PondBoss Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Today is the first time I've ever used a suspending jerk bait. I've had a rattling rogue in the clown pattern in my box for a coupe of years and never used it. I bought a couple of H2O Xpress jerk baits the other day on clearance for $1 at Academy. The fish at my local spot seemed like they had packed up and moved on for the summer, as I hadn't had much luck lately. The kids now that school is out are swimming and bridge diving maybe 30 feet from where I bank fish. I figured that maybe the fish had just relocated due to the added commotion. Turns out I was wrong! I was striking out early with what are my usual go to baits when I decided "what the hell" I'll try this suspending bait. I've been watching some BASS and FLW tournaments and they have been doing really well lately on those. First cast, bingo! Second cast Cha-Ching! Third cast had a 3-4lb follower. Picked up my flipping stick and pitched a craw a couple of times, no luck. Picked up the jerk bait again and first cast, YAHTZEE! It was really cool to watch the fish just look at the bait and examine it. You could almost see the cogs running through her brain. I gave it a small twitch and the light bulb went off. I was surprised at how lightly it picked up the bait. Had I not seen her swim off with it in her mouth I would not have known I'd got a bite. I came back later in the day, and after about 5 casts a group of kids came by and started jumping off the bridge. I decided to keep fishing. 3 kids were in the water about 15 feet away from my bait suspended 1-2 ft under he surface, I looked up to see one kid doing a flip off the bridge and looked back just in time to see my bait get smoked! It came right out from where the kid landed in the water. I'd say today I learned a couple of things: 1) The fish have not moved for summer vacation 2) Maybe bass aren't as frightful as we all think And one question came to mind: Why the hell have I not picked up a suspending jerk bait before? Sorry so long winded Pondboss Quote
ripinthem Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Great Post. LOL! I like those learning moments. Sometimes that suspended, easy meal, is just too much. Sometimes they want it faster than you can reel. Got to love fishing. Quote
Punkinseedfyretailz Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 sounds like a fun and productive day good job Quote
PondBoss Posted June 3, 2011 Author Posted June 3, 2011 It did turn out to be a productive day, we'll see how they react tomorrow. The fish in this area seem to hit certain baits for about a week then it's time to try something new. I'm hoping they are hitting the jerk bait again for the next week. I really like fishing the technique. Kind of a finesse/power fishing combo. Hard erratic jerks with long pauses for effect. It's great Quote
airborne_angler Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 It did turn out to be a productive day, we'll see how they react tomorrow. The fish in this area seem to hit certain baits for about a week then it's time to try something new. I'm hoping they are hitting the jerk bait again for the next week. I really like fishing the technique. Kind of a finesse/power fishing combo. Hard erratic jerks with long pauses for effect. It's great Ya know,I have sold soo many Jerkbaits that I have acquired,never gave em a try until recently,I really regret selling em. I bought a Rapala XR04 X Rap that was on clearance at Wal Mart.Its an Ultralight model and I have been tearing it up at a local pond. Right now this bait is my Go To. Its all I use.Caught this fish(pictured)just today,after leaving the lake due to high winds. I ended up boating 2 small Bass on this bait at the lake in terrible winds.. Im lovin Hard Jerkbaits!!! I guess my approach(retrieve) is really aggressive,Im constantly twitching the bait,its actually a little fatiguing,but when a fish jumps on,its a blast!! Quote
gobig Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Maybe bass aren't as frightful as we all think This is where the phrase I have personally adopted from the BBZ mindset comes into play "everything matters yet nothing matters" On the days where everything matters those people swimming could be the difference in not getting bit. When nothing matters you could have a guy on a jet ski doing doughnuts 30ft away and its not going to matter, in fact it may make the fish turn on. If I am not mistaken one of the classics was won when a party barge split between the angler and the bank stirring things up, a pattern was created. This concept forces an open mind, the exploration of all avenues. Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted June 3, 2011 Super User Posted June 3, 2011 Good deal PondBoss! I was an avid jerkbait fisherman and for some reason I haven't been using them at all in the past few years. After reading your OP, I'm considering digging them out from the bottom of the box and giving them a whirl again. Great post and good luck out there. Quote
WanderLust Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Good deal PondBoss! I was an avid jerkbait fisherman and for some reason I haven't been using them at all in the past few years. After reading your OP, I'm considering digging them out from the bottom of the box and giving them a whirl again. Great post and good luck out there. My jerkbait collection is almost as extensive as my topwater collection if that tells you anything. In my current lake conditions the obscenely colored (bright, bright and more bright or larger dark baits) ones are still producing although mostly toothy critters. Quote
Hyrule Bass Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 i became a believer in suspending jerkbaits earlier this year, back in february when it was still cold out. fishing a pond i couldnt get a bite on anything. remember hearing jerkbaits do well in cold water i decided to pull out the one i owned at that time that i hadnt caught a fish on ever in three years of owning and using it on occasion. well, it worked. caught my first really cold weather bass in february and it was a nice healthy 4 pounder, next cast to the same spot and i give it a couple jerks, pause go to jerk again and the rod loads up so i set the hook into another fish, this time only 1lb but i was just as excited to be catching bass in the winter on a bait that had never worked for me before... Quote
TimJ Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 pondboss...good for you. it's always nice to gain confidence in a bait quickly...funny, my son just did the same thing today with an Xrap! Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted June 3, 2011 Super User Posted June 3, 2011 @ Wonderlust: For some reason I believe that...LOL @ Red Earth: 4 lber in February is nothing to sneeze at...WTG! Quote
throwback Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Would the Rapala Flat Rap be considered a jerk bait? Quote
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