Cheaper alternatives to Megabass jerkbaits

[J Francho]

Keep our eyes peeled to the Flea Market.  Jerkbait lots come up for sale regularly.  I've picked up some nice baits in mixed lots that I might not otherwise be tempted to buy retail.

[Hook2Jaw]

19 minutes ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

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. 

I've found better cranks for deflection, but those little guys deflect well but most importantly float insanely fast.  I've found a couple laydowns where that fast float was absolutely crucial and I bet they're amazing for backing out of riprap rock.  They also flat get bit.

[Spankey]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Husky jerk 

That put one in the boat Sunday along with a Shad Rap. 

[plawren53202]

Thanks to everyone for lots of feedback and good information. Unfortunately it looks like colder weather is closer than I want to admit here in Missouri, so I'm off to the local baitshop that carries good stuff later today. A few jerkbaits and a couple of blade baits are on the shopping list. The info in this thread will be extremely helpful.

[Munkin]

On 10/28/2020 at 3:01 PM, roadwarrior said:

We all probably started with a Rogue

 

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

Rogue and a Rapala Husky Jerk are my suggestions. There is a reason they are still around after 30+ years.

 

Allen

[TriStateBassin106]

I love the Rapala Husky jerks! In the colder weather make sure to get suspend strips though!

[GoneFishingLTN]

On 10/28/2020 at 2:01 PM, roadwarrior said:

We all probably started with a Rogue

 

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

Do you think these offer anything different from the current hit market of jerkbaits

[roadwarrior]

Poor hooks, often unbalanced, suspension is inconsistent and they have a tendency

to tangle hooks on the cast. Their upgrade, the Perfect 10, is a major improvement,

but as you would expect, more expensive.

 

https://www.jannsnetcraft.com/smithwick-fishing-lures/102316.aspx

[speed craw]

Look on Facebook different bait sites for good used baits . Bought a lucky craft pointer 78 that had some wear . Changed the hooks and split rings and proceeded to clean house . Every now and then you can find new baits on clearance or heavily discounted at box stores. 

[plawren53202]

OP here, I went to the local tackle shop today and got 2 6th Sense Provokes, 2 Strike King KVDs, and 3 Lucky Craft Pointer 78s. I like the size of those Pointers for fishing the ponds I fish, whereas the Provokes and the KVDs are bigger (3 hooks vs. 2) and look to be better for the lakes I fish. 

[GoneFishingLTN]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

Poor hooks, often unbalanced, suspension is inconsistent and they have a tendency

to tangle hooks on the cast. Their upgrade, the Perfect 10, is a major improvement,

but as you would expect, more expensive.

 

https://www.jannsnetcraft.com/smithwick-fishing-lures/102316.aspx

now if it was you would you bother getting these if you already have megabass and luckycraft 

[Munkin]

31 minutes ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

now if it was you would you bother getting these if you already have megabass and luckycraft 

I have had days where the Rogue outfished any other bait in the tacklebox.

 

Allen

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Olive Ghost and Blue Ghost Husky Jerk, they don't have crazy action which is what you want when the water is really cold. 

The Yo Zuri 3DRs, 3DSs and 3DBs are IMO are one of the best baits on the market for what you pay for them

The absolute best JB that Ive ever used is the Rozante.  They don't have flat sides so they don't throw as much flash as the vision.  They have great action, great patterns, stupid sharp hooks, weight transfer system and a magnet to keep the belly hook from rashing up the bait.  Ive consistently out fished vision 110, 110 jrs and LC pointers with the 77.  They cost 14$ or 15$ but you get what you pay for. 

 

[ww2farmer]

I don't buy "expensive" jerkbaits. We have too many pike.

 

A $15 LC Pointer is my limit, and even then that's a bit on the pricey side for me.

 

I fish A LOT of $8-$10 baits and here's my thoughts on a few them:

 

Lucky Craft Lightning Pointer 98XR and 110SP. The 98XR has caught me a ton of cold water bass, but it's a little on the aggressive side, if you need to really let a bait soak and hover it's not the ideal bait. The 110SP had been a total dud for me. I'm sure it's a good bait, but it just hasn't produced FOR ME. My biggest complaint on the 98XR is consistency....which you wouldn't think is a problem with LC brand baits, but it is on this one. It's not been uncommon to get a couple that don't act alike, (for example, if I buy 6, 4 will be perfect, one will need tweaking, and one will be a dud) and they are VERY sensitive to hook changes, but you never know how they are going to act with replacement hooks until you test them, some are fine, others need only minor tweaking, and others just become worthless once the stock hooks are changed out, and seemingly will not respond to ANY tweaking. The good thing is, they do come with stout (for a jerkbait), sharp, and good quality stock hooks, that last a really long time. But when you do have to change them...buckle up and enjoy the hair pulling ride. My advise in these baits, avoid the 110 SP, and if you want a cold water jerkbait that you can take out of the package and fish aggressive, the 98XR is good for that.....the 98XR is also the BEST casting jerkbait I have ever had. You can really bomb this thing.

 

Berkley Skinny Cutter 110: This thing is surprisingly good...BUT it has no weight transfer system, so castability SUCKS. It's caught me a bunch of fish, but it's not a go to because of the casting issues.

