Jitter Bugs

[Sharkbite]

Hey guy's I picked up a jitter bug a few day's ago. I am confused when to use this bate and how to retrieve it. I've tried sowly ,chugs and fast I've had nothing yet.

[itwasme]

go with the biggest you can find in black and fish it at night very slow and steady and hold on.

[BassFishingMachine]

Yeah, you pretty much fish it with a steady retreive, no jerks no pauses etc, just a steady retreive, you can vary the retreieve speed and see what works best for you on each given day.

[fisher of bass]

when it hits the water wait unyil the ripples go away, then start your retrieve, if you are doing it right it should sound like blub,blub blub great bait

[skillet]

I always thought it was pretty much a night time lure. From other posts on it some members fish it pretty much whenever the topwater bite is on (with good results )...

                              As Ever,

                               skillet

[Paul Roberts]

Great lure -night or day, but best in low light -overcast, early, late, after dark.  

I tend to fish it this way: Cast. Wait after splashdown. Twitch. Wait. Then start a slow gurgling cadence. Then pause. Then retrieve some more, then pause, etc...

Here's why the above: Wait immediately after splashdown because aggressive bass can see lures in the air and will chase after it (At least under low light. In bright light and clear water they usually bolt away from the lure).  Sometimes they meet it right at splashdown (that's how these hits happen, btw), or shortly after. Also, aggressive bass some distance away will investigate the sound of the splashdown, so I give 'em time to get there before I start the retrieve. The twitch takes bass that might not commit otherwise. Often they'll zoom up, then hang below and watch. An aggressive retrieve might put them off. The twitch can be deadly, and is less apt to put a tentative fish off.

If no strike, I start the retrieve -taking the plug into new water. Blub, blub, blub, blub... then pause. The retrieve is again an attractor, then I play with pauses. Often they hit on the pause, a twitch, or just after it starts up again. Sometimes it's a long pause that works. Makes 'em sweat!

I don't tend to fish it with a continuous retrieve because there are faster, more weedless baits for this -like a buzzer.

It's disadvantage is that it is a slow lure. Other topwaters can cover more water and catch fish -jumpbaits, buzzers. But the Jitterbug WILL draw fish, and big ones too -this last is a particular advantage to the slow speed. This is a lure that is capable of taking the biggest bass in the pond.

I actually have my grandfather's Jitterbug -about 60 years old now! The first bass I ever saw, and many others after, fell to it on my Dad's rod. Eventually he gave it to me. I've caught a lot of bass on it, but it's now hanging over my desk, waiting for my son to come of age.

[=Matt 5.0=]

Great lure -night or day, but best in low light -overcast, early, late, after dark.

I tend to fish it this way: Cast. Wait after splashdown. Twitch. Wait. Then start a slow gurgling cadence. Then pause. Then retrieve some more, then pause, etc...

Here's why the above: Wait immediately after splashdown because aggressive bass can see lures in the air and will chase after it (At least under low light. In bright light and clear water they usually bolt away from the lure). Sometimes they meet it right at splashdown (that's how these hits happen, btw), or shortly after. Also, aggressive bass some distance away will investigate the sound of the splashdown, so I give 'em time to get there before I start the retrieve. The twitch takes bass that might not commit otherwise. Often they'll zoom up, then hang below and watch. An aggressive retrieve might put them off. The twitch can be deadly, and is less apt to put a tentative fish off.

If no strike, I start the retrieve -taking the plug into new water. Blub, blub, blub, blub... then pause. The retrieve is again an attractor, then I play with pauses. Often they hit on the pause, a twitch, or just after it starts up again. Sometimes it's a long pause that works. Makes 'em sweat!

I don't tend to fish it with a continuous retrieve because there are faster, more weedless baits for this -like a buzzer.

It's disadvantage is that it is a slow lure. Other topwaters can cover more water and catch fish -jumpbaits, buzzers. But the Jitterbug WILL draw fish, and big ones too -this last is a particular advantage to the slow speed. This is a lure that is capable of taking the biggest bass in the pond.

I actually have my grandfather's Jitterbug -about 60 years old now! The first bass I ever saw, and many others after, fell to it on my Dad's rod. Eventually he gave it to me. I've caught a lot of bass on it, but it's now hanging over my desk, waiting for my son to come of age.

Great post Paul.  

[Raul]

Cut the factory hooks away, add a split ring and change the hooks for good quality ones. Do not unscrew the hook hanger !.

[Paul Roberts]

Yes! Ditto, Raul. Big ones will find weaknesses and those old non-free-swinging hooks are just that.

[Ben W]

I caught my PB on a Jitterbug! Although it appears I was fishing it wrong because I fish mine with a 1-2 second pause on the retrieve.

[ABC123]

As long as you get the bait to work, your fishing it ok. Steady retrieve, jerk, retrieve-pause...which ever. I usually do either a long jerk then pause, or a steady retrieve for 1-3 feet, then pause.

I use it when the bite is average and/or I have to call the fish from deeper water. Much like a popper. Morning or early night time. IMO, they are a good search bait.

[Paul Roberts]

As long as you get the bait to work, your fishing it ok.

That's the game. There are no hard and fast rules really, but there are things, like those details I mentioned above, that can sometimes squeak out more fish for you.

Varying the retrieve, with any lure, can make the lure seem more alive, exciting, and vulnerable. The key with a Jitterbug, or other topwaters, is often the pauses, and you may have to figure out what works best on a given day. Here's how I look at it: If they'll take it well with mostly retrieve, and short pauses -great! I can cover more water and catch more bass. But sometimes a longer pause works well.

