I like the SK KVD's and the Storm Twitch Sticks

 

Haven't thrown them much since investing in LC Pointers, but I assure you that smallies will still eat a Bomber Suspending Pro Long A. They cost $4.99 in the '90s and, checking with a major online retailer, cost $5.59 in 2016.

 

I recommend the storm twitch stick. If u are fishing in ponds with bluegill and sunfish use those color patterns. When fishing in water with a little stain fish the pearl shad or Threadfin Shad. in clear water use some of the clear colors.

The Academy jerkbaits are very good. They say floating online but all mine suspend out of the box or with very little modification. The RC Stix have been one of my go to baits since they came out. Duo and Spro are both a little cheaper than LC and both very good baits. 

Clayton which jerkbait from academy is the one that suspends? Is it the $5.99 one or the $3.99 one? I have been eyeing them for awhile now but i did not want a floating one. 

Just picked up two more McSticks on clearance at Academy for $4.98.

 

Not had much experience with jerkbaits, but the only one I've been able to catch fish on is a LC Pointer sp in chartreuse shad... Had one day where I caught 30 bass on it between 3-6 lbs, no small ones... That was a magical day for me! ?

On January 1, 2016 at 6:48 AM, roadwarrior said:

Picked up two McSticks at Academy on sale for $6.

 

I did the same on Wednesday, haven't tried them yet so for $6 seemed like the right time...

My local DSG   had luck E strike stx on sale for $6, I have no experience with them but the look exactly like the Megabass vissiOn.

is the stx the same as the mb vision?

Surprised not a single soft jerk bait recommendation yet.  Use hard jerk baits in the colder water, but a fluke has definitely got its place in these discussions. Especially that Arkansas shiner color. 

Saw a Twitch stick 8 in sunfish today for $3.. had to grab it. 

X-raps, Shadow-raps and the SK KVD jerkbaits all worked well for me this spring. A year ago I had a few days where they were killing the LuckyStrike RC stx. 

picked up a few Spro Mcsticks myself at academy for 4.98.  like others said , the h20 academy hardbaits r all excellent.  

man they need to build an Academy out this way. We're just getting a gander mtn. 

I would buy 10 mcsticks at that price.

11 hours ago, thebillsman said:

man they need to build an Academy out this way. We're just getting a gander mtn. 

I would buy 10 mcsticks at that price.

Or do like me and buy all they have for that price 

On ‎1‎/‎3‎/‎2016 at 11:58 PM, BaitMonkey1984 said:

Surprised not a single soft jerk bait recommendation yet.  Use hard jerk baits in the colder water, but a fluke has definitely got its place in these discussions. Especially that Arkansas shiner color. 

The OP is looking of inexpensive jerkbaits and used Megabass and Lucky Craft as examples so we are assuming he is wanting hard jerkbaits and it is why nobody has brought up the fluke. That said, a fluke is more of a warm water bait but it does work well in colder temps when fished on a light jig head or on the back of a fish head spin.

The cheaper ones I use that work well are the Shadow Rap, Smithwick Suspending Rogue, Luck E Strike RC STX, and the Bomber Long A.

Zoom super fluke

Rapala Shad rap is a excellent lure, caught a lot of bass and long nose gar. Even bought a large oak tree. it was the only one that got away.. with my lure..

I believe that when bass are on a jerkbait bite that just about any bait on the market these days will do the catching for you. That being said, take a look at Netcraft. They offer hook-less bodies in bulk that you can get really inexpensively. I've used them and they do work. However, it's always fun to get that "new" jerkbait and imagine it has some magical powers that will get that next bite just a bit faster.