Seasonal Movement, The Jerkbait, And Finding Fish

[Fishin Hodge]

Alright, I have no problems telling anyone, I struggle with a jerkbait more than any other bait that I throw. I have been trying to address this issue for years, but to this point I can tell you I've had no luck. I usually have 1 good day a year throwing a jerkbait, but can basically never duplicate it. My mind and train of thought has been almost everywhere it could go on this subject, and it is usually in the wrong direction apparently, so feel free to line me in.

I usally catch fish up to right about this time of year and then it turns south on me in a hurry. I realize that is likely due to the fish suspending a little higher in the water column than I am comfortable with, thus the need for a jerkbait. I continue to think location is my problem and end up spot jumping typically.

Looking back through the years up to this time, my mainstay is a jig and a spoon in mainlake pockets and mid-creek honey holes with an occaisional main lake bluff coming into play. We all know there is a group of fish that migrate back into the creeks in the fall, often not as pronounced as it is preached in my opinion. After that it seems like a scattering of fish back throughout the lake. I can usually follow and catch them up to know with a decent deal of success..... But right now what are these fishing doing in terms of seasonal movement. Are they in the same areas they have been catching them, just suspended higher in the water, or are they made another seasonal movement that I am not adjusting too?

Also, with a jerkbait, I know I need to move it slow and am probably guilty of speeding up in my pursuit of the magical solution/spot/pattern. Moving as slow as I know I need to, how do I cover enough water to locate fish from day to day.

Lastly, in a quest for more information than I deserve, you expert stickbaiters, what is your number one go to pattern if you are looking for a stickbait bite. Mainlake points, bluffends, timber banks, steep, flat.... what do you consider a good all around starting spot in your quest? I could go on, but this is already a long read. Thanks for any tips.

[abkeenan]

For me my two best locations for jerk baits are bluff ends and steep 45 degree banks. I would say 90% of the time I like to have wood on them. The fish suspend in and over those trees and they will come and get it. Just a matter of GETTING THEM TO STRIKE which sometimes just isn't going to happen or is painstakingly slow when they aren't being really aggressive. I don't let it sit for more than 10 seconds. Maybe 15 seconds at max. I know some guys have success letting it sit for like 30 seconds to over a minute between twitches....I just can't handle that. Most of these locations are on main lake for me but I have had plenty of success back in creek arms and pockets on secondary points. For me the WOOD is the confidence indicator paired with the right type of bottom/structure/depth. I am no pro but that is just my take. Babler is the stick bait extraordinaire so maybe he will be along to offer some pointers. Of all the type of ways to catch them.....jerk baits would be my #1. I like it even more than top water strikes. The ratio of shorts to keepers on jerk baits seems to get very good also in the neighborhood of 2:1 for me at least. I like those odds.

[fishinwrench]

In my case it is near impossible to slow down and "tease" a bite until I know there are some willing fish nearby, so I cover the area at a fairly quick pace until something bites.

And I gotta say that for me, more times than not, a pause of about 6-8 seconds at the very most gets the job done better than forcing myself to slow down any further.

[Feathers and Fins]

When im running a Jerk-bait I got in a bad very bad habit at first of going way to fast and not paying attention to my sonar. When I started using the sonar to locate fish ( Sidescan ) I started to get a few more but not what I felt I should. One very cold February day I threw it out and would twitch it but being so cold I wanted coffee so I picked it up sipped it and held it for a few seconds and BAM a bite. I didn't think anything of it and went back to fast fishing then the same scenario happened and BAM another fish. This time I got the point of letting it pause a lot longer than I thought it should. Now when im jerk baiting 30 second to even 1 minute pauses are not uncommon at all.

I really think people go way to fast with a jerk-bait and slowing it way down from my experience really increases bites.

Now where I throw it is typically wide open water or very steep banks, I would say a 80 / 20 ratio or so.

[Wayne SW/MO]

My best pattern for a jerkbait is too crank it down hard for 4 or 5 cranks and then pause for a count. I generally start with a 5 count and then add onto it if it doesn't work and the water is cold. I also like braid because it floats and that means no sag and it is also easy to see a take which in cold water is generally a slight tic in the line. I've also found that color seems to be more important for jerkbaits. Maybe it's because everything is slow motion.

[Champ188]

Not much to add to what abk had to say except would toss in that if you have brush piles that you fish with jigs or worms, these can be excellent spots for a jerk bait. The fish will suspend up above them and unlike a lot of exposed timber, they don't get hammered as much by passers-by.

Along that same line of thought, pay attention to underwater rock structure is a big deal on Table Rock and other Ozarks-area lakes. Anywhere you have a rock pile or dropoff (like a bluff line that extends offshore) can be very productive.

Lastly, and this becomes more critical as spring approaches, target your transition banks where a bluff turns to chunk rock or chunk rock transitions to gravel.

I wouldn't sweat too much about pausing longer than 10 seconds. What I WOULD suggest is that you resist the urge to "snap" the lure when working it in very cold water. The lower the water temp, the more subtle you want to move the bait. A simple short "pull" or the rod tip works best in very cold water.

Hope this helps. Good luck out there.

[RSBreth]

Everyone gave the best tip there is - you can overwork the lure, and work it too fast, too. Some days I cast a suspending jerkbait and don't get it back to the boat until 4 or 5 minutes later if I'm sure there's fish there. Instead of jerk, jerk, pause, it's more pull, twitch, sit.

[dtrs5kprs]

Don't forget windy flats and gravel points, especially as the spring goes on. Lots of those have the harder to find wood Champ mentioned.

Really anything with wind on it can be good.

[Quillback]

Now Academy has an entry in the "Megabass cheap copy" jerk bait lineup. Even though the description says that it is floating, word is that they suspend.

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h20-xpress-153-ultimate-jerk-shad-1-2-oz-floating-twitch-bait/pid-891753?color=Ghost+Shad&N=97009336+4294966997

[BATCAB27]

Going to try to find some jerkbait fish this weekend. A couple of questions from a jerkbait novice... Do you guys parallel the bank or cast to the bank and retrieve it back to the boat? do you use spinning rods or bait casters? line size? i'm guessing bait casters and braid from reading some of the prior posts but just want to be sure . any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance