Summer Jerk Baits

[papajoe222]

I've gotten lazy in my old age and haven't kept a fishing log this year, but I still will break out those of recent seasons as reference.  Today was one of those times.  I can't remember the last time there were so many fishing boats on my home lake as there have been the last couple of days.  Today it seemed the bite really shut down as a result and after some limited success this morning I didn't plan on going out later this afternoon.  After checking out my logs from a few years ago I spotted a very similar situation where I had awesome success with a jerkbait.

My plan not to go out again changed and I stuck mainly to jerk baits, both hard and soft, for the afternoon outing. 

I didn't have the awesome success I had in that previous outing, but managed to do much better that earlier in the day especially with good sized fish.  Hard, fast twitching on slack line with a longer pause tossed in a few times was the key with the hardbait and just letting my Fluke sink motionless into pockets of deep weeds  picked up the biggest three.

The wind did shift and increase somewhat for the afternoon, but none of the other presentations I attempted was getting any love.  I guess in my own mind I don't consider a slim minnow bait something to go to under pressured conditions.  Hopefully in the future it will be one of my first considerations. That middle water column seems to be more and more productive during the day around here and lack of cover does not seem to reduce the fish's willing to strike.

[flyingmonkie]

I've been fishing soft jerk baits almost exclusively the past few weeks with great success - I had always reserved it as a spring/fall technique and was surprised at how much success I've had.  They key to my success has been keeping the bait down in the water column, while maintaining the traditional weightless action and quick retrieve.  I've been using a three-way rig (that I'm affectionately referring to as a "Jerk Shot").  I suspect my unique presentation is contributing to the numbers… sounds like you're in the same boat?

 

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." ~ Robert Frost

[Fish Murderer 71]

I've been having great success with 3" soft plastic jerks and swimbaits. Been using them t-rigged with a 1/8 oz bullet and red glass bead and stroke them off the bottom. 

[primetime]

Sluggos and Flukes weightless are great with either a light weight or jighead offshore when fishing hydrilla etc...

 

I like to start the day with a floating Jerkbait and see if they want an agressive presentaion or something floating on the surface. If I find they are hitting it while giving it a good pull and pause maybe 2' deep,I will switch to an Xrap 9 subsurface walking lure or simply swim a Red fin or Gambler Ez swimmer.

 

I love to experiment and I have also noticed a ton of traffic on the local lakes and each lake seems to have 3 tournaments on them every weekend, so I look for a flat or cove or any area that looks like a place I would retreat if I were a bass and spooked from all the traffic..

 

I will drift and use a fast retrieve with a Fluke or Senko, and i often find Upsizing a better option, as everyone reads to "Downsize" on pressured lakes. I am convinced Bass will strike a new color or presentation, so I will fish a 7" Senko or large sluggo fast on the surface and kill it to let it fall..

 

Also, Smaller Spinnerbaits,Inline Spinerbaits, Chatterbaits fished in a rip fall method, or silent lipless crank to cover water...Also, rig a 4-5" senko on a 1/2 oz. Johnsons silver minnow and fish it with a stop and go retrieve and most strikes are viscious as the flash effect in lakes with shad and bass that school can be amazing. Everyone throws frogs over topped out weeds, and I think Yum was onto something with their soft zara spook, only it was to thick to get a good hookset and too short imo....Try a heavy 7" Senko and work it in a walk the dog motion and you will be surprised how many fish will not only strike it from long distances, but also not miss and hold it for easier hook sets......Adding alot of scent helps big time and I am convinced of that after trying it now at least half dozen times and it also allows your bait to slither through grass pockets easier, and leaves a trail for your hardbais for fish to follow...

 

Also, try anchoring in one place you know is holding fish but they are inactive. cast a heavy carolina rig to stir up the bottom and after 15 minutes wait about 10 minutes for all to settle...you will start to notice the shad or shiners etc.coming to you, and next thing you know the bass may start scooling near your boat.....kind of like chumming

[ColdSVT]

I almost always have a LC pointer tied on...sure spring and fall are great jerkbait times but summer works too...depends on water clarity for me in the summer. If i can see over five feet ill mess with the jerkbait some to see what happens