Seasonal Movement, The Jerkbait, And Finding Fish

[abkeenan]

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

You are going to get a hundred different answers as to line type, size and setups. Some guys like mono and others like fluorocarbon....either one is will do. Not many throw them on braid that I know of. I for one like 10lb Seaguar InvizX on a baitcasting setup. Rods range from 6'-7' and typically in a medium action. As far as paralleling the bank I do all of thee above both paralleling and working it perpendicular to the bank straight back to the boat. I hit the area at all angles and will fish a tree or line of trees at different angles.

[Champ188]

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

They suspend, QB. I bought one last week. I like it. A bit wider wobble than the MB or Luck-E-Strike. Now if I can just get around some fish that want to bite, we'll see if it's worth a hoot.

Taking it to Grand this weekend. We'll see what the drum think about it.

[Old plug]

Going to try to find some jerk bait fish fishing this wekend/quote]

GO south young man go south not north to LOZ for sure. Surface temperature is 34 and it was and its not much better lower. If the wind is calm tomorrow night When the it goes down into the teens great areas of the lake are going to freeze again.

[RSBreth]

I use braid (or fused like NanoFil or Fireline) on spinning with fluoro leaders. I stay a LONG way out from anything I'm fishing - and mostly cast to the bank or cover, but sometimes parallel bluff banks.

[merc1997 Bo]

jerk bait fishing is just the same as other types of baits. there are many variances in where to do it, and then what type of jerk bait. this time of the year, i have much more success on a long bill rebel or long bill rogue. you need jerk baits tuned three ways. one that will slowly sink, one that sits dead still, and one that will slowly rise. here is a break down of water temps. 43 an lower, used one that sinks. 44 to 48, use one that sits still. 49 and above, use one that slowly rises. of course there are always exceptions to the rule. if you are not getting bites, try one that does different than one you have been throwing. you need to "bob and weave" until you establish where your bites are coming from. some days, you will get bit on the bank, and some days will be out over deeper water. bluff ends and points are good places to try. some short bluff banks are worth exploring. as far as colors, on cloudy days, i usually do better on painted ones, and when the sun is out, one with some metallic finish. i usually use 8 to 10 lb. test mono. the one monkey wrench to throw into the equation is when the water temps get above 56 degrees, and then i will go to a "holy rogue". bud guthrie and bill willis from oklahoma shared this technique with me back in the 70's and it is still just as deadly today as it was then. there will be a few of you know what i am talking about and know just how good this technique can be.

bo

[BATCAB27]

Thanks for the info guys, will report back