Newbie to jerkbaits, looking for recommendations that arent Megabass

[MediumMouthBass]

Ive had a few older/cheap Rapala and Strike King jerkbaits that ive fished time to time the past few years, but ive really not caught much on jerkbaits, so ill just cut the line and put them away.

From A-jays catches ive decided i would get into trying a jerkbait more since honestly i havent given them a chance. And just learned the way ive been fishing them is wrong (probably why nothing bites and i have 0 confidence in them).

 

Ive decided i would dedicate 2 combos for just jerkbaits and force myself to fish them more. I already have the rods and reels but my journey of searching for jerkbaits has come to a huge amount of selections, sizes, colors, brands. To say its overwhelming would be an understatement.

I know Megabass 110's are the standard for most guys, but at $20-25 each with more reviews than i like talking about needing work out of the box, sinking like a rock, and bills breaking i would like to try something different. Preferably much cheaper and more durable.

 

6th Sense Provoke

Rapala: X-Rap/Deep, Originals, Husky Jerks, Shadow rap Shad Deep, Ripstop/Deep, PXR Maverik.

Berkley: Stunna 110, 100+, 112, 112+.

Jackal Rerange: 110, 110MR, 130.

Strike King: KVDJ300, KVDJ300 Deep, KVD Elite 300.

13 Fishing: Whipper Snapper.

Yo Zuri: 3DB, 3DB deep.

Lucky Craft: Pointer Minnow 100.

Duo Realis and Duel Hardcore too.

 

 

These are the baits so far im looking at getting, i did some research on them and i think it would give me a decent starting point, with a wide range of sizes, depths, and shapes. Not sure if i should buy a few of each, or just go all in on a few of the above.

Anyone have opinions or advice on which ones i should pass on? Or other brands/models that youve had success with?

Prefer to keep it under $15, as i fish in alot of pickerel infested places. And im just as interested in getting advice on colors too! As the ones i have now are bright white, perch, or firetiger. And the bass really dont want them....

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Not much cheaper, but imho better quality are the Shimano World Minnow and the Zumverno 

 

The Rerange is a great warmer water jerkbait, as it's more violent.     

 

Hard to beat the Megabass or Shimano offerings imho.  

[MediumMouthBass]

3 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Not much cheaper, but imho better quality are the Shimano World Minnow

I was looking at a few of these on sale for $11, it has something called flash boost, so i guess thats a good one to add to the list. Thank you

[FrnkNsteen]

I don't fish jerkbaits as much as I probably should, but a friend of mine fishes them heavily!

 

Believe it or not, he says he has good results with the H20 Express jerkbaits. He speaks very highly of them. Might be worth checkng out a few of them.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Yeah, the Shimano jerkbaits are the only ones I've found that really bring something new to the game, and that's flashboost technology.

 

It really does seem to work, as I've found their flashboost World Pop and Armajoint big swimbait both to be very effective baits.   The foil insides flashes with seemingly no movement needed.   It's suspended using two tiny springs.  

 

The Shimano jerkbaits suspend more consistently out of the box than the Megabass models, and the hooks that come on the Shimano baits are the best OEM hooks I've ever seen.    Shimano sadly wouldn't sell me extra OEM hooks though.

 

Overall the Shimano jerkbaits are less finessey than the Megabass ones.    You can rip the Shimanos a little bit harder, especially the standard depth models.   

 

I still feel like the Vision 110 is the king though, it just out produces in my experience and I'm a jerkbait fan.   I don't think there is substitute for the Vision Jr lineup.    For standard size jerkbaits, there are lots of substitutes though.  

[A-Jay]

Regardless of the brand you decide on,

and I think you already know my preference,  it's solid plan to consider size, running depth and sound.  So besides the 'standard' size bait that every one throws, that rattles and runs 4 - 8 feet.

A smaller, deeper running and or silent bait (no rattles) ALL producers for me.

Also consider the baits hardware quality, using a line size and type that allows proper presentation and action.

Finally, when 'working' the bait,

"Less is More".

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

[BlakeMolone]

Kvd 200 has awesome darting action and is a great fish catcher, I don’t love the kvd 300 but a lot of people on here catch giants on em, pointer 78s and 65 are killer downsized jerkbaits, the pointer 95 silent is super overlooked and has caught a large percent of my biggest fish, the h20 ultimate jerkshad is an incredible bait for the money too. With those few jerkbaits I could do everything I need too and more.

I’m going through an ultralight/bfs phase and the pointer 65 is the only jerkbait i’m really throwing these days. Can catch a giant brown trout in the river, drive down the road to the res and catch white bass, largies, smallies, crappie, and yellow perch all on the same bait/combo. Hard to beat that!

[Junger]

I've done really well on Rapala X-Rap XR08's that go down to about 5', it's a smaller profile jerkbait with a tight wiggle. I find that bass are willing to come up pretty far for it. The hooks suck, so I change those out. For deeper jerkbaits, I use the Jackall Rerange MR.

[Rockhopper]

Provoke for me when it comes to a cheaper offering than megabass

[gim]

Another vote here for the Shimano flash boost.  The trebles that come with it are more stout than standard trebles.

 

Most of the time Megabass is excluded in discount codes and clearance options, but every once in a while you can find it.  Someone recently posted that DSG had a buy 5, get 5 deal going that included them.  That would be half price for each, which is hard to beat.

[Bazoo]

I'm not much of a jerkbait man, but I want to learn them. My buddy does pretty good with a Husky Jerk in glass minnow color. I've caught a few on them myself on heavily pressured waters.

