6th Sense Provoke 106X Feedback + Jerkbait Selection 'System'

[ABrugs]

There are two elements of this topic: First, I'm planning on buying my first jerkbaits pretty soon and being a big 6th Sense fan, I'm looking at the Provoke 106X. Second, I love the idea of implementing a 'system' for myself when building an arsenal of certain baits/lures so that I can hold myself accountable to only buying what I NEED versus what I want.

 

^ I'm really trying to take a somewhat minimalist approach here considering I'll only get out on Saturday mornings mainly this year and don't need a lot of jerkbaits. Regarding a buying 'system', I'll be fishing Lake St. Clair from shore 75%+ of the time if that helps provide context for color selection.

 

So, here is what I'd like help w/:

 

Part 1 - For those who have used the Provoke 106X, do you think this would be a good jerkbait to start w/ since I've never fished this technique before? What specific colors would you recommend for smallies?

 

Part 2 - I'm leaning towards keeping this 'system' really simple between natural/bright colors. I think ghost/translucent can fit in either of those w/o having it's own category. How do you categorize your jerkbaits?

[jbsoonerfan]

I know @A-Jay can help you out here. I think he likes a perch pattern for SM, but I am not 100% on that.

 

Maybe he will chime in, he knows a thing or 200 about those brown bass.

[Deephaven]

Natural forage or the same colors you would choose for spinnerbait blades would be my recommendation.  Personally if you are bank fishing with a jerkbait I would buy a floating one, not suspending.  Divers, trebles, and from shore is really limiting with the capability to have it release by floating up.

 

Even from a boat I catch more with floaters outside of the typical must throw jerkbait times.

[A-Jay]

Thanks @jbsoonerfan ~ 

To start, I can offer Zero assistance in the minimalist approach area; at least not yet. 

Jerkbaits from the bait can be a little tricky. 

Next, I have been a Big Fan of 6th sense baits for a long time.

Have a few, just not many of the jerkbaits; think I have two.

Decent bait really, I just don't throw them that much as I have a few others in 'my favorites' category.

 My favorite brown bass colors / patterns cover four deals.

The Natural stuff; perch, ayu, alewife/shine/shad & semi-translucent patterns.

The Bright stuff, clown, gold, orange/red & white

The next two are (and this may be a category all on it's own) 

consists of the first two deals above - except in silent versions. ( So No Rattle)

Finally, and this is something I haven't discussed yet but started playing around with last season; with the influx of so many goby in much of the water where the biggest brown bass I hunt live, I've been working on feeding them a goby-looking jerkbait.  

Not much currently on the market in this somewhat unusual bait color palette, 

so A-Jay's custom bait shop has re-opened . . . . . it's a work in progress.

Might pan out, might not. 

A-Jay

 

[Columbia Craw]

I admire your approach to buying the right bait the first time and not falling into the rabbit hole of color options.

 

As a shore fisherman two issues stick out.  First is buoyancy and second is cast ability.  The ability to reach out and not loose a bait that’s snagged would determine size and brand.  After that some color pattern.  
 

I have a few Provokes.  I have had success with them.  They float up at a rate of an inch per second depending on water temperature.  They do not cast quite as well as some baits but angle and action are good.  It’s a well built bait.

 

When it comes to color patterns, A Jay and Dwight Hottle would be my go to guys. They have it dialed. 

 

[Munkin]

I use 3 colors of jerkbaits; translucent, opaque, and reflective.

 

Allen

[ABrugs]

@A-Jay - I’ve seen your collection of jerkbaits in other threads so I understand the minimalist reluctance, haha. As always, I appreciate the valuable insight. I think a hybrid approach of either natural or bright w/ ghost colors mixed in, i.e. ‘Ghost Bone Minnow’ would be a good starting point for me.

 

@Columbia Craw - Trust me, I’m trying to resist the urge right now! I could easily buy 10+ Provoke jerkbaits just based on the awesome colors. Then, I could justify adding several Vision 110’s as well in the +1 since 6th Sense doesn’t make a DD version right now for when I’m fishing deeper water. I’m just trying to think practically about the fact that if I’m fishing 4 hours per week, I can’t justify to myself the need to start w/ more than 2 - 4. 4 is probably too many!

