So I was thinking about getting some jerkbaits but then i remembered somewhere not to use them if the water is not very clear.  THE lake that i live in has horrible water clarity and is all green so is it worth a shot to use jerkbaits?

I am no expert by any means but I have caught fish in muddy water with a gold x rap many times.

I've done pretty well on the Arkansas River with white jerkbaits. Its pretty stained up.

How dirty are we talking? Under 24" visibility?

The rule is to use jerkbaits in clear water.

But since there are no rules in bass fishing give it a shot and see what happens in stained to dirty water.

Let us know how you do.

I will not use them if I have less than 2' of visibility, and it isn't because they won't work but you will do better with other baits. You can catch them on a jerkbait that makes noise but in cold water it is hard because the fish will not actively chase, it is the pause that becomes important. That said, if your bait ends up close enough it will work but more often than not, there is a better lure for your situation. I have a log book and I can go and look at all the times I've caught fish on a jerkbait, I have the water clarity listed and you can actually see the catch rate go down with water clarity, 2' was the water clarity where I still caught a good number of fish but it was less than 3' and a good bit less than gin clear. I'd say if your water is like that all the time and you have 1' of visibility then try it but if you are talking inches of visibility then go with something else. Another reason is the fish will move shallower in that dirty water and they will be close to the bottom so a jig can work as well as a lipless crank.

The rule is to use jerkbaits in clear water.

But since there are no rules in bass fishing give it a shot and see what happens in stained to dirty water.

Let us know how you do.

 

This could probably clean up half the tackle forum if we closed threads based on "Answered" 

 

Ha, thanks Sam!

I'd give it a shot. I'd suggest getting some with rattles though.