[rangerjockey]

The Spro McStick. I throw them as much or more than the Vision anymore. They see a million Visions maybe not as many McSticks but they are no secret anymore .

The blue bandit color looks a little strange in the package but it's great in the water as is the Norman flake.

 

[MediumMouthBass]

6 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Yeah, the Shimano jerkbaits are the only ones I've found that really bring something new to the game, and that's flashboost technology.

 

Would you suggest the World Minnow over the World Diver? 

 

 

Thank you all for the replies, im currently draining my bank account, and day dreaming about pre spawn fishing these new lures!

[AlabamaSpothunter]

19 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Would you suggest the World Minnow over the World Diver? 

 

 

Thank you all for the replies, im currently draining my bank account, and day dreaming about pre spawn fishing these new lures!

It really just depends on what depth you're trying to reach and what line size you're using.

 

I think Megabass + lineup is just too hard to beat so I only use the World Minnow and smaller World Minnow the Zumverno 95.

 

I would suggest any new jerkbait angler have 4 staple jerkbait sizes/depths.   You really can't just use one and hope to fully utilize the technique.  

 

1.  Fullsize 110 length jerkbait that runs 4-6ft

 

2.  Downsized 90 length jerkbait that runs 4-6ft

 

3.  Fullsize 110 length +1 jerkbait that runs  6-10ft

 

4.  Downsized 90 length +1 jerkbait that runs 6-10ft

 

 

[FishTank]

The Lucky Craft Pointer 100 would be my choice. It does a great job of suspending and staying still but with that said, the Vision 110 has been my go to for about 20 years. I have never had a bill come off. I have cracked one on a rock but that's it and that bait still catches fish.  I have a Pro Blue 110 that I have caught well over 100 fish on and it still looks and works great. 

 

I look at this way. I hate paying $25 for a 110 so I order most of mine from Japan for around $12-14. I may buy a special one from The Hook Up Tackle from time to time but I am not going to pay full price unless I have to replace one, which I have only done once (110 JR +1 in GLX Spawn Cherry). Also, I think I would rather pay for a bait that I have confidence in, that I know is good straight out of the box, with sharp hooks than take a chance on a cheaper bait. I've tried though and haven't had much luck so the cheap bait ends up being a waste of time and money. 

 

 

 

[Aaron_H]

If you're looking for a budget jerkbait, Academy H2OX Ultimate Jerk Shad.

 

 

It works. And it's affordable. 'Nuff said.

[Tackleholic]

Being a newbie to jerks (that's how I label them) , buy a few in the low to mid price range.  Fish them hard until you feel you are pretty good with their use.  At that point splurge for a couple 110's.  Chances are you will become another Megabass 110 only guy.

[BassinBrett]

I fish Dou Realis jerkbaits and have done well with them.  I have also used Lucky Craft Slender pointer with good success.  You can get both for less than a MB 110.  I would start with a shallow and deep running jerkbait first in a natural minnow color.  I like the 130 Duo Realis jerkbaits the most.  Go big or go home.  
 

unless it is the tiny jerkbait day!  

[Bankbeater]

I've probably caught more bass on a Smithwick Suspending Rogue than any other hard jerkbait.

[OkobojiEagle]

Duo Realis rozante 77 ... 30 degree head down pausing attitude, with small quiet rattle, runs 2' - 4'

Pointer 78 ... horizontal pausing attitude, silent, runs 3' - 5'

Pointer 78dd ... head down pausing attitude, silent, runs 5' - 6'

 

didn't read these on your list...

[primetime]

I don't throw alot of suspending jerkbaits anymore but when I used to throw them often in clear colder water, I used mainly Smithwick Rogues, Bomber Long A's(suspending)- Love the Long A floaters in Summer. Rapala X-Raps are good and erratic as well as Lucky Craft Pointers. Husky Jerks are good baits with more subdued action. I also used to do really well with a slow sinking jerkbait as well, Rapala Countdown was always really good. Some suspenders will also sink or float depending on water temps etc. so I used to use suspend dots and strips to get them to act the way I wanted.  

 

Booyah used to have a good jerkbait as well.

 

I also used to throw a small Matzuo Jerkbait on light tackle that used to work really well. Was cheap, $2.99 but some days would work fantastic. 

 

Tricky part if finding the right depth, cadence, size etc. is more important than brand imo. Color tends to matter more than it does with other moving baits in my experiences as well. Takes patience to get good with jerkbaits and luckily by brother would always figure out the pattern which made cold days much better. Sometimes the smallest details on retrieve make all the difference. 

 

I have never thrown a megabass so not sure if they are worth it or not.  

[Catt]

Bill Lewis Scope-Stik 😉

[padon]

i like the rerange for a little warmer water as stated. ive caught them on a bunch of the ones you mentioned , pointer, strike king, shimano etc. they all work but the vision 110 still seems the best to me.espsecially in colder water it seems to outproduce them all. theyve been around a long time and if they didnt outproduce the others they wouldnt sell for the price they do.

[Mr. Aquarium]

I love head hunter minnows, 8 bucks they suspend great. Caught some big fish up here in New England. My 2nd biggest 7lbs 10 ounce on the pro blue. 

[FryDog62]

Surprised no one has mentioned it so far - the Berkely Stunna was designed as a knockoff replica of the Vision 110 to get the same darting action. Hank won 2 Classics with it. Comes in the standard 112 size, but also a slightly downsized 100.  A few bucks less and I have found it just as effective as the Megabass Vision.

 

I'm also a fan of the Zumverno when downsizing and/or when tossing on BFS. It works great when longer pauses (hence flash boost) are the key.