I'm going to be looking to get into the jerkbait bite this spring for some Michigan bronzebacks, does anyone have any favorites they use, regardless of location? Colors to get?

I have 2 favorites because I use them all year round and I use a floating model in warm water and a suspending model in cold water. My favorite suspending jerkbait is a LC Pointer 100, but a close second would be the Rapala X-Rap followed by the McStick 110. The floating models I use in summer are a rattlin' rogue and a Rapala flat rap, it is a tie because the rogue has been producing great for a long time while the flat rap has only been in use for a couple of years. Suspending baits I like clown color or "nishiki" as Lucky Craft calls it for my pointer, the X-Rap I like glass ghost and the McStick I really like cell mate. For the floating models I like clown or log perch in the rogue, and purpledescent or yellow perch for the flat rap and thats not to be confused with perch which is brighter than the yellow perch.

rapala j9 - black & gold or black & silver with a feathered trebble front weighted to suspend nose down

Lucky Craft Pointer SP78 - American Shad

Of all the jerkbaits I own, the Xcalibur jerkbait has worked the best for me for reservoir smallies. chrome with blue top and orange belly.

X-rap in gold or silver, depending on light/water clarity.

 

Tom

Lucky Craft Staysee 90SP Ver 3 for deep jerkbaits; Slender Pointer for shallower smallies.

I like the ole' Husky Jerk right after ice out around here. Clown pattern #13 is killer. As the season progresses, I move toward the X-Rap and/or Pointers in #78 & #100. However, this is by habit more than anything else. When bass are on the jerkbait bite, I really don't think they'd turn their noses up at anything.

Im from central michigan and we have some awesome smallie waters where im from. Our favorite jerkbait to use is the lucky craft jerkbaits in american shad.

X-Rap #10 in Mossback and Silver blackback, LC Pointer #100  clown,  I also have an old Rebel silver blackback with suspend strips that I can get to suspend in 8"ft of water it's a killer.

The Smithwick Rogue that you see in the pop-up is a pretty good color (clown).

Lucky Craft Pointer SP78 - American Shad

 

That is one of my favorites.  Crack is also another good color.

I don't really have a favorite. I throw, Pointers, Flash Monnows, Staysees, Rogues, Deep Rogues, 110s, OSP, McSticks....and on and on...

That is one of my favorites.  Crack is also another good color.

 

I almost forgot that I also have the Ghost Chartreuse Shad and the Blue Herring colors as well.  Awesome baits - was able to snag mine at the local Gander Mountain when they were closing down.   70% off!!!

I don't really have a favorite. I throw, Pointers, Flash Monnows, Staysees, Rogues, Deep Rogues, 110s, OSP, McSticks....and on and on...

 

 

My favorite out of John's group is the one that just got bit.

My favorite out of John's group is the one that just got bit.

 

C'mon, we've all been anxious to see your response.

C'mon, we've all been anxious to see your response.

 

 

Ok Kent. My favorite varies from year to year. Last year my go to bait was the slender pointer 127MR in nishiki color (clown). It is 5" long & weighs 3/4oz

My favorite for the past three years is a certain JDM Flash Minnow.  It's different than what is currently available, and my love of this bait has more to do with me knowing EXACTLY what it's doing because I've thrown it so much.  I have a couple others that I like on specific waters, but they're X-Raps, and we all know they don't work!

 

Flash Minnow:

 

Mr. Pink:

 

Mr. Construction Cone:

Lucky Craft Slender Pointer 97MR in Gunmetal Shad or American Shad. 

If you are talking pre-spawn smallies, try a #65 Lucky Craft pointer in chartreuse shad, (if you can find one). Early in the year, the forage is still pretty small. The #65 for me has outfished all the other larger baits combined.

I have had quite a few different jerkbaits work for me, from Rapala Husky Jerks to Lucky Craft Pointers, and quite a few in between. I prefer the Lucky Craft Pointer SP, size depending on the water. They cast extremely well, have a great action, suspend nicely, have very good terminal tackle, are well constructed, and the array of colors is second to none. 

If your fishing big water, like the great lakes, you can never go wrong with an LC Pointer

I don't have all that much experience with jerkbaits but I have caught a lot of fish on a Glass Minnow colored Rapala Husky Jerk in the past. The Mcstick, Pointer, and RC STX are a few I'm anxious to try this year though.

 

nobody is going to include the vision 110.    if you're a fisherman,    it's not a bad thing to ask for birthdays and Christmas.

River2Sea Humbug minnow. The secrets out but that's okay, I'll share the love. The 65SU model is dynamite in just about any condition. Weighing 5/16 oz. and being only 2.75 inches long it casts fantastic. It also has the most erratic action I've stumbled upon. It looks like a maniac in the water. I've had some of my best days using the gold fish and green tiger patterns. Best of all, it won't break the bank!