Super User roadwarrior Posted February 6, 2009 Super User Posted February 6, 2009 Jerkbaits are not my most productive lures, but they are my favorite! I like small X-Raps when the fish are very active. Otherwise, Lucky Craft Pointers 100 & 128 and the Rapala Husky Jerk (Chrome Blue/Orange). As a general rule, I fish jerkbaits when the other best choice might be topwater. Low light is best, but on a cloudy day, all day. Jerkbaits can be fished around cover, but I prefer deep structure. My ideal situation for smallmouth bass is a steeply sloped main lake point with deep water on either side. For largemouth, secondary points. Cadence is tricky and you will just have to experiment, but pay attention: once you find the right cadence, it will work for the entire outing. I usually start with a fast jerk-jerk- pause to see how aggressive the fish are. After a few casts, if that's not working, long jerk- long pause-long jerk-longer pause-long jerk and just leave it sit! Regardless of your pattern, the key to fishing a jerkbait is a complete pause on slack line. Lean forward into the bait so it doesn't move. Rapala calls the X-Rap a "slash bait" and I fish it differently: short jerks and no pause, like an injured bait trying to escape. p.s. Fish the size you are most comfortable with, usually that's the Pointer 100, Husky Jerk HJ10 and X-Rap XR08, but my biggest smallmouth have been caught on the Pointer 128. 8-) Quote
Super User T-rig Posted February 6, 2009 Super User Posted February 6, 2009 How's the slender pointer working for you? Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted February 6, 2009 Author Super User Posted February 6, 2009 How's the slender pointer working for you? That's my focus lure tomorrow. This is THE perfect day to find out! 8-) Quote
Super User senile1 Posted February 6, 2009 Super User Posted February 6, 2009 Nice post, Kent. I wouldn't say jerkbaits are my most productive either but on specific days they have been. I seem to have the most success with the Lucky Craft 100 Deep Diver, small to medium-sized Husky Jerks, and the venerable Smithwick Rogues. I think I would have more success with the X-raps but I tend to reach for the other choices first and don't use the X-raps as much. Quote
Tucson Posted February 6, 2009 Posted February 6, 2009 I've gotta remember the pause-on-a-slack-line part. Quote
fivesixone Posted February 7, 2009 Posted February 7, 2009 Is the LC Live Pointer a good lure? I'm not even sure it's a jerkbait, but figured I'd ask here. Saw a couple of 'em on sale, didn't know what to think of them... Quote
Super User Gone_Phishin Posted February 7, 2009 Super User Posted February 7, 2009 Is the LC Live Pointer a good lure? I'm not even sure it's a jerkbait, but figured I'd ask here. Saw a couple of 'em on sale, didn't know what to think of them... Your money will be better spent on the regular Pointer. Quote
Super User Crestliner2008 Posted February 7, 2009 Super User Posted February 7, 2009 Is the LC Live Pointer a good lure? I'm not even sure it's a jerkbait, but figured I'd ask here. Saw a couple of 'em on sale, didn't know what to think of them... Your money will be better spent on the regular Pointer. X2. Great post RW! I've never had any luck with the larger 128's, the 78's or 100's do me best. Quote
UPS VT Posted February 7, 2009 Posted February 7, 2009 I have had the most success with the husky jerk. I have tried the x-rap a little, but have not caught any on it. Never tried the lucky crafts, makes me nervous to throw that expensive of a lure with all the pike we have here. Quote
Super User 5bass Posted February 7, 2009 Super User Posted February 7, 2009 I like the Pointer 100 DD's when the water is in the low 40's, seems like the couple extra feet you get helps when the fish are still relating deep. Once the water warms above 45-46 where the fish move a little shallower, I will throw the 100 SP. I rarely throw another brand jerkbait anymore. Quote
Calcutta Posted February 7, 2009 Posted February 7, 2009 Whats the difference in a floating and a suspending jerkbait. Do they both float? Quote
Mac1 Posted February 7, 2009 Posted February 7, 2009 A floating jerkbait will rise on a pause. A suspending one will stay at depth on a pause. Quote
Stringjam Posted February 7, 2009 Posted February 7, 2009 LC Staysee 90 has been my top producer in cold water this year. Quote