 

^ The colors I’m leaning towards getting first are ‘Yellow Perch’ and ‘Smallmouth Rose’.

 

If you’re fishing pretty clear and/or semi-stained water, would you rather throw a translucent color or something natural forage like perch?

[DitchPanda]

I can't offer alot in the way of suggestions for color for small mouth...I don't have many around me. Most of the ones I've caught have been accidentally while fishing for largemouth. I do however have alot of experience and success fishing suspending jerkbaits from shore. I usually opt for a bait with a max depth of 4ft or less...I use the rapala shallow shadow rap alot. As far as the 6th sense baits go I've heard good things about all there baits...maybe or @Bluebasser86 will chime in I believe he throws them slot.

[Bluebasser86]

The Provoke is one of my top 3 jerkbaits and has been the last few years.  We have a different forage base as we have no yellow perch, very little vegetation in most lakes, so they mainly feed on shad and crawfish.

 

With that being said, if it were me, I could easily get by with just a few colors on a majority of days.

 

French Bone Pearl-The color I'd pick if I could have only 1

Violet Panda-My off color water choice or for sunny days in stained water

Wabi Sabi-My clear water choice

 

Assuming you have a good population of yellow perch that your bass are feeding on, you'd almost have to add a Yellow Perch to the mix too.

[ABrugs]

Yes, ‘Yellow Perch’ will be the first color I purchase. ‘Wabi Sabi’ looks awesome. I was between that and ‘Smallmouth Rose’. Maybe I’ll get both.

 

Thanks, @Bluebasser86!

[Columbia Craw]

My picks are Ghost Bone Minnow,  Wabi Sabi and Yellow Perch.  I’ve had success with Jaint Juice in more of a slightly stained water.  Throw in a pearl pattern and go for it.

[walleyecrazy]

The Provokes are definitely a solid bait to start out with. They quickly became one of my favorites after I started using them, and regularly see time on the end of my line. My two most productive colors have been yellow perch and gold reactor. I generally break down my jerk bait selection into two categories. 1- colors with some flash which are generally my pick on sunny days. 2- more flat and muted colors which are generally my pick on cloudy days. 

[ABrugs]

13 minutes ago, walleyecrazy said:

The Provokes are definitely a solid bait to start out with. They quickly became one of my favorites after I started using them, and regularly see time on the end of my line. My two most productive colors have been yellow perch and gold reactor. I generally break down my jerk bait selection into two categories. 1- colors with some flash which are generally my pick on sunny days. 2- more flat and muted colors which are generally my pick on cloudy days. 

 

^ I love this simplicity. Thanks! Where does your 'Yellow Perch' fit into that equation considering it is a natural presentation according to the forage, but it's got a lot of color in it?

[A-Jay]

3 minutes ago, ABrugs said:

 

^ I love this simplicity. Thanks! Where does your 'Yellow Perch' fit into that equation considering it is a natural presentation according to the forage, but it's got a lot of color in it?

As mentioned, the Provoke is a solid bait, but limiting yourself to ONE companies bait,

also limit's the type, shade, shape, action, size, profile, & of course color of the baits you can choose from.

I'm willing to bet some of the factors just mentioned may be at least as important to the bass as having a simple system is for you.

Good Luck

A-Jay

[walleyecrazy]

39 minutes ago, ABrugs said:

 

^ I love this simplicity. Thanks! Where does your 'Yellow Perch' fit into that equation considering it is a natural presentation according to the forage, but it's got a lot of color in it?

my Provoke in the perch pattern generally sees more action on cloudy days. I have Vision 110’s in a perch pattern that have a lot of flash to them, and generally are my go to on sunny days. 

[ABrugs]

@A-Jay - I always appreciate your wisdom! That's a great point. I at least want to start simple so that I can scale my jerkbait arsenal slowly and as I gain confidence/experience.

 

@walleyecrazy - Got it. Thanks!