Summer Jerkbaits

[papajoe222]

I have a problem when it comes to fishing in the summer. I'm a 'power' fisherman.  I like fishing fast moving, hard baits and that mentality really limits my choices of presentations.  Burning a spinnerbait, or crankbait, or even topwaters are options that most anglers like me use. Years ago, I found another option; jerkbaits.  Working one the traditional way like KVD does with quick, hard snaps of the rod tip doesn't work for me. I don't mean it doesn't catch fish, it does, but it wears me out in no time and I'm left with switching to the above mentioned options. Unless, I switch my retrieve instead. I'll fish it like a crankbait similar to how Bill Dance works one.  If you've ever seen him do it, he casts it out, cranks it down and then works it with the rod tip going from 9:00 to 12:00, dropping the rod tip while reeling in the slack and repeating.  I'll add a snap of the rod tip into every retrieve a few times and that's when the fish seem to react. I don't know if they follow it and that quick jerk triggers them to strike, but for whatever reason, they do.  I use to do the same thing with deep diving, minnow imitation lures for walleye back in my college days. That is a killer on bass over structure like drop-offs. The only thing I don't do is bounce the bait on the bottom.  This presentation works best fishing above the fish. 

If you're looking to show the fish something different, you just like trying out new stuff, or maybe you just enjoy catching bass, give it a try.  Let me know when you out fish your buddies that are throwing other faster moving lure or soft plastics.

[Bluebasser86]

I also fish jerkbaits in the summer. I'll often fish them on a spinning rod. When bass are targeting the newly hatched shad fry, a small jerkbait fished quickly can trigger lots of strikes.

[gim]

The last 2 seasons a jerkbait has worked well for me well into the heat of summer.  This year, not so much.  I'm convinced it can work though, so I'll give it a try again soon.

 

The treble hooked lures are a bit of a problem right now with all the weeds.

[RHuff]

I have found that "jerking" the jerkbait in quick short pops help entice smallmouth bass into biting, especially when they are coming up and looking at it and swirling away without hitting it. 

 

Cast. Pause. POP. POP. POP. POP. POP. POP. Pause. POP. POP.POP.POP.POP.POP. sometimes they'll hit it between the pops and sometimes on the pause. I think they see it on that initial pause and get curious about it and when they think it's trying to escape or get away is when they decide to strike..... 

[Bankbeater]

I have been fishing a floating minnow with just a steady retrieve.  I've been bringing it across the top of submerged vegetation and alongside mats on the surface.  It has been catching bass when the shallow running crankbaits aren't getting bites.

[Darth-Baiter]

I use a light rod and I’m basically slapping slack line.  Anything all day, is a chore. 

[thunderblack]

Love fishing jerkbaits at all times of the yr. I never fish jerkbaits like KVD. I like to cast, wind down, and jerk to the side. I used a spinning rod and I feel this doesn't wear you out. Another option is pulling or ripping the bait a little slower and pausing. No need to snap the rod like a wild man. 30-50 fish days in the summer tells me they like it just fine  You can also fish a longer jerkbait rod this way = longer casts.