pointers are great, but if they are not biting pointers, don't be afraid to throw other baits. Each of them has a slightly different action. I love Xraps, good old husky jerks, smithwick rogues. Recently got a bunch of KVD wild shiners, but I haven't thrown them yet.

[Five-Alive]

LC pointers are good, the LC staysee is a good deeper model that I like when the water is cold. I picked up a megabass vision and a spro mcstick, they look good but I haven't thrown them yet.  Going back a ways, there was a jerkbait called the hell cat that we did really good on here in southeast Virginia. They were not the best quality, the bills were famous for breaking and the hooks were poor quality but man did we catch them good at Philpott and Smith Mountain lake with them.

[Primus]

Pointer 100 is probably the all time champ in my opinion. As deep pointed out their are variations in action and depth that should be accounted for. I would definetely add a few X Raps as has been suggested when they want a more erratic action. I would also look at the Jackall Squad Minnow & DD Squirrel, Ima Flit & Megabass Trick Darter for a finnese bait.

Obviously it would take a lot of coin to purchase these baits and you need to spend time on the water to learn them. I would start with either a Pointer 100 or Squad Minnow 95SP and throw in a few X Raps. Colors that have done well for me would be Chartreuse Shad, Ghost Minnow, American Shad & Sunfish for the Lucky Craft baits and for the XR10 I like Olive Green, Glass Ghost, Silver & Perch.

[WanderLust]

LC Pointer 78, 100 and 128 are fantastic.

Ghost Minnow, American Shad, Perch and Chartreuse Shad have all bagged good numbers for me.

Husky Jerk and X-rap's have also produced but I seem to get more pike (when looking for bass).

[Steven Ladner]

Lucky Craft Pointer 78s and 100s

[piscicidal]

Agreed on the pointers...I won't normally spend that kind of money on a bait, but in the case of the LC pointers I definately see a difference in the amount of fish I catch versus the competitors.

[Vinny Chase]

Pointer 78's and 100's

X-Rap's

[Rangerphil]

Thanks all will throw both the lc 100 and xrap. Has anyone tried the slender 97 that lucky craft makes the size intrigues me a little bit?

[deaknh03]

I like the LC's as well, but have been hearing about the Jackall smash minnow and the squad minnow. Anyone used either of these and are they worth the $?

[5bass]

Both the Jackall Squirrel and the Squad Minnow are great baits. If I had to pick between those and a Pointer, I'd probably still pick the Pointer only because I've used them for so long. The Jackall's do produce though.

[Triton Man]

I used a squad minnow in ghost minnow color last year as my go to jerkbait all year over pointers and x-raps. 

[flippin and pitchin]

LC Pointer and X Raps for sure. Try something with some flash and something subdued. Vary the cadence and pauses.  Good luck !

[Quillback]

Spro McSticks and McRips have worked really well for me this winter.  Blue Bandit is a great color.  I'm not claiming they are "The Best", but they work for me.

[hookset on 3]

For a little less $, I have a lot of success with the XCalibur twitch bait. I like the deep model that gets down to 6 or 7 ft. on 10lb test.

[Bluebasser86]

Thanks all will throw both the lc 100 and xrap. Has anyone tried the slender 97 that lucky craft makes the size intrigues me a little bit?

I have several 97 slender pointers, they don't run as deep as the regular pointers but still have great action. One of my PB smallies came on a chart/shad 97 slender pointer. I have one in the american shad color with almost no paint left on it.

[Vinny Chase]

For a little less $, I have a lot of success with the XCalibur twitch bait. I like the deep model that gets down to 6 or 7 ft. on 10lb test.

That looks like a nice alternative to the LC Pointer Minnow

[Pa Angler]

Rapala X-Rap.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

[aarogb]

Any of the Lucky Craft ones.

[Vyron]

LC Pointer 100

LC Staysee 90 v2

Evergreen Sledge 7

[Sam]

Ranger Phil,

Everyone has a "favorite" this and a "favorite" that so read what everyone says but you will have to make up your own mind.

As for "favorites" there are differences with all baits during production.

I have one Strike King Sexy Shad and another Bandit 100 Chartreuse with Blue Back that outperform their counterparts. No idea why, but the bass just eat them up. You can see the teeth marks on each bait.

What is more important is your technique with your baits.

How you work them is very important, as we all know, so even if you threw one of the suggested baits your results may not be the same as the other guys.

As for jerkbaits:

*  What is the water temperature?

*  Floating or Suspended?

*  What are the bait fish?

*  What are the weather conditions?

*  What line test are you throwing?

*  Using Mono or Fluoro line?

*  What is your reel ratio? Fast or slow or in between?

*  Are the bass moving or deep?

*  The pros like the "Clown" color. Do you have one?

See how simple it is.

So read what the guys suggest and then work your formula and go out there and crush them!!!        

[Rangerphil]

Wow! I did not realize it was that easy! I do have a clown color in a lc. and xrap always heard it was a good color for smallies but never had much luck. Thanks to all for the help, probably go down there and it will be a drop shot bite,lol!

[hookingem]

I have had alot of success with my speciality tackle jerbaits. I had numerous Lc Pointer's but sold out of them last year they are excellent Jerkbaits as well.