hey guys, i know that jerkbaits are awesome prespawn lures, but im not really sure what kinds to use? suspending, floating, etc....

i really cant afford to pay 15 bucks a piece for LC's. so what other brands work well and what baits specifically? thanks!!!

I actually had pretty good luck with the XPS Nitro Minnow this past week.

You can't go wrong with a husky jerk.

You can't go wrong with a husky jerk.

Yep... Cost efficient and catches fish.

X-raps work well too and can be found on sale most of  the time. Even LC's can be found at a reduced price; Gander Mountain had them on sale.

Search the interwebz and get the best deals!

In the pre-spawn, cold water period, stick with the suspending baits. LC Pointers are one of my most productive, but I'm also quite fond of Husky Jerks and X-Raps. I carry a selection and try various baits to see what the bass wants at any given time.

Come summer, I tend to lean toward the original Rapala Floating baits. The natural float upwards on the pause can really be a trigger at this time of the year.

Spro McSticks and McRips work well and you can get them for 11.50 - 12.50 at the web tackle shops, best thing to do is put them on your list for when they have those 10-15% sales and you can get them for less than $10.

Academy has some really inexpensive ones - $3.99, but you may have to do some tweaking such as adding suspend dots to get them to suspend correctly.   A buddy of mine has done well fishing them.

River2sea has come out with a $6.99 lure, Suspend minnow is the name I believe, it's a deeper diver, 5-7 feet.  I used one for the first time Friday in the baby bass color and picked up a few fish on it, had good action and suspended well, not bad for $6.99.

I was fixing to post the same question , never done a lot of jerkin' myself. I really like the way the xcaliber baits look (huge fan of the xr rattle baits) , but am interested in what everybody says.

XRaps work very well, but I mean if you buy a LC pointer it will sure get its moneys worth in fish. Can't go wrong with them.

lots of good choices out there that work well.

smithwick rogues

rapala x-raps, husky jerks, clackin' minnows and max raps

spro mcsticks and mcrips

live target smelt and perch

owner cultivas

ima flits

yo zuri crystal minnows

sebile koolie minnows

damiki striker and slim jack

i have had pretty good luck with all of them, most have different actions, depth ranges, etc. tho most are as expensive if not more so than LC's. other than husky jerks and rogues, which work well.

I was fixing to post the same question , never done a lot of jerkin' myself. I really like the way the xcaliber baits look (huge fan of the xr rattle baits) , but am interested in what everybody says.

Don't fish the Erratic shad in the Foxy Voodoo color, you couldnt' catch a cold with it  :-X. The old Rogue is a good bait, just don't try to cast it into the wind.

Suspending Rogues.

You start your collection with one lure. Next year buy another.

Start with a Lucky Craft Pointer, 100SP, MS American Shad.

8-)

rogues !

XRaps work very well, but I mean if you buy a LC pointer it will sure get its moneys worth in fish. Can't go wrong with them.

Unless a pickerel smacks it 3rd cast....  ;D

xcalibir xs4 is my favorite larger jerkbait, and lucky craft-but since your not asking for luckycraft suggestions... i like rapala husky jerk- but mine floats a little bit so look out for that.

1 last thing, stay away from the Strike King Wild Shiner...worst jerkbait i have ever touched, i caught a few fish on it but the durability is absolutely pitiful and they always ran either to the left or right majorly for me.

Back to the husky jerks, i use the glass husky jerks in open water because they suspend, and i use the regular huskys when i want to throw into brush, i can toss it into brush, jerk it.....it will float up then jerk it again over the brush. crappies and bass luv it. 

I would start with a few Husky Jerks & X Raps as others have suggested good choices for someone new to this lure category. That said one you get your first Lucky Craft Pointer you'll want more.

I go with the x-rap over the husky jerks.  Better erratic action and they come with a feathered treble.  I like the clown color the most, especially size 8, as a good numbers lure here in michigan.

I own mostly LC's anymore, but I still have a few X-raps that I use.  You just have to buy several x-raps, find the ones that actually suspend and return the others.  With LC, I usually don't have to worry, they all run true.