Favorite Jerkbait Colors

[drew03cmc]

I have gone on a jerkbait buying spree lately and was curious what colors you like in the various water conditions we all fish.

Clear (5+ feet)

Stained (2-5 feet)

Murky (0-2 feet

I bought 3 of each Megabass X-80 TD and LC Pointer 78SP . I also found two Xcalibur XEE4 in holo shad and one Rogue in some chromey black shad color.

The MB are in French Pearl OB, Megabass Sexy Shad and GP Pro Blue II

The LC are Striped Shiner, Chartreuse Shad and Aurora Black

Let's discuss colors and tackle. What do you fish from and what tackle do you throw these on? Do you fish them all year or are they just a cold water bait?

Go.

[Ham]

I don't throw the real expensive stuff in the creeks. I will throw Lucky Craft 78's though. I think their Nishiki, Ghost Minnow, and Chartreuse Shad. I also like some of the Bass Pro jerkbaits. On Creeks, I fish jerkbaits on a Browning Medallion 6 ft short grip baitxaster with 12 pound mono. It's a compromise all around rod meant to fish crankbaits, jerkbaits, Topwater, and buzzbaits.

On lakes, I'm using Berkley 100% Fluro in 10 lb on a St Croix Avid 6'8" Medium XF baitxaster. It's the combo I'm most comfortable with at this point, but it wouldn't hurt my feelings to find a better setup.

I use McStiks, LC Pointers, and Megabass 110's. I'll also throw 110 + 1's ,McRips, or LC 78 DD's if I feel like I need to be deeper.

Soon I hope.

[Al Agnew]

I pretty much stick to the Pointer 78 SP and DD in cold water. I've tried lots of others, but I know how the Pointers work, how deep they go, and I know they catch fish. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

I used to go with translucent minnow type colors in clear water, but I've found that the clown color is good then, although I give the back of mine a quick spray of light, dull green, which fades down the upper sides, to kill the fluorescent yellow and a bit of the red head. In water with some stain, I like the chartreuse shad. Murky water I go with chartreuse shad or Tennessee shad type colors.

I acquired a 6'3" Kistler ZBone jerkbait/topwater special, medium power, with a pistol grip handle, and it's my favorite jerkbait rod. However, I keep an SP on one rod and a DD on another, and fish each depending on how deep the water is, the deeper it is the more I'm using the DD. The DD usually goes on either a Loomis 6.5 ft. medium power spinnerbait rod, or a Loomis 6.5 ft. medium power crankbait special.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I like the X Raps. Gold and ghost fished on a 5 1/2' casting rod tied to 20/6 Tuf braid. This has always produced for me. I have others, Pointers, Rogues, some Diawa's, but the old original X Raps work for me.

[Old plug]

I tend towards something looking natural like the original Rapala had. I think it has a lot to do with what looks good to you at the time.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I tend towards something looking natural like the original Rapala had. I think it has a lot to do with what looks good to you at the time.

Yeah the gold probably wouldn't work for Andy because it flashes the colors of longears and I doubt they would work that well in waters not loaded with them.

[drew03cmc]

That's a good point Wayne. Our waters are loaded with bluegill and green sunfish, along with various darters and shiners up to 4" long. Maybe that striped shiner Pointer will be the ticket when I hit the water this weekend.

[Old plug]

i went out yesterday for not much more than a hour. i found one little patch in my area that hit 43 i sort of casted around a little with no luck then just turned to practice with my spro. I was told someone got 16 lbs In a tournament last weekend on a Rouge. They said bass were bitting in small areas. I know what that means and really it is appropriate at this time and conditions. I am just too old and do not have a thick gas wallet to be doing the milk run thing anymore.

[Wayne SW/MO]

The ghost would probably work for you, and at times the clown. I think the ghost is a good generic minnow color. You should have a good gold to mimic carp, especially early. The Xrap gold isn't all that gold, but the Rogue is and I'm not sure about the newer jerk baits.

[mjk86]

I dont throw jerkbaits very often, but I find it interesting that you guys fish them in stained or murky water. The only time ive ever caught jerkbait fish has been in very clear cold water, ive tried in dirtier water conditions but always got shut out. I also go as natural as I can, black/silver, black/gold, shad, and sunfish type colors for me....but maybe thats why ive never caught anyting in dirty water.