Advice on Hard Jerkbaits

CMorg · 03-18-11, 11:33 AM

I have a tourney sunday , water temp upper 40's I am planning on using a hard jerkbait. What are the best areas to fish a hard jerkbait ? I am not real good with one. I suppose points , but what else ?

pro reel · 03-18-11, 11:48 AM

You can use them anywhere, but you are right, points are where it's at right now. Try main lake points at entrances to spawning coves. You might also try the first points into any spawning areas, normaly refered to as secondary points. At 40 degree water temps, you have the right bait, just remember to work it as slow as you can. Jerk it down and give it long pauses with gentle short sweeps to move it. If the water gets a little warmer, you can speed it up with more rapid jerks.

CamG · 03-18-11, 12:31 PM

You've got the right idea, and pro reel gave you some good advice.

Just my opinion on jerkbait fishing...jerkbaits need wind and clearish water too really shine. If you find yourself fishing a cold, slick lake - you're probably better off fishing a finesse jig.

Another great bait for cold water with clearish water and a little chop is a grub.

walkeraviator · 03-18-11, 01:38 PM

Which lake CMorg?

CMorg · 03-18-11, 03:54 PM

Dogwood in Glendale In.

CMorg · 03-18-11, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamG

You've got the right idea, and pro reel gave you some good advice.

Just my opinion on jerkbait fishing...jerkbaits need wind and clearish water too really shine. If you find yourself fishing a cold, slick lake - you're probably better off fishing a finesse jig.

Another great bait for cold water with clearish water and a little chop is a grub.

Ive never fished a grub before. Is it more a steady retrieve ?

CamG · 03-18-11, 04:08 PM

Grubs are quite versatile lures. You can fish them at really any depth. If you see them suspended, obviously swim them at the depth the fish are hanging. My favorite way when you have cold water is let it hit bottom and slowly drag or swim on or just off the bottom.

Embrey · 03-18-11, 06:25 PM

i hate these things... only fish ive ever caught on one in two years just nailed it when it hit the water...go figure

woody · 03-18-11, 06:57 PM

I would position my boat "a whole cast and a 1/2 from shore", early. Then, depending on the conditions, try moving up... GOOD LUCK!

-Mark

keithdog · 03-19-11, 10:13 AM

I have to agree with Pro Reel. I'd also be sticking to the north portions of the lake as they warm faster than the southern side. I was checking out the 3 lakes in my area wendsday evening and in all the lakes, 70 % of the water was open water. The only ice remaining was in the southern basins. Also, a deadly lure for me this early is a 3/8oz. white or black/blue chatterbait with a simple twin tail trailer. I simply cast it out, let it sink to the bottom and slow reel it back to the boat. No special extra rod movements in this extra cold water yet. Just a slow and easy retrieve does it for me this early in the season. Occationally I'll stop the retrieve to let hit hit bottom again and restart the slow retrieve.

Garry2rs · 03-20-11, 08:33 PM

With Jerk-baits you need to start and end with slack in the line.
To break it down, you snap the rod tip and the bait glides forward.
Next, pick-up most, but not all of the slack.
Have a "C" curve of line from the rod tip to the water...Snap the tip again.
The bait will abruptly change direction.
This is the key!
Pick up most of the slack and snap the tip again.
The bait will glide off in a new direction...and so on.
With some baits you can just pump the tip and the bait will wiggle almost in the same spot...
This works well when you cast past the prime target, then work the bait into the strike zone and just hover there for awhile.
Garry2R's

carolina-rig-01 · 03-20-11, 09:15 PM

Everyone here has gave you some real solid advice. One thing that I didn't see anyone say so I will add it is that not all jerkbaits are designed to have the same action. For example a Rogue is an easy bait to overwork because it it's really designed to have a big time darting action like a Lucky Craft Pointer. I like baits with less action like a Rogue in colder water and as the water warms up and fish get more active I will start fishing jerkbaits like Lucky Craft Pointers or Jackall Squirrels that have more action. With Rogues I just give the rod tip soft little twitches and then pause but with baits like the Pointers or Squirrels I will give it more aggressive jerks.

Lvitch · 03-20-11, 10:12 PM

I would also look for bait balked up in the deepest holes you can find and rip a 1/2 oz - 1 oz Hopkins spoon through them. A drop shot may work well also.