The_Natural Posted February 7, 2009 Posted February 7, 2009 LC Staysee 90 has been my top producer in cold water this year. Am I retarded or are the bars on each end of your name new? Maybe both I guess. BTW...I'll have some of my custom cranks up shortly. No one can procrastinate like I do. Quote
fathom Posted February 7, 2009 Posted February 7, 2009 How's the slender pointer working for you? That's my focus lure tomorrow. This is THE perfect day to find out! 8-) you'll like the slender pointer. pause 'em just a tad longer...just seems to wiggle a bit more at rest than the regular pointers. Quote
Stringjam Posted February 7, 2009 Posted February 7, 2009 LC Staysee 90 has been my top producer in cold water this year. Am I retarded or are the bars on each end of your name new? Maybe both I guess. They've been there for awhile......the software wouldn't allow me to use the same name for my login as my handle, so I had to alter my handle with something. Quote
Md Posted February 8, 2009 Posted February 8, 2009 Here's two reasons I don't use LC jerkbaits where I fish. $$$$$$!!! The first fish I had on a week earlier on a husky jerk and it bit me off and took my lure. I wasn't thrilled and as I was tying another one on he began jumping about 100 yds away and threw my jerk! Most of the time I'm not that lucky. I was fishing the same exact area a week later with an X Rap and got redemption! He still had hook marks in his mouth from the prior week. They took a TON of my jerkbaits over the years!!! The second fish I caught on a tiny 3 inch Gulp leech in 35 ft of water on a size 2 Gammy DS hook. Unfortunately, if you're around bass on my waters, these boys aren't to far away! Quote
Super User T-rig Posted February 8, 2009 Super User Posted February 8, 2009 That's my focus lure tomorrow. This is THE perfect day to find out! How did it go RW? Catch any on the slender pointer? Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted February 8, 2009 Super User Posted February 8, 2009 I love jerk baits and I use something similar to an xrap. I do not cast and retrieve using the reel. I use an arm sweeping motion, then let it pause and reel up the slack, works for me and I use this method with spinner-baits and spoons. Yesterday I experimented in both a pond and a canal. I caught around 8 bass in about 90 minutes. After each catch I changed lures bouncing between 2 types of jerkbaits, a gold spoon and spinner-bait (avoids being to mechanical and keeps me more focused on each cast) I saw no reduction in the bite, every presentation produced results. Do you think this is just a lucky outing ? Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted February 8, 2009 Author Super User Posted February 8, 2009 That's my focus lure tomorrow. This is THE perfect day to find out! How did it go RW? Catch any on the slender pointer? Thirty mph winds... :-X We didn't go, but maybe next weekend. 8-) Quote
hawgchaser Posted February 8, 2009 Posted February 8, 2009 My arm is about to fall off from fishing pointers, x raps, and a new one for me..the Jackall Squad Minnow. Yesterday, I caught this girl on an Olive X Rap on Greers Ferry. The fish were NOT active and barely put up a fight. They would only hit a jerkbait if you let it sit for about 10 seconds. They wanted it SLOW. I don't like fishing them but when thats what they want, I'll give it to them. Sorry for the goofy pose with the rod, I sent it to a friend that talked me into buying that reel and told me it was going to bring me good luck Quote
bassman31783 Posted February 8, 2009 Posted February 8, 2009 Great post RW. I've also done really well with jerkbaits right after a big cold front when it's dead calm with blue bird skies. On those days the fish don't tend to chase lures to far. A suspending jerkbait is always a go to for me on those days. Thanks for some more food for thought. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted February 8, 2009 Author Super User Posted February 8, 2009 My arm is about to fall off from fishing pointers, x raps, and a new one for me..the Jackall Squad Minnow. Yesterday, I caught this girl on an Olive X Rap on Greers Ferry. The fish were NOT active and barely put up a fight. They would only hit a jerkbait if you let it sit for about 10 seconds. They wanted it SLOW. I don't like fishing them but when thats what they want, I'll give it to them. Sorry for the goofy pose with the rod, I sent it to a friend that talked me into buying that reel and told me it was going to bring me good luck I would say your friend was right. Congratulations! Nice fish. 8-) Quote
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