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Don't be affraid to throw a jerk bait into the nasty brush piles, or atleast bump them. 2 years ago I boated a 6.11, and a 7.1. Both of those fish were in cover (trees). Also under docks in early spring. I worry about getting bit first. If no bite then I worry how to get back my bait. 10 pound Berkley Vanish on a bait casting rod works well for me.
At what water temp do you want your jerkbait to suspend?
[QUOTE=Mean Morone;316659]At what water temp do you want your jerkbait to suspend?[/QUOTE]
Scott I always like mine to suspend as that really is the only kind I will use. I do have a couple of floating Rogues but find myself seldom using them. When the water temps are say below 50 degrees sometimes long pauses are in order to get bit. There is even a dead of winter tactic people will use called deadsticking. This is usually done in very cold water and with a little deeper diver then normal. Basically they get the bait down to the desired strike zone and twitch pause and let the bait sit still sometimes for minutes litterally. You have to get one that slightly sinks or holds in place to do this effectively and can be done with added weights. Personally I've done this but it absolutely bores me to death, as I am slightly hyper and need to be doing something, LOL. When the water gets above 50 and especially that 55 degree mark,(SWEET SPOT), hint, hint, get ready cause it's on. By the way fellas the Gizz 4 that Scott and his pals make is also a very good jerkbait. Yes it's a crank but fished in a jerkbait manner it's got some good erratic action.
OK guys, I'm going to go "old school" on ya'll .... ;)
My favorite jerkbait is the (three treble hook size) Rebel Minnow / Silver sides / white belly / Chartresue back (even if I have to paint the back, myself). Always threw them on a baitcaster/12lb line. wrist snap retrieve while holding onto the handle ... but, never actually cranking the handle with my hand !! I actually hold the reel handle/hand in one spot ... and work the rod to make the reel go around the handle. jerk-jerk-jerk-pause ... repeat. When done correctly, the line will snap right at the water's surface and create a zip-zip-zip noise. Rebel Minnow will basically 'walk the dog" underwater. And you can see the chartreuse back in fairly stained water, or in choppy water. Generally doesn't go much deeper than a couple of feet ... but, I've had Bass come well off the bank and bust it.
Another good use for it, when the Bass are right close against the bank ... is to parallel cast right close to the water's edge, then "burn it" back (no jerks/pauses). Bedding Bass don't seem to appreciate that "speedy gonzalez critter" come busting thru their bedroom... LOL!!
Used to work very well, at Herrington Lake ... prespawn & spawn Bass. I liked using the Rebel Minnow over the "balsa" jerkbaits, because the Rebel wouldn't pop to the surface as fast. Plus, it being heavier, would cast in the wind better/farther.
... luck2ya'll ... whatever you choose to use !!
... cp
[QUOTE=Mean Morone;316659]At what water temp do you want your jerkbait to suspend?[/QUOTE]
I went to a KVD clinic several years ago at the Strader show, and he gave a 1 hour break down of fishing jerkbatis. As a general rule of thumb, when the water is below fifty you want to fish it with little action - smaller jerks and long pauses - When the water is 50-mid to low 60's you really give it a work out - short sharp jerks, shorter pauses - when it warms up higher than that, He starts to slow it down again with long slow rod sweeps rather than jerks and the long pauses again. This was all before the big jerkbait craze when rogues were about your only suspending option.
Now that lures are alot better at truely suspending you can really experiment with the action. I always double check that it is suspending level and tweek if it is not. I like it to sit level, and maybe the head slightly pointing down. If the head is pointing a little up, the action won't be near as good, and it doesn't look as natural.
Thanks for the info guys. Mhall, you are correct about the Gizz 4. It works great as a jerkbait for late spring bass, especially smallies. I would like to make a jerkbait that suspends and it looks like 55 might be the magic number for a neutral presentation. Col Forbin that is some good info also. Dave Stuart gave me some similar advice so I know you guys know what you are talking about. I will now go back to the shop and see what I can come up with. Sorry for butting in on this thread, but it is great info. THanks.
[QUOTE=Mean Morone;316686]Thanks for the info guys. Mhall, you are correct about the Gizz 4. It works great as a jerkbait for late spring bass, especially smallies. I would like to make a jerkbait that suspends and it looks like 55 might be the magic number for a neutral presentation. Col Forbin that is some good info also. Dave Stuart gave me some similar advice so I know you guys know what you are talking about. I will now go back to the shop and see what I can come up with. Sorry for butting in on this thread, but it is great info. THanks.[/QUOTE]
Don't ever think you are butting in, your opinion is as welcome and valuable as anybody elses on this site.
[QUOTE=Mean Morone;316686]Thanks for the info guys. Mhall, you are correct about the Gizz 4. It works great as a jerkbait for late spring bass, especially smallies. I would like to make a jerkbait that suspends and it looks like 55 might be the magic number for a neutral presentation. Col Forbin that is some good info also. Dave Stuart gave me some similar advice so I know you guys know what you are talking about. I will now go back to the shop and see what I can come up with. Sorry for butting in on this thread, but it is great info. THanks.[/QUOTE]
I don't know which is worse, thinking you are butting in, or thinking I know what I am talking about.
I do love to fish these jerkbaits. Jerkbaits and T-rigged plastics are by far my favorite - I probably caught 75% of my fish last year on one of those two. I can say I wasn't confident with jerkbaits my first couple years fishing them - now they are my confidence baits - especially in the spring. I really try to visualize that bait constantly - if you get a chance throw one in a pool to see how different actions make the bait react. You will be surprised how little you really have to work these.
Thanks guys, I do appreciate it. I have fished a lure like a jerkbait one time in my life and that was last April on C-land. In two days of fishing I caught several smallies including one that is now my personal best. I didn't weigh it but people have told me that it was somewhere btween 4 and 5 lb. I had no idea what I was doing, but the lure I was using had so much flash I guess the smallies couldn't stand it. That lure floats, but it got me to thinking how good it would have been if the lure would stop and just look right back at those smallies. I don't think they could stand a neutral presentation. So now that is my goal. I will try to take the lure we already have and make it suspend at 55 deg. Any other water temp will make it either rise or sink. It's all good. Thanks again.
Thanks MarkW for bringing up this subject. It has been very informative.
No problem and you are right, some very good and informative info came out of this. I am happy to see this kind of topic come out so well, and I feel was the original intention of this website.
Thanks to everybody. Since reading these posts, reading on the internet and reading in the latest magazines---I think I am ready. It will be at least two weeks til I hit the water, but hopefully that will be enough time to get the "jerkbait bite" going!
Anyone try the new Xrap shad from Rapala? I picked one up last fall and fishing a couple of days on Barkley in December I think it has a lot of potential. Fishing was slow on that trip but I did pick up a 6.5 lb LM along with several other good fish including some big whites. They liked this better than a regular shad rap that trip and I got more bites than on slender jerks also. I am looking forward to trying it more this spring.