Jerkbait strikes

[FCPhil]

I am just starting to get into jerkbait fishing. I have caught a few fish on them but they have all be shallow near shore and I saw the fish strike and then set the hook. 

 

When the jerkbait is out of sight I keep thinking that a bass could hit it and spit it without me ever knowing since the line is slack between jerks. Is this something I should be concerned about? When they do hit it will I feel it in time to set the hook?

[Turkey sandwich]

I don't fish jerk baits a lot, but I've never really had hook up issues with them.  I don't usually have an issue either feeling the initial strike or seeing my line move (especially since switching to braid).  I also think the treble hooks don't hurt in that the fish are likely to stick themselves either on the initial strike or trying to spit trebles.  

[deep]

My 2 cents on missing bites (on jerkbaits).

 

I will add though that I do feel the vast majority of bites, and/ or the fish hook themselves, and/ or take off with the bait.

 

By the same token, I don't know how many bites I never felt!

 

I prefer to use fluoro, except during winter when I want/ need to pause the bait for a loooong time, and then I use mono. Also use mono when fishing from the shore.

[IndianaFinesse]

No good way of detecting slackline strikes, other than watching your line closely. My goal is to use hooks sharp enough on my jerkbaits that they can not spit it easily without hooking themselves in the process.  I use nothing less than lite wire owner hooks and katsuages.

[tkunk]

You won't feel anything on slack line, unless the fish absolutely murders it and starts swimming away from you. Also, it's easy to cast a jerkbait a mile, so you probably won't see most strikes when you watch your line, either. Most of the time, you'll start your next twitch, and a fish will just be there.

 

I wouldn't worry about it. Without ever doing any kind of sight fishing, I've had many 50+ fish days on jerkbaits (because fishing by me can be really good, not because I'm good), and I don't think it's ever been an issue.

 

I'm sure that keeping your hooks sharp is extremely important, but I lose so many baits to pike that I don't have to worry about it.

[JustJames]

I just seriously started fishing jerkbait this year too. So my point of view might not be as accurate as other expert. I believe most of jerkbait strike is reaction strike so bass normally would hit and run. I agree with @IndianaFinessewatch your line closely, you would see the line jump even before you feel it. Another thing I don't let my line gone completely slack, I alway reel in the line after each twitch to semi-slack. I don't pause for too long either 5 seconds the most, unless I have my lure hit bottom and feel some tab from follower.

[UPSmallie]

The jerkbait is probably my most consistent multi-species producer.  What I have found works best is to cast as far as possible is the direction desired and then bring it back in erratic twitches anywhere from medium to fast paced.  Sometimes you will feel a hard strike and set the hook, but more often than not, my rod tip will jerk downwards and then I set the hook.  If they hit a little ways from the very end of the retrieve, I have had good success in landing them, but if they hit right at the boat or at the very end of the retrieve, the chances of the hooks actually sticking decreases in my experience.  Unless they are pike or fish that grab the bait and start running.  Best of luck.

[smalljaw67]

I'm going to assume you are talking about suspending jerkbaits. When the water is in the 60s you don't really have a problem, as someone mentioned previously they will usually hit it and run as it is more a reaction strike and not to mention you are usually working the bait faster. In cold water you normally have 3 things happen, the first and second happen a lot, you give the bait a couple of jerks and pause and after 2 or 3 seconds your line will jump and you will feel the bite so you reel the slack up and set the hooks, a fast reel helps. The second thing that happens in cold water is you give the bait a couple of jerks like normal and let it pause, then as soon as you go to give the bait another series of jerks, a fish is already on it and the jerk got the hooks set. The 3rd thing that happens is what you already experienced, you get the bait close enough that you can see it and you see the strike, this happens with smallmouth a lot when there are packs of them in the same area, one will follow and won't commit but it will get a few more interested and then one will come up and just take it.

[NHBull]

Love jerk baits, and a reel set works fine. They hook themselves.

I seldom have slack in the line. On a pause there may be a gentle bow in the line and I also use a fast speed reel.

 

As close to surface strikes as it gets!

[Attila]

This season I really cleaned up and continue to do well with jerkbaits ranging from Rapala's Shadow Raps and Shadow Rap Shad to Strike King KVD offerings.

