Choosing The Right Jerkbaitand Methods To Use Them

[Old plug]

Someone recently gave me a suspending bait called a twitcher.i have no idea who makes the thing.but i certainly likewhat i seen of it testing it off the dock. Anyone know who makes it...???

[LittleRedFisherman]

I've tried several different kinds, I kinda leaned on the Luckie Strike RC's, not a bad jerkbait for 7 bucks, but broke in and tried a Megabass last year. LOVE them, yes there expensive, but have some awesome action. This video here was one of my first experiences with them, here I was using the 110 +1 model, it gets down there in 6 or 7 feet of water, here they were staging behind big rocks in fairly deep water. If your wanting the start out jerkbait fishing to see how you like it, I"d highly recommend the RC's, local walmart had them on sale the other day for 5.99, very good lure for that price compared to 25 bucks.

Like several have stated on here, the colder the water the slower the retrieve, I like two quick twitches followed by a long pause in cold water, sometimes 30 seconds, most times, when you got to twitch again, you'll be setting the hook!

[Mitch f]

I've tried several different kinds, I kinda leaned on the Luckie Strike RC's, not a bad jerkbait for 7 bucks, but broke in and tried a Megabass last year. LOVE them, yes there expensive, but have some awesome action. This video here was one of my first experiences with them, here I was using the 110 +1 model, it gets down there in 6 or 7 feet of water, here they were staging behind big rocks in fairly deep water. If your wanting the start out jerkbait fishing to see how you like it, I"d highly recommend the RC's, local walmart had them on sale the other day for 5.99, very good lure for that price compared to 25 bucks.

Like several have stated on here, the colder the water the slower the retrieve, I like two quick twitches followed by a long pause in cold water, sometimes 30 seconds, most times, when you got to twitch again, you'll be setting the hook!

Love watching that video!, curious, what is your best guess at the water temp that day?

[Guest]

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[Al Agnew]

It's probably about 55 year round in that spot

Maybe 50 degrees, since there was a lot of colder water coming down the river.

[Quillback]

It's not really time for the suspending jerks to shine - yet. I like shallow suspenders, and everyone pretty much covered selection but just because someone didn't mention it doesn't mean it's not a good bait. I still love the 10 size (two hooks) Husky Jerk and dress the rear treble like an XRap. I like both the XRap Shad shallow for shallow use and the deep for around bridge supports or any steep vertical cover. Colors? Anything but the hot pink advice given above - maybe one day in my lifetime I'll get on a bite where it's the hot color - but it hasn't happened yet.

Any natural baitfish color is good, and throw in a few Clown or bright colored ones, too. I really like the Orange belly/silver sides/ Blue back in the Husky Jerks for bright days.

I hate to thumb a spool with gloves on so I use spinning gear in the coldest weather - 7' Med/light, fast action, with a good reel (not expensive- mostly Pflueger President or older BPS Pro Qualifier) spooled with bright braid - Sufix in Orange or Spiderwire Stealth in Yellow, I also use Red PowerPro when I get it on sale. All of these in 4/15 with a 1X Orvis Mirage leader about 7' or 8' long.

I work suspenders pretty fast but I'm not afraid to let them sit and drift, either. Someone my biggest fish of the year will happen when everyone else is sitting on their behinds inside watching football, I love the cold weather jerkbait bite.

I was beginning to think I was the only one who used spinning equipment to fish jerkbaits. I use bait casters a lot, but I like working a jerkbait on a spinning setup. Long casts, quick line pick up, and for some reason I just like the way I can work a jerk bait with a fast tip spinning rod. Another good jerkbait, in addition to all the good ones mentioned already, is an IMA Flit. It gets down to 4-5 feet quickly, suspends well, and is very responsive to slight twitches.

[LittleRedFisherman]

Love watching that video!, curious, what is your best guess at the water temp that day?

Mitch, I'd say round 48, I think it had been one of our colder weeks the week prior.. Was fishing this past summer and decided to pull out a jerkbait, and caught as many on it as anything else I was using, but this river in Arkansas still has an avg temp of 67 or so usually where I was fishing.

It's probably about 55 year round in that spot

Maybe 50 degrees, since there was a lot of colder water coming down the river.

You guys just won't cut a guy a break....

[LittleRedFisherman]

Got another question for you winter smallmouth jerkbait guys. What would you consider your average catch rate for winter smallies, in normal wintering spots, not counting springs.

[Wayne SW/MO]

My favorite jerkbait rod is also my favorite Sammie rod. It's a 5 1/2' casting rod, medium action. I like to fish them and walking baits with the tip close to the water and a short rod gives a person more control, IMO.

[Al Agnew]

Got another question for you winter smallmouth jerkbait guys. What would you consider your average catch rate for winter smallies, in normal wintering spots, not counting springs.

Catch rate varies widely, but on a decent jerkbait day with two people fishing, probably 15-30 bass. I've had a few days better than that this time of year, and quite a few that weren't as good. Again, a lot depends upon finding them. If you're fishing familiar water where you know the wintering pools, you will usually do that well, but if you're prospecting new water, you probably won't.

I went on a spot on upper Big River earlier in the week, paddling just a mile or so upstream in a spot that I didn't expect to catch all that much but it was quick and close to home. Caught one nice smallmouth, one nice largemouth, and 5 small fish, plus a big crappie on jerkbaits. Plan on going tomorrow on the Meramec, so we'll see how it goes.