Jerkbait knots

[HawkeyeSmallie]

Well last night I tried a jerkbait for the first time.

 

Was a short outing but fun. Didn't catch any bass (on the jerkbait) but caught three crappies, one almost 13".

 

Anyways, I'm using 10 lb Tatsu as line.

 

My question, with the constant jerking, does that eventually mess up your knot? Should I be periodically retying?

 

Thanks!

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Retying periodically and especially after a quality fish are best practices regardless of the bait imo.

 

A jerkbait however doesn't impart any extra stresses on a knot that a crankbait or other moving bait does not.

 

Just always keep an eye on that knot, and make it a habit to retie from time to time.  

[A-Jay]

I use 10 Tatsu quite a bit myself for my jerkbait needs:

especially deep divers.

@AlabamaSpothunter is spot on IMO.

For 10 lb FC I use a San Diego Jam or a Pitzen knot.

Both work well for me.

A-Jay

 

[HawkeyeSmallie]

20 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

For 10 lb FC I use a San Diego Jam or a Pitzen knot.

 

 

Yeah I use the double pitzen myself.

 

However I'd like to find an alternative. For me, the double pitzen gets very difficult when you are tying to a just a hook as opposed to a bait. For example a hook for a wacky worm. Feels like I need a third hand.

[rangerjockey]

Don't get discouraged. It's not the time of year to be throwing the stickbait at least for me.

It's a winter time suspended fish deal. FFS has changed that some but I personally wouldn't bother with it until the water temp is below 60 and I'd rather have 50.

[casts_by_fly]

41 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Yeah I use the double pitzen myself.

 

However I'd like to find an alternative. For me, the double pitzen gets very difficult when you are tying to a just a hook as opposed to a bait. For example a hook for a wacky worm. Feels like I need a third hand.

 

Pick a pair of pliers on a ring, a big dropshot weight, or somethign else small and weighted to hang off the hook.  Makes tying the double pitzen much easier.  

[WRB]

San Diego Jam knot use the lure as a weight, more reliable knot with FC line IMO.

Tom

[woolleyfooley]

3 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I use 10 Tatsu quite a bit myself for my jerkbait needs:

especially deep divers.

@AlabamaSpothunter is spot on IMO.

For 10 lb FC I use a San Diego Jam or a Pitzen knot.

Both work well for me.

A-Jay

 

San Diego jam here too!

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Checking the knot after every fish is a good practice, especially with JB as they're not cheap and tuning can be time consuming.

With light FC, I find that a uni or improved clinch is fine.  Its not like you're locking the drag down to pull fish out of heavy cover.  Never used Tatsu, but I imagine it being a flagship product it knots as well or better than InvizX, which has performed really well for me.  If you really want a strong knot that's easy to tie and good with FC check out the SDJ.  If im concerned about the knot strength thats what I go with over uni or IC.   

[Pat Brown]

14 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Yeah I use the double pitzen myself.

 

However I'd like to find an alternative. For me, the double pitzen gets very difficult when you are tying to a just a hook as opposed to a bait. For example a hook for a wacky worm. Feels like I need a third hand.

 

 

Just put rig the worm on the hook before tying to add some weight - a trick I learned here that works great!

 

Cosign on everything everyone is saying.  Retying fairly often is a good move.  I am a big fan of the regular San Diego Jam on a knot I know I'll be retying often - it's incredibly strong and uses less line than the double version.  Caught my PB on a t rig with a single SDJ and 15 lb line - it is a really good knot when you don't want to tie the double version (IMO retying more often is probably more important than knot strength - YMMV)

[ike8120]

14 hours ago, WRB said:

San Diego Jam knot use the lure as a weight, more reliable knot with FC line IMO.

Tom

Is the San Diego Jam Knot better then the Improved Clinch Knot? 

 

[king fisher]

2 hours ago, ike8120 said:

Is the San Diego Jam Knot better then the Improved Clinch Knot? 

 

Yes.

 

[HawkeyeSmallie]

19 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

Pick a pair of pliers on a ring, a big dropshot weight, or somethign else small and weighted to hang off the hook.  Makes tying the double pitzen much easier.  

 

This is gold. Thanks!

 

[J._Bricker]

I use a Rapala Knot when trying up my jerkbaits to a 10lb or 12lb fluorocarbon leader. I haven’t had any problems with the knot, only issue has been the hooks (Katsuaga Outbarb) straightening out a bit. Granted, I was surprised to learn those Katsuaga hooks Megabass uses on its Vision 110s were intended to be used with 6lb-8lb test line* with 10lb being the heaviest and preferably on spinning gear.
I know the attached video has nothing to do with knots but some might find it useful regarding fishing jerkbaits.

*11:45 on video