Choosing The Right Jerkbaitand Methods To Use Them

[drew03cmc]

I am new to fishing jerkbaits. There are several that I see as intriguing, including the X-Rap 08, Megabass OneTen and LC Pointer 100, but I am wondering which you choose for when and how you fish them in moving water.

[Gavin]

It is an expensive education, be careful about what you ask for!

[exiledguide]

Drew, I ask Mike Webb that question last month when I saw him at Bps last month. He told me the only jerk bait he has in his boat ix a 4" XRap and the only color he uses is hot pink. When I asked why he said it cast great and consistent reliable performance and it can be used as a cold water jerk bait and a warm water slash bait and it catches more fish for him than any other jerk baits. So I guess I'm putting my Rogues on the shelf if not on craigslist. Whenever I get rid of this pneumonia I, going to have a 4' hot pink XRap as my only Jerk bait.

[drew03cmc]

The 4" is a big bait for Smallmouth creeks, no? I caught fish on an XR08 in silver last weekend on Shoal Creek by casting it and reeling it like an Original Rapala, but they were chasing pretty hard.

This brownie hit the XRap.

[Ham]

River Jerkbaits or Lake Jerkbaits?

I've got a tremendous amount of confidence in Megabass 110's for the lakes in the area BUT I will not ever throw Megabass in a creek or river for smallies. Megabass are way too fragile for that.

A less expensive place to start for lake fish and tough enough for creek duty is the Spro McStick.

I've caught some really good fish on LC Pointer 78's and 100''s. 78's mostly in creeks and 100's mostly in lakes, but not always. They get after trout pretty well too.

Nothing wrong with a X Rap either.

[drew03cmc]

I would be looking at creek lures. For lakes up here, being shore bound, I don't throw cranks at all.

What methods do you use to throw these baits? What size McStick?

[Mitch f]

LC pointers are my staple on the river, but when I tied on a Megabass 110 the catch ratio went up. Can't speak to the robustness though. As far as pink jerkbaits... I use a pink fluke occasionally, but I would hesitate to sell my jerkbaits and buy only Rapalas in pink IMO Rapalas quality control is sub par and no 2 run alike.

[drew03cmc]

Which Pointers do you use Mitch and how do you determine presentation?

[Mitch f]

Which Pointers do you use Mitch and how do you determine presentation?

I'm by no means an expert, but I have been serious about using them for 5 years pretty steady and am still trying to perfect the presentation. Here are the things I know... When I use them on the river I try to never move the bait forward more than 1 foot at a time. When the water temps get colder, I move them even less and hesitate even longer between twitches/jerks...up to 3 or 4 seconds. But it (the water temp) has to be pretty darn cold (45) to wait that long.

They seem to work best when the water temp is over 45 and less than 52 or so.

I like the DD78 pointers in Chartreuse shad, or any clearish natural minnow pattern. The standard 78 works well too in shallower water. Al Agnew is an excellent jerk bait fisherman, maybe he can chime in and offer his 2 cents.

[Ham]

I'd stick to the 95, but that's just me.

I tend to throw them when the water is a little cooler. Spring or Fall. I think to throw them around cover. Vary your cadence, but I always have pauses built in.

Don't ignore areas with flow.