hard jerk baits - every try it?

[teflon_jones]

I took the day off Weds to do some fishing on a local lake. In 4 hours in the morning, from 6:15-10:15, not even a strike. I went back around 1 and decided to try out a new Rapala shallow shad rap I'd bought this winter. Well, I was glad I did! I landed 7 bass, the largest being a bit over 2 lbs, and more pickerel than I can even count (at least 20), plus a couple of black crappies (calicos). I fished the Rapala by retrieving it for a second to get it down 1-2 ft in the water, then jerked it erratically back to my float tube. It was too windy for the fly rod, so I was using my new bait caster. I honestly got sick of catching fish! (#$119) I never thought I'd say that! It was mostly the pickerel that did me in since they're such a pain to unhook with their slimy little bodies going all over the place, especially when they're mostly 17+ in long ones weighing a good 1+ lb. One of the coolest things was that the fish were so un-scared of the float tube that they'd follow the bait right up to it, and I'd just swing the rod in a circle around my head and they'd chase it right around the tube!

It was the first time I'd ever tried using a jerk bait technique with a hard bait (even if it wasn't one meant for it), and I was impressed!

[teflon_jones]

Well, since there's no replies, I thought I'd liven up this thread with a pic of a monster I caught the other night on a jerk bait. It went 22" and 5.5 pounds! Sorry for the lousy photo, but it's tough to take a picture when you're in a float tube. You can only stretch soooooo far away from the fish in your lap. --127-3-

[fishingdan]

Jerking a floating or suspending rapala is one of my favorite techniques. If fish are in the area, they can't resist.

Nice report. I tried to get out yesterday with my boat in a local lake. Unfortunately, the lake is still drawn down from the winter and the town hasn't chosen to raise the level back up yet. I could get the boat in the water. I don't know what they are waiting for.

[detra]

I've never fished the "new" jerkbaits, but maybe I should. I used to do very well erratically twitching small floating rapala's for bass, but then switched to plastic worms. Lately, my warm water fishing has been limited popping bugs, streamers, and such with the flyrod.

[teflon_jones]

I've never fished the "new" jerkbaits, but maybe I should. I used to do very well erratically twitching small floating rapala's for bass, but then switched to plastic worms. Lately, my warm water fishing has been limited popping bugs, streamers, and such with the flyrod.

The older small floating Rapalas simply don't compare to the new jerk baits. The shallow shad rap I've been using this season isn't designed as a jerk bait, but works incredibly well! It's in horrible condition already from so many fish tearing at it and it's only April!

I've tried using the small floating Rapalas to change it up, but they don't dive deep enough (6" as opposed to 1-2 ft), and they also float up faster than the shad rap does.

[tcarroway]

Hi, just thought I'd add, that the 90-degree angle square lip on the SSR's also has a lot to do with the action - I've just gotten back into the spinning rod action (after 15 years of addiction to fly rod) and have learned an awful lot about lures and cranks and jerks - and the shape of the lip has a whole helluva lot to do with how the bait moves - wobbling, wiggling, rolling, etc. I love the shallow shad raps myself - and to that point, it seems each style and make of lure has it's own preference for diving depths and either suspend or float-back-to-the-surface rates. I'm still trying to get that right with all the other factors like line diameter, retrieve speed, etc.

One thing you might try to do is add either Storm suspend dots or strips to the Rapala stick baits to get them down a bit further or keep them down - or, a small husky jerk, or, just pinch on a small split to the treble on the stickbait as close to the eye as you can. You can even pinch on a split 18 inches from the front of the stickbait to get it down further and whatever you do to "jig" the split, the trailing stickbait or crank with follow but with a much lazier response and motion. Try it - sometimes it can have a dramatic effect on the success of a particular lure or, a particular fishing experience!

tc

[Mike M.]

suspending rapala husky jerks are one of the first baits I will use for early season fishing in april. I usually use these until the weeds get to thick. Then I go to a soft jerkbait rigged weedless texas style.