Which do you perfer using a hard jerkbait (like KVD or bomber jerkbait) or a soft jerkbait (Fluke).

 

Just curious what most use - Or use one more so than others when water cools (hard jerkbaits in Fall / Winter).

 

Thanks

They are two completely different classes of lure.  We recently had a VERY GOOD discussion of this very topic:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/125810-soft-plastic-jerkbaits-vs-hard-jerkbaits-kind-of-a-rant/

Depends on the situation... They fish totally different, a hard jerkbait can suspend making it a key choice in some situations. The soft jerkbaits have their pros over the hard jerkbaits in certain situations too.

I prefer using a fluke in weedy/woody areas

Time and a place for each.  I think you are going to have less short strikes and easier hooksets using a lure with exposed hooks.  Don't always get that good hookset with a weedless fluke, in many of my Florida canals it's a must bait to use.

While on the topic of jerkbaits, what is your favorite hard jerkbait in 4-6 ft of water for the colder months?  I am just starting to throw these and want to learn the way!

I guess I'm with the majority that use a fluke in grass/weeds during the summer and I switch to a hard bait in spring and fall; water 55 deg and under. Nothing fancy here...good 'ol Rapala HJ, color can vary depending on water color and cloud cover.

Appreciate all the knowledge! Thanks.

 

And also @ J Francho  Thanks for the link. Great info discussion there for me to learn.

I agree with J Francho, these are different lures, I reserve the flukes for weeds and cover but also for fish wanting a slower action, a few rips and let the fluke die, that works a lot in warm water. I also use hard plastic jerkbaits in warm water, usually over submerged weed beds and they are usually very shallow running and they are most often floating models. The only time flukes and hard jerkbaits cross when I'm fishing is when the fish are hitting the fluke but not getting the hook, it doesn't happen a lot but some times they swip at it like they just want to get it out of the way without eating it, this is when I'll put the fluke down and go to a hard jerkbait, the fish will swipe at that bait as well but with 2 or 3 sets of trebles they end up hooked when they swipe.

  I prefer a hard jerkbait....number one Im more confident in it. ive used it more than ive used a fluke.

While on the topic of jerkbaits, what is your favorite hard jerkbait in 4-6 ft of water for the colder months?  I am just starting to throw these and want to learn the way!

 

Not sure it can hit 6' but the Ima Flit is a terrific fish catcher and it runs app 4'. The Lucky Craft Staysee is a good choice when you need to run deeper.

Not sure it can hit 6' but the Ima Flit is a terrific fish catcher and it runs app 4'. The Lucky Craft Staysee is a good choice when you need to run deeper.

I wanna try that Ima Flit so bad, just cant spend $17 on a single bait...

The biggest difference for me is cold water applications, where the bait being able to stay stationary in the water column. For these sluggish fish a good suspending hard jerkbait is often the ticket. Flukes are good most of the other time, especially in shallow cover.

While on the topic of jerkbaits, what is your favorite hard jerkbait in 4-6 ft of water for the colder months?  I am just starting to throw these and want to learn the way!

 

I've used a Rapala X-rap with good results (sometimes)

I use the YUM MONEY minnow and the discontinued Renosky Scattering Shad in blue glimmer along with a fast short snappy twitch letting the plastic body go every which way right in front of the bass enticing them.

I been collecting the hard body swimbaits but I haven't thrown them yet. I just received some mini sunfish and pumpkinseen lures from sleezebay to try.

Super flukes especially in the spring and this time of the year are my next choice after a frog, allway's.

I use a small barrel swivel and sometimes a small split shot about 2 ft up,. The weight of both keeps the fluke down a little if I 'm not skimming it across the top.

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

I wanna try that Ima Flit so bad, just cant spend $17 on a single bait...

 

I hear ya they are pricey, the upcoming thanksgiving sales may cushion the blow. I have had a few outings the past few years when they seem to only hit this bait over Lucky Craft ,Megabass and Rapala X Rap. This bait in the Ghost color has been my most consistent jerkbait the past few years but I am also fan of the others that I mentioned and the hot jerkbait can be different each outing.

 

I'm sure some will disagree with me but  this  bait category is where the meticulous detail of japanese baits outshine the other offerings in the market and in my opinion seem to perform better overall and are worth the extra price. I'm not saying that on occasion a Roque or a Strike King won't outfish the japanese baits but in my experience that is rarely the case. That said most of them are 15$ plus unless you catch them on sale.

I use both. There are things one can do, that the other one can't. Try skipping a hard jerkbait under a dock with criss-crossing supports, a pontoon boat in a hoist  and that's surrounded by thick grass...........it is less than a desirable situation. Or try to get a soft one to suspend 5 feet down over submerged grass in 12 feet of 42 degree water..........

While the bass are feeding for winter I like a fluke.  Especially around grass or weeds.

I use a fluke throughout the summer and a hard jerkbait in fall and winter, usually in cold clear water.  A good place to start is the Rapala X-Rap.  Once you've got the hang of it, you can upgrade to a more expensive Lucky Craft minnow or Megabass Vision 110.  Those are really good looking lures, but they can be somewhat of an investment.

Hard Jerkbaits = around cover and structure

Soft Jerkbaits = in cover and structure

Soft jerkbaits are generally better than hard jerkbaits in the warmer months, but suspending hard jerkbaits can have a huge advantage over soft jerkbaits.