26 replies to this topic

[Trickerie]

Hey all,

Been practicing different fishing techniques these past few weeks, and my two biggest problem areas seem to be jerkbaits and lipped cranks. I seem to have decent ability at fishing traps, but slap a lip on the crank and I can't seem to get a bite. I have gone through several color patterns (home lake is muddy, btw), diving depths, etc, and nothing seems to work! Same goes for jerkbaits. I have countless jerkbaits but have NEVER caught a fish on one! I vary my twitching, reeling and pausing from a slow crawl to fast and furious vandam style. Still can't seem to get em to hit. Any helpful insight you guys can offer me?

Thanks as always!

[Diggy]

Which cranks are you using? Ive had great luck with kvd 1.5 and 2.5 in sexy shad color. Ive caught them on all types of line also and we're both in the same area. Have had good luck in development lakes catching bass and turtles unfortunately

[NCLifetimer]

bass might just be looking to eat something else right now. If you've only been fishing them for a few weeks then keep trying, you'll get one then some more eventually.

[Fishes in trees]

I live in a different neighborhood than you live in, but for me, I've never had much luck throwing jerkbaits in muddy water. I think jerkbaits work better in water that has at least a few feet of visibility. I think spinnerbaits or if you've gotto go deeper some kind of rattling crankbait is a better option in muddy water.

[Phranchise1213]

x2 on jerkbaits not being very effective in muddy water. it is predominately a clear water bait, where the fish can chase it down from a ways away. What colours are you throwing for crankbaits, forget about matching the hatch and just make sure you use something bright like firetiger or really dark so the fish can find it. A crankbait with a rattle will help also. They also will probably be sluggish this time of year, so try and find some cover to bang it off to get a reaction strike. Brush, stumps, any remaining grass you can find. Good luck!

[Choey23]

x2 on not having success with crank baits, the occasional strike i will get once or twice a summer but i rarely use them anymore because i haven't had luck with them, spinnerbaits however on the other hand have worked quiet well

[A-Rob]

maybe just not the right tool for the job, at this time.
For me the crank bite comes alive at certain times of the year...other times I just go pitch my jig haha.

My point is don't lose confidence, it will work when the bass want it!

[J Francho]

Usually it doesn't take too much to get bit on either. I'd rethink location, and timing - maybe you're in the wrong spot or the fish are there, just not chasing. Also, most new guys see KVD burning up the gears on TV, and try to emulate that style. Try slowing down, way down. Picture you crankbait as a distracted, feeding baitfish.

[LuckyHandsINC.]

X3 for not using jerkbaits in muddy water. As for the cranks I don't know which ones you are using but try something that has a wide wobble and displaces a lot a water. Also try something that makes a lot of noise.

[J Francho]

As long as there is 2 to 3 feet of visibility, and the water isn't below 50°, it's fine. That's what the rattles are for. Jerkbaits actually excel in those conditions. But the fish have to be at least moving around, as opposed to neutral or nearly inactive fish in ice cold, crystal clear water, where a loooooong pause can actually ignite a bite. Just two different philosophies applied to one bait.

[Nitrofreak]

As long as there is 2 to 3 feet of visibility, and the water isn't below 50°, it's fine. That's what the rattles are for. Jerkbaits actually excel in those conditions. But the fish have to be at least moving around, as opposed to neutral or nearly inactive fish in ice cold, crystal clear water, where a loooooong pause can actually ignite a bite. Just two different philosophies applied to one bait.

X2, but I will still use them in water colder than 50, it just gets a whole lot slower.

Hey all,

Been practicing different fishing techniques these past few weeks, and my two biggest problem areas seem to be jerkbaits and lipped cranks. I seem to have decent ability at fishing traps, but slap a lip on the crank and I can't seem to get a bite. I have gone through several color patterns (home lake is muddy, btw), diving depths, etc, and nothing seems to work! Same goes for jerkbaits. I have countless jerkbaits but have NEVER caught a fish on one! I vary my twitching, reeling and pausing from a slow crawl to fast and furious vandam style. Still can't seem to get em to hit. Any helpful insight you guys can offer me?

Thanks as always!

Sounds like your trying too hard, slow down, find yourself some cover in about 10' of water, pay close attention to the water temp, the colder the slower you want to go, let the bait swim into a brush pile and bang off of the brush, or even make it bounce off of the structure on the bottom.

Crank baits of all kinds take time...a lot of time...first things first, find the fish, match the forage in size and color, and experiment from there,
for example, a jerkbait, throw it in and crank it down to your desired water depth, lets say the water is 50, I like to start with roughly 15 seconds before I move the bait, twitch it once then wait another 15 seconds and twitch it two more times and repeat all the way out of the strike zone, then reel it back slow, fan cast the whole area with that and start over with even longer pauses of 20 seconds and keep repeating until you find what they want.

Good luck and be safe!!!

If I may add one more thing, cadence is the most important thing, in my opinion, when fishing all kinds of crank baits, it's finding that correct cadence that takes most all of your time once you locate the fish.

[J Francho]

X2, but I will still use them in water colder than 50, it just gets a whole lot slower.

I only meant for off color water. Other baits work better in cold, dirty water than jerks. For me at least.

[Nitrofreak]

I only meant for off color water. Other baits work better in cold, dirty water than jerks. For me at least.

LOL...I ment nothing by that J. and I totally agree with your point, but 2-3 feet of vision "for me" is good enough to try one in colder water than 50, thats all I was saying.

[J Francho]

OK, I just didn't want someone standing there in chocolate milk using 90 second pauses wondering why they listened to jerks like us, LMAO.

[Nitrofreak]

OK, I just didn't want someone standing there in chocolate milk using 90 second pauses wondering why they listened to jerks like us, LMAO.

LMAO 2 !!!!

Who would do such a thing anyway...lol