Jerk Baits

[Creede]

It's time to restock the jerkbait box. Has anyone had any luck with the Rick clunn jerkbaits? I've never used one but they look decent and are way easier on the wallet than the megabass or the other "premium" baits. Im sure the fancy baits have their advantages, and I see lots of talk about them on this forum, but i cant afford to fill a box with 25 dollar baits that i will more than likely give up to the river. Any advice will be appreciated.

[Stump bumper]

I like the ones from Netcraft myself, more like a pointer. The table rock shad is very effective.You have to put on your own split rings and hooks though. I have a couple of rick clunns but have no caught anything on them but not much use either.

http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/crankbait-bodies/341520.aspx

[bluebasser86]

I don't fish Beaver but I've had more success in the lakes around the KC area on the Luck E Strike baits than I have the Megabass but our water isn't quite as clear. They're a good bait for sure though and much easier on the wallet. Caught some really nice fish on the new mini version before the lakes iced up.

[jeb]

I like the RC STX quite a bit for that kind of jerkbait. I had far more success with them last winter on Beaver than I did my collection of Megabass Vision 110's. Actually, the Vision 110's I have (probably easily a dozen of them) are 4th string baits for me. The Spro McStick and STX are pretty much a tie for me as they both work very well around here. And the LC jerkbaits work really well, too.

[Quillback]

I saw Jeb catch an 8 lb. LM on a RC STX, so you can fish one with confidence. McSticks are good, IMA FLit is a good lure, but a little spendy, (wait for a sale on the Flits). I like having a few deeper diving baits in the box also like a Pointer 78XD or Spro McRips.

[Gavin]

The RC STX is no substitute for a Megabass Vision...it suspends flat, maybe slightly nose down....instead of nose down at a 45 like the Mega. Flimsy hooks too...the small STX...floats nose up in my sink...have not fished it yet...but my sink test does not inspire confidence. If your looking for decent baits cheap...its hard to top a Husky Jerk or Eeratic Shad.

[Stump bumper]

The H2O suspending is also a good deep diver and half the price of the other jerk baits, Then if you play with the floating H2O jerkbait it will suspend also and you can get 3 for the price of one Mcstick or Pointer.

It depends on the day I have struck out with high priced jerkbaits all day then loaded the boat with $3 jerkbaits. My personal best 7lb bass off beaver came from a husky jerk then my best bag 5 fish 26lbs came off a Janes netcraft 78 in Table Rock shad.

I probably have $200 worth of LC pointers stuck in stripers and trees in that Lake so I had to find a cheaper route and have not been short on hooking fish, they don't seem to care how much you spend, but I do think the bigger stripers target high dollar baits on lighter line.lol

[Quillback]

The RC STX is no substitute for a Megabass Vision...it suspends flat, maybe slightly nose down....instead of nose down at a 45 like the Mega. Flimsy hooks too...the small STX...floats nose up in my sink...have not fished it yet...but my sink test does not inspire confidence. If your looking for decent baits cheap...its hard to top a Husky Jerk or Eeratic Shad.

I like a flat suspending bait myself, and I have not noticed any of my Mega's suspending at a 45 degree down angle. Are you using heavy floro? That might be the reason your Megas are doing that 45 degree thing.

Good point on the STX, change out those hooks for sure. And that Eeratic shad is another inexpensive bait that seems to fish well, I haven't fished one enough to gain confidence in them, but it looks like they work well out of the box.

I've found the Megas to be cheaply built for a $25 bait, some of them have a tendency to slowly float (I'm using 8 lb. floro most of the time), the eyes fall off, and the bills break easily. I just don't see the value for $25.

[Gavin]

Mega Vision 110's hang nose down in the sink, and they are a designed to slow float....Scroll to the bottom of the Tackle Tour Article for a picture of what I'm talking about.

http://megabassusa.com/news/tackletour-autopsy-megabass-vision-x-110-seriously

I like a bait that suspends horizontally too. Almost all of the LC jerkbaits sit flat or at slight nose down attitude in the sink, same with the McStick, Eeratic Shad, most others...but sometimes the Mega is the one they want over a horizontal suspender...I'm thinking its due to the nose down attitude and slow float.

Toss a couple of your baits in the sink and see what they do..

Medium spinning gear with 6lb braid with an 8-12lb flouro leader most of the time...8lb mono if the air temps are below freezing.

[crhoden]

I fish jerk baits a lot out west, we call them "rip baits". Pointers and Staysees are mainstays out here, as are IMA Flits and Vision 110s. I don't know how these particular baits apply to Beaver, but one thing is all are consistent in their suspending ability and have reliable quality that doesnt typically require tuning. Staysee 90s are pretty much the go to bait in California reservoirs for a lot of guys.