 

Stike King KVD's: These might be the best "budget but not junk" jerkbaits on the market. Every one I have ever had was  very very consistent in action, how they suspend, how the sit in the water, etc....(paint jobs can often be an adventure, but that true of ALL SK hard baits). They are the LEAST sensitive to hook changes of any jerkbaits I have every fished....provided you put the hooks that the stock hooks were designed to be replaced with on them. I have had great luck replacing them with Mustad KVD TG76 1x strong, 2x short, elite triple grips. They are heavier than the stock hooks, and you'd think they would alter the suspending abilities or action of the bait, but they don't...it's almost voodoo like. If I had to only fish ONE low cost jerkbait, this would probably be it. As it is much more versatile than the Lightning Pointer 98XR. It's not the best casting jerkbait, but far from the worst. I have also found it to be the easiest to tune jerkbait. I have never gotten a dud that from them that I couldn't make do what I want with a little tweaking.

 

Lucky Strike RC jerkbaits.....take one out of the package, throw it in the garbage, and tie the package on your line and fish with that....the results would probably be better. I don't like these at all.

 

Rapala X-raps: These are much like the LC Lightning Pointer 98XR, a good bait when they want something a little on the aggressive side. I'm not a fan of their color options, or else I'd use these a little more.

 

Rapala Shadow Rap series: These have just not been good for me...I don't know why. They act/look/do what they are advertised to do, but productivity has been poor.

 

 

 

[Russ E]

If I am throwing jerkbaits the vision 110 gets most of the action.

in dirty water or around cover I throw an H2O ultimate jerkshad. 

My largest bass of the year was caught on a jerkshad. It is the fish in my Avatar.

whenever I am throwing jerkbaits I have a Frabil 9865 in the boat. It pays for itself pretty quick.

[Big Hands]

Best I can tell, the KDS 110 Sexy Shad is a knockoff of the Vision 110. I haven't tried them, but know someone that has and recommends them.

[rangerjockey]

The V110 will always be my go to but when the water starts to warm up in spring the Mcstick in Blue Bandit works well around here. That color looks a lot better in the water than in the package.

 The stickbait is a religion down here and the time will be here soon.  Personally I'd rather have a couple 110's than 6 copies but the Provoke in ozark juice isn't a bad choice.

[00bullitt]

I have always been a MB Vision guy. Have a small fortune invested in my jerkbait box. With that said, I now buy the Jackall Rerange, Rerange MR and Squirrel. They have surpassed my Visions in every way at half the cost.

[moguy1973]

Does anyone ever wonder why this thin piece of molded plastic with some hooks on it cost so much?  I guess it's due to they fact it may work a little better than others do, and people are willing to pay that price.  The thing can't cost much more than a couple bucks to make though.  Profit margin must be pretty good on them.

[Boomstick]

My most productive jerkbaits have been the Berkley Cutters, followed by the Lucky Craft pointers

[roadwarrior]

Fished the Rogue Perfect 10 this morning and caught my first jerkbait bass of the season!

 

[plawren53202]

OP here, update to my original post...first of all I'm happy to say that after this weekend, the jerkbait skunk is off my back. I caught several this weekend on a jerkbait, and I'm quickly starting to understand why they're so popular. 

 

Saturday morning I headed down to my subdivision pond to try a couple from my first batch I bought (Lucky Craft Pointers-the smaller 2 hook ones--and KVDs). The fish were biting pretty well on a few baits (sungill colored Little Dipper on an underspin head, and a neko rigged Yum Dinger also caught a few), but the Lucky Craft was the winner of the day. So in typical curse of the bait monkey fashion, I of course headed to Bass Pro Saturday evening to get some more. I grabbed several more Pointers, including some deeper divers for fishing bigger lakes...and I ponied up and got a couple of the Megabass 110 Jrs. 

 

Headed down to the subdivision pond again this afternoon. Six people standing around the pond, no one catching a thing, and I caught several. Also, the jerkbait fish have been, on average, bigger than what I usually catch in this pond. I also now get what the deal is with the Megabass. It darts hard on the pops, but then when it stops, it just STOPS. I also like that the 110 Jr. is smaller but still has three hooks.

 

I am also starting to get why jerkbaits are so popular for cold water or other sluggish fish. We had a pretty solid cold front move through this weekend, so these were not ideal fishing days. Especially today, bluebird skies and 15 degrees colder than yesterday's high. That pause in the retrieve was perfect for these conditions, pop pop, pause for 2-3 seconds, and then that next pop, whammo. 

 

So, thanks to everyone for all of the good pointers. Having said that, I need to stay off here for a while, I really don't need to develop another affinity for another Megabass-priced product. ?

[r3825]

Favorite flavors on the megabass?  I've always had good luck with the shadow rap but feel like blowing a little dough

[waymont]

Any size Rapala Husky Jerk. They all are excellent baits.

[the reel ess]

On 10/28/2020 at 2:22 PM, plawren53202 said:

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?

Pretty much all other jerkbaits are cheaper and catch fish. A confession of my own: I don't own a single Megabass lure. Maybe they are that good. I probably will never know.