Cheaper alternatives to Megabass jerkbaits

[plawren53202]

Alright, so, confession...I have never caught a fish on a jerkbait. ? Actually I have only very rarely fished them in the past. With cold weather now here in MO and soon to be here to stay, I recognize the theory behind fishing a jerkbait in colder water (or any other time fish are sluggish) and want to give it an honest try this late fall & winter.

 

I know the Megabass Vision 110 (and its variants) is the gold standard in this area. Much of my fishing is bank fishing, so there's no way in heck I'm throwing a $25 bait without the ability to motor over and get it unhung. So my question is, what are some good alternatives to the Megabass? In particular, I hear people talk about how the Megabass does such a good job at triggering strikes by remaining absolutely still when paused. I recognize that cheaper alternatives aren't going to be quite the same, but which ones will get me the closest?

[jbsoonerfan]

H20 Express Ultimate Jerk Shad is where I would look if I were looking for a cheap option, then Rapala, then Spro, then 6th Sense, then after you have tried $80 worth or more of other brands, you can get a 110. LOL

 

In all seriousness, I was like you a few years ago and didn't really use a jb because I had never had much luck. I broke down and bought a 110 and now I will throw one at least 9 months out of the year.

[Hook2Jaw]

The H2O Xpress Ultimate Jerk Shad catches fish.

 

I suspect the Jackall Rerange and Rerange MR catch more fish, and they're 13 bucks a pop.  Try them out with me.

[roadwarrior]

We all probably started with a Rogue

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Smithwick_Suspending_Rattlin_Rogue_Jerkbait/descpage-SSRR.html

[camman]

I prefer to throw MB 110's but when I get into a population of Stripers, I switch out my bait to a Luck E Strike RC Styx.  I have bunch of the early production ones of the RC Styx and outside of changing the hooks they work pretty close to the 110's.  I have heard the newer production ones aren't as durable, but I don't have experience with them.  I find it easier to have a $8 bait get destroyed by a bunch of stripers over my 110's.

[jbsoonerfan]

43 minutes ago, Hook2Jaw said:

The H2O Xpress Ultimate Jerk Shad catches fish.

 

I suspect the Jackall Rerange and Rerange MR catch more fish, and they're 13 bucks a pop.  Try them out with me.

x2 on the Rerange, maybe my second favorite behind the 110

[volzfan59]

Strike King makes a decent jerk bait.

[OkobojiEagle]

Pointer 78, Flash Pointer 100 & Rerange 110

 

I'm still looking for my "favorite" deep diving jerkbait, to now it's been the Staysee 90 ver.2, but I'm just so-so on it.

 

oe 

 

Additional thought:  the "stillness" you're looking for comes from leaving plenty of slack in your line after the snap and don't reel or move any of that slack as that is what will move the bait.

[Ktho]

I think I saw they might've changed how theyre made but the Rick Clunn baits are very similar looking and altough I was hesitant at first they do work quite well, only the full size though the smaller ones don't compete that well for me compared to the jr megabass or 65 luckycraft.

[Cgolf]

I am newer to the jerkbait game, but the rapala shadow raps and shadow rap shads have been very good for me. The Jackall rerange also got bit, but the most savage strikes this year were on the 6th sense provoke. The bass and even a walleye just crushed the thing when they hit it. 
 

I will likely stay away from the Megabass jerks because musky have already lightened my jerkbait numbers. 

[gim]

I had decent success tossing a rapala shadow rap and the rip stop before I upgraded to a vision 110. The hooks kinda sucked though.

[moguy1973]

Lucky-E-Strike Rick Clunn STX jerk baits are decently priced and work well. So do the Strike King KVD jerk baits.

[lynxcat]

X3 rerange 

[FishTank]

Lucky Craft Pointer 100. 

[Bluebasser86]

6th Sense Provoke has been my go to jerkbait most of the year this year. They're not super cheap at $11, but way cheaper than a MB 110.

 

The H20 Jerk shad is a great bait for the money if you want a really cheap bait. I keep several in my bank fishing box as well as in the boat for guide trips if the fish aren't being picky and I don't have to worry about someone breaking or loosing one of my more expensive baits.

[Happybeerbuzz]

I have one, but Megabass is a bit steep in price for me. The alternatives I have settled on tend to be the ones that have weight transfer systems in them. It makes a difference when it is windy.  The Jackall Rerange is my favorite, but I got some of the new Yo Zuri suspending jerkbaits to try out.  For $10, I figure they are worth a try.  I have not run into a really windy day to say how they cast in the wind yet, but the action on them is good. 

[Happybeerbuzz]

Lucky Craft Lightning Pointers are friendlier to the budget as well. They run about $10.  

[GreenPig]

I'd suggest you grab a pack of Storm Suspenstrips(lead tape) so you can tune whichever JB you get. You can tune them to slow sink, suspend, or possibly slow float if you fish mono and light hooks . I fish MB and most all the others listed above and they all catch fish.

[zell_pop1]

I like Lucky Craft, but they are expensive too, so I am going to say Rapala Xrap. My buddy does good with some Yo Zuri jerkbaits so $7-10 lures.

[Dirtyeggroll]

Cabela’s Mean Eye “Walleye Series” - They don’t have the most detailed color selection, but they have the right colors and they flat work.

[roadwarrior]

[Spankey]

There is nothing that Rapala doesn’t make in a hard bait. And they work. 

[TnRiver46]

Husky jerk 

[Hook2Jaw]

7 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

6th Sense Provoke has been my go to jerkbait most of the year this year. They're not super cheap at $11, but way cheaper than a MB 110.

 

The H20 Jerk shad is a great bait for the money if you want a really cheap bait. I keep several in my bank fishing box as well as in the boat for guide trips if the fish aren't being picky and I don't have to worry about someone breaking or loosing one of my more expensive baits.

Stop making me try 6th Sense baits!  I've already ordered a bill worth of Crush 50x and Quake 70s this week.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Just ordered more crush cranks this week myself. If the jerkbait works half as good as they're cranks do count me in on a 6th sense provoke.