Suspending Jerk Baits

[Standard]

I had one of my most memorable catches on a rip-stop a few years ago.  River fishing and threw the rip stop in a large, shallow bay on the river.  Large smallie just smashed it.. from about 20 feet away.  One of the few fish strikes that I really really wish I had a go pro running.  Made a wake like a torpedo going after that thing.

[Swamp Girl]

I wish I could help, Bob. I catch fish on them, but I don't know what brands and colors I have. I'm always amazed how you guys remember everything about the lures you toss. 

 

Do you use a spinning or baitcasting outfit when you throw jerkbaits, Bob?

[Bdnoble84]

On 12/19/2022 at 2:19 PM, PaulVE64 said:

I prefer the X-rap in current because i think it has a nice action when pulled against the current.

I have had some nice luck with both x-raps and husky jerks but it seems hit or miss if they achieve nuetral boyancy. I have a couple that do but also a couple that dont.

On 12/22/2022 at 10:57 PM, Bankbeater said:

I fish a variety of different jerkbaits, but most are husky jerks and rogues.  I usually stick to natural colors, or clown.

Clown is an absolute killer on river smallies.

[Blue Raider Bob]

11 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I wish I could help, Bob. I catch fish on them, but I don't know what brands and colors I have. I'm always amazed how you guys remember everything about the lures you toss. 

 

Do you use a spinning or baitcasting outfit when you throw jerkbaits, Bob?

Spinning on everything. Caught one Tuesday on a jerkbait, my 2nd one ever.

[Blue Raider Bob]

Do you guys see Roadwarrior's post about the "Buy three get one sale" on Berkley Stunna and others. Dang might have to jump on this! Ends Feb. 1st

[roadwarrior]

Roadrunner?

[Blue Raider Bob]

4 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Roadrunner?

Making sure you're moderating instead of fishing Roadwarrior!

Thank goodness for the edit option!

[roadwarrior]

It's all good!

[TheKurrent]

Big fan of the Rapala Shadow Rap Deep in the winter months. Favorite colors are the Moss Back Shiner and Albino Shiner, both of which have produced multiple river smallmouth for me this winter. I'm typically fishing anywhere from 4-10ft behind ledges and ripping them into the slower moving water, then letting them pause for 3-10 seconds, depending on the fishes reactions that particular day. 

 

In fact, this year, I wrangled in my first VA citation smallie (20.25" & 4lbs) on the moss back shiner variation. 

[Blue Raider Bob]

16 minutes ago, TheKurrent said:

Big fan of the Rapala Shadow Rap Deep in the winter months. Favorite colors are the Moss Back Shiner and Albino Shiner, both of which have produced multiple river smallmouth for me this winter. I'm typically fishing anywhere from 4-10ft behind ledges and ripping them into the slower moving water, then letting them pause for 3-10 seconds, depending on the fishes reactions that particular day. 

 

In fact, this year, I wrangled in my first VA citation smallie (20.25" & 4lbs) on the moss back shiner variation. 

Awesome Smallie! That is HUGE for a river fish! I got my first Rapala Rip Stop Saturday. There was some line hanging down from a tree and when I looked up, there it was. Took awhile to get it down but I'll put it to use this weekend.

[TheKurrent]

2 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Awesome Smallie! That is HUGE for a river fish! I got my first Rapala Rip Stop Saturday. There was some line hanging down from a tree and when I looked up, there it was. Took awhile to get it down but I'll put it to use this weekend.

 

That's a great win! Any free lure is a great lure. 

 

Don't forget with the suspending jerks in the winter that the pause is your friend. I always count in my head (1 Mississippi, 2,3, etc) , starting with a faster rip, pause, rip at around 3 seconds and then move all the way to 10 seconds with 1-2 second increment additions. I know some guys talk about 30 second all the way to a one minute pause, but I just don't have it in me to wait that long... If they're that slow to react, I'm typically moving to a ned, jig or tube.

 

Good luck this weekend.

[Darth-Baiter]

all my V110 slow float.  pretty sure it varies depending on water and conditions.

[GregN]

Does anyone here ever work a jerkbait with a constant, medium speed retrieve and jerking the bait every other 2 seconds or so?  Everything I've read on jerkbait technique stresses that the jerk should occur on slack line to impart that erratic action to trigger strikes.  However, when fishing for pre-spawn smallies on Champlain, I have a buddy who consistently catches fish with this technique...it really has me puzzled!

 

I keep on wanting to tell him to fish that jerk the "right way" but he catches a lot of fish so I keep my mouth zipped! Really curious to hear your thoughts on this.

Thanks,

Greg

[Dogface]

3 hours ago, GregN said:

I keep on wanting to tell him to fish that jerk the "right way" but he catches a lot of fish so I keep my mouth zipped! Really curious to hear your thoughts on this.

 

 

I think the way you work a jerk bait is only limited by your imagination. I am not limited to working a jerk bait the "right way". The wrong way works a lot of times. 

[Darth-Baiter]

i do know after watching copoius videos that i work my V110 too hard.  probably explains why i have marginal successes.  

[drakesndrum]

On 2/12/2023 at 8:42 PM, GregN said:

Does anyone here ever work a jerkbait with a constant, medium speed retrieve and jerking the bait every other 2 seconds or so?  Everything I've read on jerkbait technique stresses that the jerk should occur on slack line to impart that erratic action to trigger strikes.  However, when fishing for pre-spawn smallies on Champlain, I have a buddy who consistently catches fish with this technique...it really has me puzzled!

 

I keep on wanting to tell him to fish that jerk the "right way" but he catches a lot of fish so I keep my mouth zipped! Really curious to hear your thoughts on this.

Thanks,

Greg

Yesterday the water had gotten up to 50 degrees and a fairly aggressive retrieve was the ticket.  2 second pauses.