Jerkbait Color

[Guest]

I painted this LC pointer minnow to resemble the local creek chubs.

Its kinda got a "houdini" look to it, which has been a staple color for small swimbaits.

This was a repaint that was originally "clown" colored.

I've never used suspending jerkbaits in smallmouth creeks.

So, I have no idea if it will catch fish or not.

Im hoping the big walleyes will take a liking to it.

Whats ya'lls most productive cold water jerkbait in the creeks?

[gotmuddy]

great paint as usual. I havent used suspending jerkbaits in creeks per say, but I have had great luck winter fishing on the 11pt fishing megabass 110s. I have caught large numbers of nice smallies in the summertime with LC pointers.

[Guest]

I consider the eleven point a creek, even though its a small river.

But that's probably bc I grew up fishing the Ark and Miss Rivers

Im new to the Ozark smallmouth streams and rivers.

Either way,

Ive never tried a jerkbait in river systems.

Whats a good scenario to fish the jerkbait, big deep pools, shallow wood, or riffles?

[gotmuddy]

I love fishing them in eddies, right now deep pools. on places like CC I look for the deepest water I can find and chunk it. places like southfork I look for moving water(when its warm). I caught a 18" smallie right next to a large boulder on the lower buffalo. I dont know if there is anywhere I WONT throw a jerkbait, haha.

[Al Agnew]

Gotta admit that I don't use jerkbaits between mid-April and mid-September. They are strictly a cool to cold water bait for me. Any color that imitates some kind of minnow works for me, but if the water is clear, I like a color pattern that is pretty light on the BACK. Why? Because I can see it easily. If you can see your jerkbait, it's a whole lot easier to see a fish take it instead of relying upon feel alone. In very clear water, I want one that is somewhat translucent on the sides. creamy white belly like just about any minnow, and very light greenish or something similar on the back. I like to take clown-color Pointers, and give the back a quick spray of very light, dull green, and the belly a quick spray of cream-white. Otherwise, I like chartreuse-shad for clear water as well. If the water is murkier and the lure will be going deeper than I can see it anyway, then I might go to solid colors instead of translucent ones, but otherwise might still be using chartreuse-shad.

It's a beautiful paint job, and I'm sure it will catch fish very well. I love brownish colors for smallmouth. But if you were wanting to "match the hatch", so to speak, keep in mind that most baitfish that have brown backs are bottom dwellers. The mid-water minnows that jerkbaits theoretically imitate the best have silvery sides and olive to light green backs. On the other hand, I don't think bass ever think about things like that.

[Wayne SW/MO]

My best color was the gold X Rap. It is actually more of a blue with orange highlights though.

[Guest]

Gotta admit that I don't use jerkbaits between mid-April and mid-September. They are strictly a cool to cold water bait for me. Any color that imitates some kind of minnow works for me, but if the water is clear, I like a color pattern that is pretty light on the BACK. Why? Because I can see it easily. If you can see your jerkbait, it's a whole lot easier to see a fish take it instead of relying upon feel alone. In very clear water, I want one that is somewhat translucent on the sides. creamy white belly like just about any minnow, and very light greenish or something similar on the back. I like to take clown-color Pointers, and give the back a quick spray of very light, dull green, and the belly a quick spray of cream-white. Otherwise, I like chartreuse-shad for clear water as well. If the water is murkier and the lure will be going deeper than I can see it anyway, then I might go to solid colors instead of translucent ones, but otherwise might still be using chartreuse-shad.

It's a beautiful paint job, and I'm sure it will catch fish very well. I love brownish colors for smallmouth. But if you were wanting to "match the hatch", so to speak, keep in mind that most baitfish that have brown backs are bottom dwellers. The mid-water minnows that jerkbaits theoretically imitate the best have silvery sides and olive to light green backs. On the other hand, I don't think bass ever think about things like that.

Your insight is always appreciated,

you've got an artist's perspective from a sportsman's point of view.

I didnt think about the "sight fishing" aspect of jerkbaiting.

It would be similar to watching them turn on a weightless senko or fluke type bait.

I've got a similar pattern in olive thats painted on a square bill crankbait.

Its super bad when the creek warms to 50° in March.

I'm thinking this bait might trick a few walleye when they run up the white at Beaver.

that was my intention anyways.

[Al Agnew]

Your insight is always appreciated,

you've got an artist's perspective from a sportsman's point of view.

I didnt think about the "sight fishing" aspect of jerkbaiting.

It would be similar to watching them turn on a weightless senko or fluke type bait.

I've got a similar pattern in olive thats painted on a square bill crankbait.

Its super bad when the creek warms to 50° in March.

I'm thinking this bait might trick a few walleye when they run up the white at Beaver.

that was my intention anyways.

Walleye should love it. Back when I fished for river walleye a lot with live minnows, the minnows we tried to find were big stonerollers, 4-6 inches. Stonerollers have brownish backs and silvery tan sides.

[Mitch f]

Great looking bait as usual, if you take away the bars on the side it looks like my favorite color fluke...Arkansas shiner

[Gavin]

Looks great!....Kinda like a small hog sucker or stoneroller...May have some baits in need of some paint...PM me and we can discuss.