03-18-11, 11:33 AM	#1
CMorg BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Southern , IN Posts: 1,832	Advice on Hard Jerkbaits I have a tourney sunday , water temp upper 40's I am planning on using a hard jerkbait. What are the best areas to fish a hard jerkbait ? I am not real good with one. I suppose points , but what else ?

03-19-11, 10:13 AM	#10
keithdog BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: IN Posts: 8,308	I have to agree with Pro Reel. I'd also be sticking to the north portions of the lake as they warm faster than the southern side. I was checking out the 3 lakes in my area wendsday evening and in all the lakes, 70 % of the water was open water. The only ice remaining was in the southern basins. Also, a deadly lure for me this early is a 3/8oz. white or black/blue chatterbait with a simple twin tail trailer. I simply cast it out, let it sink to the bottom and slow reel it back to the boat. No special extra rod movements in this extra cold water yet. Just a slow and easy retrieve does it for me this early in the season. Occationally I'll stop the retrieve to let hit hit bottom again and restart the slow retrieve. __________________ Just one more cast, and then some!

03-20-11, 10:12 PM	#13
Lvitch BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 180	I would also look for bait balked up in the deepest holes you can find and rip a 1/2 oz - 1 oz Hopkins spoon through them. A drop shot may work well also. __________________ Big gals always make us smile!

03-18-11, 11:48 AM	#2
pro reel BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wichita Kansas Posts: 761	You can use them anywhere, but you are right, points are where it's at right now. Try main lake points at entrances to spawning coves. You might also try the first points into any spawning areas, normaly refered to as secondary points. At 40 degree water temps, you have the right bait, just remember to work it as slow as you can. Jerk it down and give it long pauses with gentle short sweeps to move it. If the water gets a little warmer, you can speed it up with more rapid jerks.

03-18-11, 12:31 PM	#3
CamG BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Superior, NE Posts: 974	You've got the right idea, and pro reel gave you some good advice. Just my opinion on jerkbait fishing...jerkbaits need wind and clearish water too really shine. If you find yourself fishing a cold, slick lake - you're probably better off fishing a finesse jig. Another great bait for cold water with clearish water and a little chop is a grub.

03-18-11, 01:38 PM	#4
walkeraviator BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 1,119	Which lake CMorg?

03-18-11, 03:54 PM	#5
CMorg BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Southern , IN Posts: 1,832	Dogwood in Glendale In.

03-18-11, 04:08 PM	#7
CamG BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Superior, NE Posts: 974	Grubs are quite versatile lures. You can fish them at really any depth. If you see them suspended, obviously swim them at the depth the fish are hanging. My favorite way when you have cold water is let it hit bottom and slowly drag or swim on or just off the bottom.

03-18-11, 06:25 PM	#8
Embrey BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 505	i hate these things... only fish ive ever caught on one in two years just nailed it when it hit the water...go figure

03-18-11, 06:57 PM	#9
woody BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Jonesville, Indiana Posts: 3,597	I would position my boat "a whole cast and a 1/2 from shore", early. Then, depending on the conditions, try moving up... GOOD LUCK! -Mark

03-20-11, 08:33 PM	#11
Garry2rs BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: AZ. USA. and Ont. Canada Posts: 145	With Jerk-baits you need to start and end with slack in the line. To break it down, you snap the rod tip and the bait glides forward. Next, pick-up most, but not all of the slack. Have a "C" curve of line from the rod tip to the water...Snap the tip again. The bait will abruptly change direction. This is the key! Pick up most of the slack and snap the tip again. The bait will glide off in a new direction...and so on. With some baits you can just pump the tip and the bait will wiggle almost in the same spot... This works well when you cast past the prime target, then work the bait into the strike zone and just hover there for awhile. Garry2R's

03-20-11, 09:15 PM	#12
carolina-rig-01 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Webb City, MO Posts: 6,387	Everyone here has gave you some real solid advice. One thing that I didn't see anyone say so I will add it is that not all jerkbaits are designed to have the same action. For example a Rogue is an easy bait to overwork because it it's really designed to have a big time darting action like a Lucky Craft Pointer. I like baits with less action like a Rogue in colder water and as the water warms up and fish get more active I will start fishing jerkbaits like Lucky Craft Pointers or Jackall Squirrels that have more action. With Rogues I just give the rod tip soft little twitches and then pause but with baits like the Pointers or Squirrels I will give it more aggressive jerks.

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