What's you goto deep water jerkbait?

Rapala husky jerk, smithwick rogue, lc 100 dd & staysee 120.

Great discussion guys. I forgot to mention. Most of the best smallmouth fisherman up here in Canada that fish Lake Erie and Lake Simcoe use medium action spinning rods with 15-20 pound braid and a 10-12 pound flouro leader tied directly to the braid.

I personally use a 7 ft. medium action casting rod with 30 pound braid. If there are toothy critters like pike and muskie around , I will tie a 50 pound flouro leader to avoid break offs.

Most jerkbait fishing here is for smallies only. Although my buddy and I do target largies in the late fall with jerkbaits.

Any thoughts on set ups...... casting vs. spinning..... flouro vs. braid ?

I use a 6'2" M/XF Avid and a Daiwa Alphas spooled w/ 10# CXX for jerkbaits. I generally throw larger (>100 size) jerkbaits, though, so spinning gear isn't necessary. 

I use both spinning & casting. My favorite rods are mhm which handle up to 1oz baits. I mostly use 10lb braid with 10-15 lb mono leaders. We mostly drift & cover water.

I honestly wonder whether I'll ever have the patience and confidence to fish a jerk bait correctly.  60 seconds?!?!?!    30 seconds?!?!    I thought I was exhibiting extraordinary patience when I threw one this weekend and was able to count to 6 between twitches.  And even then, I'm only good for a half dozen casts before moving on to something else.  

 

The only two fish I can recall catching on them...one was a slow steady retrieve and the other was on the first twitch-twitch - bam.

 

I'm not sure I'll be able do it well.  No surprise, I also don't know how many licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. 

The only time I let a bait sit that long is when it's tossed off the backside of the boat, while I fish something else. Toss the rod in the holder, and let the boat move the bait.  Actually picked this up kayak fishing, but it works from any craft.  I know at least one smallie hunter that does the same thing.

 

If the rod is in my hands, I'm only good for about a 15-Mississippi count, lol.

Clown? It's my best color in less than clear water.

Just because he hasn't caught anything on it, is no reason to call him a clown......Just kidding, just kidding.

Hootie

Has anyone gotten their hands on the 6th Sense Provoke 106? I'd like a review of one before picking it up. If not ill be the guinea pig for it come spring time.

Has anyone gotten their hands on the 6th Sense Provoke 106? I'd like a review of one before picking it up. If not ill be the guinea pig for it come spring time.

 

Mark I haven't used one but if you send me one I'll happily review it for you.

Mark I haven't used one but if you send me one I'll happily review it for you.

 

It's like a Christmas Miracle ~ 

 

 

A-Jay

I've got two growing kids to feed Dwight. Should be you sending it my way.

AJay, im surprised you don't have one. You're a big fan of 6th Sense from what I recall.

I've got two growing kids to feed Dwight. Should be you sending it my way.

AJay, im surprised you don't have one. You're a big fan of 6th Sense from what I recall.

 

I am a fan but I've been "out of Town" sort of speak

 

 

A-Jay

Oh yes, sunburn and margaritas while pulling in 10#ers

I've got two growing kids to feed Dwight. Should be you sending it my way.

Mark I am retired and on a fixed income. But I do see your point about those two cute boys. I looked up that bait and it kinda looks like a megabass vision ten style bait. If they are half as good as the shallow cranks A-Jay likes so much they might be worth a try. PM me your address.

AJay, im surprised you don't have one. You're a big fan of 6th Sense from what I recall.

Dwight I was only being humorous. You're a very generous man. I'll likely get one or two for the spring and post a review on it. No sense of getting them now as the hard water is here to stay for quite some time and I won't wet a line until May. Until then ill spoil my future fishing buddies with toys and such.

Mark maybe I wasn't sending baits just some old recycled fruitcakes. 

What are the best replacment hooks for jerk baits and while im at it what are the best replacement for all trebel hooks

Katsuage or VMC are what I use

 

http://www.megabassusa.com/news/guide-upgrading-jerkbait-hooks

 

 

 

What are the best replacment hooks for jerk baits and while im at it what are the best replacement for all trebel hooks

Owner ST 36's or Gamakatsu round bends are what I use for a majority of my baits. The VMC spark points are really good hooks too. 

I'm curious to hear from anybody who has replaced the stock trebles on their RC STX with Megabass Katsuage Outbarbs. The Vision 110 uses all #6 Outbarbs so they seemed a logical candidate for the RC STX. Do they have any effect on suspension or action?

 

I know there are lots of good hooks out there, but I have confidence that anything swiping at a Katsuage Outbarb is going to stick!

I replaced them with owner ST36's. The Katsuage outbarbs are probably lighter in weight so you might have to make a weighting adjustment if it doesn't suspend right. Try it and find out.

This thread is so full of great information, I continually come back and read it over and over again, picking up little pieces of information I missed the first or fourth time.

Someone should make this a sticky, similar to the Senko thread. It should be required reading for anyone asking questions on jerkbaits.

Someone should make this a sticky, similar to the Senko thread. It should be required reading for anyone asking questions on jerkbaits.

 

It is.

 

Based on some feedback from Smalljaw67 it sounds like the RC STX is actually more finicky than the slow rising 110, and the lighter katsuage hooks are less likely to interfere with suspension.

 

I might owe him a beer now.

It is.

 

Based on some feedback from Smalljaw67 it sounds like the RC STX is actually more finicky than the slow rising 110, and the lighter katsuage hooks are less likely to interfere with suspension.

 

I might owe him a beer now.

I missed that, thanks.

Has anyone gotten their hands on the 6th Sense Provoke 106? I'd like a review of one before picking it up. If not ill be the guinea pig for it come spring time.

I guess in the recent weeks this bait has already sold out. Did anyone nab one?