Rapala Husky Jerk?

[LunkerFisher]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Husky Jerk supposed to be a suspending bait? I threw one yesterday and the thing floated right to the top of the water very quickly.

2nd question: is this bait worth the effort to get it to suspend with either suspendots or heavier hooks? Would I be better off using these as a warm-water bait moving it fast or tweaking them to get them to suspend? I currently have 3 HJ10s and HJ12 and 2 HJ8s

[Smokinal]

I fish this bait alot in the early spring and do really well with it. I have not tried any of the big $ jerks but I can't imagine the bite on one of those being much better than the HJ. I noticed that it floats right up too so I did some mods to a couple over the winter. Here's a thread on it:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/153223-yesterdays-tinkering/

 

 

 

[BannedForSpamming-1234555]

HJ are suppose to be suspending. 

 

Did you switch the hooks on them?

[Dredd]

Take water temp reading and save the jerkbait for another day.

 

"Suspending" jerkbait don't always suspend in all water temperatures. Cooler water is denser than warm water, so a jerkbait that suspends properly in 60F will likely sink when the water rises to 70F. Jerkbait that suspends at 70F will sink in 50F water.

[Fishes in trees]

No jerkbait suspends the same at all water temperatures.  I'm not sure that the husky jerk is a suspending jerk bait anyway.  Either way, that is why suspend dots and suspend dots were made, so that you can adjust suspension pretty easily.

[Crestliner2008]

The Husky Jerk is a fine suspending jerkbait. I've caught a lot of smallmouth on that bad boy over the years. As has been said here already though, no jerkbait is 100% suspending in all water temps. So, you have to adjust the rise rate accordingly. I do not like "SuspendDots", as they appear (to me anyway) to alter the body action of the bait when twitched. I now carry a small roll of small diameter soldering wire and, when conditions call for it, I wrap the center, or forward treble shank with a turn or two of this instead. It adequately compensates without hindering the plugs normal action.

 

Remember also, depending on the mood of the fish on any given day, a slow rise may actually be beneficial. As well as a slow sink. That's what fishing is all about - experimentation. Don't expect to just open a box on any lure and go fishing without an open mind.

 

One final note on these Husky Jerks. If you are a CPR fisherman and care about releasing your catch with minimal damage, please remove the center treble! That darn thing has a bad tendency to blind a fish during the fight. It is not necessary and not having it will not cause you less hook ups. I also go so far as to crimp down the barbs on these trebles (as well as on any other lure I use) to further insure a healthy release. JMO.

[Hyrule Bass]

my HJs rise back slowly, but not right away. i only usually fish it in cold water though. maybe youre pausing too long in the retrieve...

[Kevin22]

Huskys rise, they dont suspend fully. They are between a suspending and a floating jerk imo.

[EvanT123]

One final note on these Husky Jerks. If you are a CPR fisherman and care about releasing your catch with minimal damage, please remove the center treble! That darn thing has a bad tendency to blind a fish during the fight. It is not necessary and not having it will not cause you less hook ups. I also go so far as to crimp down the barbs on these trebles (as well as on any other lure I use) to further insure a healthy release. JMO.

Do you remove the middle treble on other 3 hooked baits? It seems like a great idea. I'm just wondering if it can alter the actions on other baits?

[Crestliner2008]

I remove the center trebles on all my lures. And I crimp down the barbs as well. I've not noticed any perceivable change in lure action or catch ratio.