 

I've caught fish close to shore but also had fish strike at the end of a long, 200' cast to an outside weed edge. All summer I was using a very aggressive retrieve, really jerking and snapping the lure that I didn't have to wait to feel a bite to set the hook as the fish would be hooked up in less than a split second when I continued my aggressive retrieve. About a month ago we went through a week of really cold air temps which were in the low to mid 30's so I decided to change my retrieve and incorporate a few more pauses into my retrieve and still had no problem detecting the strikes both at long and short distances.

 

I feel that the key to my success, has been running braid with a fluorocarbon leader of usually at least 4' in length. The zero stretch characteristics of braid really allows me to feel a strike regardless of when it happens and allows me to get a quality hookset into any fish that has hit the lure, ranging from both smallmouth and largemouth bass to walleye to the bony jaw of musky.

 

I think it's in that presentation where you'll find your success too.

 

[primetime]

I actually color the tops of several of my floating jerkbaits with a strip of bright pink nail polish. I learned this from another angler, and will still throw the bright top lure if windy, long casts etc. I like to see exactly what my lure is doing at all times, and it will vanish like a bobber every once in a while. I have never noticed the top color having a negative effect but I usually keep my floaters on the surface most of the time.

 

It is amazing how a Bass can strike a Jerkbait with all those Treble hooks and not get any. But it happens. Often times if I am missing too many strikes I will either switch the color, or the size, if they are truly Bass swiping at it, I have done well at times keeping the cadence predictable or without too much action.

 

A dressed rear treble hook also can make a big difference especially when long pauses seem to draw strikes, but sometimes too much dressing can mess up the action, but worth experimenting. Suspending Jerkbaits are a different story and something I am not confident with. You can watch video online of bass inhaling and spitting out jerkbaits with treble hooks and it is kind of amazing. Not sure you feel that if slack is in the line and not looking to see your line move.

 

I still say Floating Minnow lures are the most under fished lures, and even though everyone knows how well a Rapala or Bomber Long A can work, I think weeds discourage people, or they are just not "Popular" in the magazines and too many other techniques to use. I try my best to always give a floater a try at least a few times a day, when they work they really work, you can strike out with a fluke but kill em with a floater many days.

 

I only set the hook with a sweep after seeing the lure go under like a frog, or will just tighten up if I hook up solid, I also try not to use braid on a fast rod unless necessary, I like Mono for jerkbaits due to the stretch, Fluoro for same reason. 

[38 Super Fan]

8 hours ago, primetime said:

I actually color the tops of several of my floating jerkbaits with a strip of bright pink nail polish. I learned this from another angler, and will still throw the bright top lure if windy, long casts etc. I like to see exactly what my lure is doing at all times, and it will vanish like a bobber every once in a while. I have never noticed the top color having a negative effect but I usually keep my floaters on the surface most of the time.

 

It is amazing how a Bass can strike a Jerkbait with all those Treble hooks and not get any. But it happens. Often times if I am missing too many strikes I will either switch the color, or the size, if they are truly Bass swiping at it, I have done well at times keeping the cadence predictable or without too much action.

 

A dressed rear treble hook also can make a big difference especially when long pauses seem to draw strikes, but sometimes too much dressing can mess up the action, but worth experimenting. Suspending Jerkbaits are a different story and something I am not confident with. You can watch video online of bass inhaling and spitting out jerkbaits with treble hooks and it is kind of amazing. Not sure you feel that if slack is in the line and not looking to see your line move.

 

I still say Floating Minnow lures are the most under fished lures, and even though everyone knows how well a Rapala or Bomber Long A can work, I think weeds discourage people, or they are just not "Popular" in the magazines and too many other techniques to use. I try my best to always give a floater a try at least a few times a day, when they work they really work, you can strike out with a fluke but kill em with a floater many days.

 

I only set the hook with a sweep after seeing the lure go under like a frog, or will just tighten up if I hook up solid, I also try not to use braid on a fast rod unless necessary, I like Mono for jerkbaits due to the stretch, Fluoro for same reason. 

That's a great tip on the nail polish. When you're just getting into jerkbaits especially, it really helps to be able to see the lure whole length of the cast. I love throwing a pearl jerkbait, no doubt when you get a bite with that thing.