At times, a Jitterbug can catch fish with a steady cadence, like a buzzbait, but unlike a buzzer, a treble-hooked lure can't pass over weed clumps, free-floating weeds and algae, or bounce off logs and twigs, like a buzzer can.

I use it when the bite is average

If you've got really active bass committing suicide in front of you, a faster topwater like a spinnerbait, buzzer, or jumpbait may catch more fish in a given time. But when things are quieter (and fast stuff isn't blowing over) you may have to tease up some hits. A slower presentation may pull some bass up, and Jitterbugs shine here.

[Bass_Fanatic]

Although I have never used a jitterbug, I have had much of the same success with PoP-R's.  

I've had days when I couldn't do anything wrong with it.  I could cast and chug it steadily and seemingly catch every fish in the lake, but when you really learn about a bait such as the jitterbug or pop-r is when you must work for the bite.  I have found that on most days when fish are inactive, even at high noon, with the right retrieve, you can call up some big fish with these type baits.  It just takes practice and patience!!  And I've also noticed that most big bites come when the bait is sitting still.  

[Sharkbite]

Wow thanks a lot guys This has taught me alot. I also have the tiny torpedo and hula popper I am trying to learn. See I thought I could only use these baits around dusk, night, and dawn so now I can learn faster b/c they are effective at other times in the day. I didn't know that the buzz baits were that effective either. I have a lot of work to do now. Thanks again.

[Grey Wolf]

Wow thanks a lot guys This has taught me alot. I also have the tiny torpedo and hula popper I am trying to learn. See I thought I could only use these baits around dusk, night, and dawn so now I can learn faster b/c they are effective at other times in the day. I didn't know that the buzz baits were that effective either. I have a lot of work to do now. Thanks again.

You have got to learn not to stereotype the way you fish. Think outside the box once in a while , you may be surprised.

[fishfordollars]

I cannot find a wrong way to fish the Jitterbug unless I leave it in the boat. I will also use it when the top water bite is on and I need to follow someone down a grassline. It will usually be good for a few that have passed up some of the more popular top water lures that most or throwing these days.

[Sharkbite]

You have got to learn not to stereotype the way you fish. Think outside the box once in a while , you may be surprised.

Hey what do you mean by this?

[Grey Wolf]

You have got to learn not to stereotype the way you fish. Think outside the box once in a while , you may be surprised.

Hey what do you mean by this?

You already got my meaning when you said you thought it was only a early morning or late evening bait but found out it was effective other times of the day. This is thinking out of the box.

[Marty]

Jitterbugs are my favorite treble-hook topwaters. I know they have a reputation as a great night bait, but I don't fish at night. However, I do use them in low light situations and also during the day under sunny skies. It's surprising how many topwater bites I've had during the day on these and other surface baits. I generally use a steady retrieve.

All my Jitterbugs are modified. Throw away the hooks and hook hangers, add screw eyes and split rings to attach your new hooks. I also take out the screws holding the lip to the body and put a drop or two of super glue in each hole before replacing the screws.

I get a kick out of the irony of such a great fish attractor being made with such cruddy components.

[Paul Roberts]

Fun thread. I'd love to hear more on how you guys fish your topwaters -specifically.

Bass_Fanatic, when you say high noon, is that ever under bright sun? I tend to fish "in the box" then. Am I missing something?

With the Pop-R, how do you adapt to condtions? Or what have you seen?

Thanks!

[Sharkbite]

What is this pop R ? Do you mean popper

[tyrius.]

What is this pop R ? Do you mean popper

The Pop R is one brand of popper.  Hula Popper is another.

[Bass_Fanatic]

Yes, the Pop-R is a different brand, its made by Rebel.  Awesome bait!!

And yes I do fish these under bright sun sometimes, its not my go to bait under these condition or anything, but when they wont hit plastics, spinners, and cranks, what else is really left.  Top water.  

For instance, last year a buddy of mine and I went up to Toledo Bend.  He lives on the lake, so he was kind of my guide for the day.  We caught fish early, but by 10 o'clock, they just shut off.  We fished in deep water with plastics, cranks, and even slow-rolled a spinnerbait.  Nothing.  I insisted that we move up a little and try something DIFFERENT!  I told him to move up and I was going to thro a Pop-R.  He said if I caught a fish at 1'oclock with blue bird skies, he would never fish agian.  After all the fuss he moved a little shallower  and I began to throw my Pop-R.  In less than 5 cast I hooked up.  I laughed while he sat there in amazment.  He then tied one on and in two hours we were culling fish.  

I don't think this would always be the case, but whwen nothing else is working, give it a try, you might be suprised.

Oh, and by the way, my buddy still fishes and he always has a Pop-R tied on, even at 1 oclock! ;D

[eastcoastfisher]

I used the jitterbug for the first time last monday at 4am on a local pond I have never caught a bass on top water before but this morning with this lure i caught 5 the first one was the biggest 3lbs I cant wait to go next weekend slow retreival for me just enough for it to do its motion and sound

[Sharkbite]

Wow thats really amazing. I was in a situation like that yesterday. I have a park 5 min from my work which has 2 small lakes. I call them the lunch box lakes. I caught a few nice ones here. But I haven't been there once and not caught anything till yesterday. I tried spinners, trick sticks, brush babys, and jigs but I came up with nothing. The next time this happens I will throw a jitterbug or Hula popper.