Anyone fish jerkbaits in a little dirtier water? (about 3 feet of visibility) I love fishing jerkbaits but the river system I fish is pretty dirty and i'm wondering if there are any jerkbaits that excel in dirtier water. I've been fishing Husky Jerks and X-Raps and i'm considering getting a few Luck-E-Strike baits. 

Well, 3' of visibility is what I would call "stained" and is suitable for fishing jerkbaits.

Chocolate milk is what I consider unacceptable.

 

 

 

 

Smithwick Suspending Rattlin' Rogue

Well, 3' of visibility is waht I would call "stained" and is suitable for fishing jerkbaits.

Chocolate milk is what I consider unacceptable.

 

 

 

 

I know it is acceptable. Just wondering what jerkbaits would be the best 

Bright ones that rattle.  I like "clown" in dirty water.

Bright ones ( metallic finish ) and with rattles, you can fish those with as little as 1 inch visibility, and I ain´t kiddin´.

 Though I like Jerkbaits, my success is often reduced as the visibility decreases.

 

Bright Colored baits with a Loud Rattle could help.

 

Additionally,  Jerkbaits that are bouncing off or near the bottom might be your best bet in dirty water.

 

A-Jay

I know it is acceptable. Just wondering what jerkbaits would be the best 

now you have to buy a new set up just for jerkbaits!!! That's what I use as an excuse

now you have to buy a new set up just for jerkbaits!!! That's what I use as an excuse

haha, I've got a decent set-up for them already! (I fish jerkbaits a ton when I go to my cottage in Michigan) I'd love to pick up St. Croix Premier cranking rod for them though 

I second clown jerk baits.

Not sure I would fish it over deep water but shallower should work fine. 

Well, 3' of visibility is waht I would call "stained" and is suitable for fishing jerkbaits.

Chocolate milk is what I consider unacceptable.

 

 

 

 

hum......... even a moderator cant spell what right. lol

Fat thumb syndrome.

 Additionally,  Jerkbaits that are bouncing off or near the bottom might be your best bet in dirty water.

 

A-Jay

 

Funny you mention this - I hadn't thought about it, but, I generally do make contact with something in less visibility, whereas in clear water, they call fish from great distances.  I'm not sure how far they're coming from in dirty water - can't see the fish - but I'm sure it less.  The contact thing is true for just about ANY moving bait in low visibility water. 

Funny you mention this - I hadn't thought about it, but, I generally do make contact with something in less visibility, whereas in clear water, they call fish from great distances.  I'm not sure how far they're coming from in dirty water - can't see the fish - but I'm sure it less.  The contact thing is true for just about ANY moving bait in low visibility water. 

 

When the vis is bad and we're looking for fish - grinding big lipped jerkbaits is often times the only way to get bit. 

 

Get's expensive sometimes though.

 

A-Jay

When the vis is bad and we're looking for fish - grinding big lipped jerkbaits is often times the only way to get bit. 

 

Get's expensive sometimes though.

 

A-Jay

 

I lik this deeper suspending squarebill for that. Loud rattles, very snagless and suspends.

 

Stacee's snag too easy

 

http://bakerlures.com/suspending-crankbait-series/

The bigger baits move more water. Bright colors & loud rattles help as already mentioned. Working the baits with pronounced strokes to make them most erratic helps. Three feet of visibility is very doable.

When the vis is bad and we're looking for fish - grinding big lipped jerkbaits is often times the only way to get bit. 

 

Get's expensive sometimes though.

 

A-Jay

 

That grind almost invariably leads me to new northern spots, lol.  I once fed a half dozen slim shads to the gators before figuring out there was no "fishing through the pike bite." LMAO.

Simply said IMO jerkbaits are a sight bait. A rattlin crank might do you better in that situation.

Well, 3' of visibility is what I would call "stained" and is suitable for fishing jerkbaits.

Chocolate milk is what I consider unacceptable.

 

 

 

I've had amazing success in chocolate milk with a floating rattlin' Rouge, chrome and orange.

Simply said IMO jerkbaits are a sight bait. A rattlin crank might do you better in that situation.

 

 

If you retrieve a deep diving billed jerkbait like a crankbait what is the difference besides the baits profile?

If you retrieve a deep diving billed jerkbait like a crankbait what is the difference besides the baits profile?

If you fish it as a minnow which is what I call what you are reffering to then no difference. The fish will have sound and vibration to hone in on. Sorry for the confusion, I refer to jerkbaits as a "jerking" bait.

I consider 3' plenty for a Jerkbait and I would go with a Floating Rattling Rogue or Long A this time of year as it can be whatever you want it to be... A Topwater, wake bait, Shallow Crank(1-6') or just go with the can't miss twitch-twitch-Let it float technique which works most of the year. I experiment with color and sound, but the Floating Rogue is my favorite in Stained water and Clown is a great color. Rogues make plenty of noise for fish to find them and floater or suspender are good for all water types imo. I have caught fish in the fall on a floating Jerkbait in all water types in all temperatures but once it get's really cold then I like a slow sinking or suspending model.

 

I rarely fish the Spoon bill or deep diving jerkbaits but that is only because I never do it, so I lack confidence in tying one on, but I will fish a suspending crankbait which dives deep which I guess is similar as mentioned above...If I have to fish deep, I like a drop shot or jig personally. If stained, I add rattles, and add a bulky trailer to move more water.