I want to learn how to fish jerkbaits for winter bass. I never have fished them and I don't have any either. I would like to buy 2-3 quality baits to get me started. What do you all recommend? I also have a lot of pickerel in one of the lakes I plan on fishing them, so if they are a bait that will get bit off quite a bit I want the take price per jerkbait into account. Thanks for the help!

Pickeral dont have huge mouthes, so a 100mm+ bait (4"), will help you not to get bitten off. If you are really concerned, the smithwick suspending rogue is the bait for you!

On 3/1/2016 at 4:49 PM, Kevin22 said:

Pickeral dont have huge mouthes, so a 100mm+ bait (4"), will help you not to get bitten off. If you are really concerned, the smithwick suspending rogue is the bait for you!

So a smithwick for the pickerel. But what about other lakes? Pointers or Mcsticks? Are any suspending Rapala's worth a try? Also do I want silent or rattling?

I cant help you too much. I use xraps (stock and altered), husky jerks, and rogues. They all catch fish. This year i am considering trying the more expensive baits...

 

Jerkbaits are an awesome way to fish. My favorites are the RC STX (Ito 110 knockoff), and the old Xcalibur stickbait (xs4/xEE4)which is no longer made (same shape as suspending rogue). I also like Lucky craft pointer 78 (100 size wasn't my cup of tea), and the Rapala Husky Jerk has a similar action to the old Xcaliburs, but they don't cast as well and usually don't suspend out of the box. I did have one Spro McStick for awhile before I broke it off. I like it, it caught fish, and the hooks were wicked sharp. Never bought a replacement though haha.

I really enjoy jerkbait fishing and I certainly have far too many.

Pointers 78 & 100 are great, McSticks are nice but don't sleep on the McRip when aiming for deeper waters. Duo and Jackall have a nice jerkbaits too. One company that goes under the radar but does a good job is Baker with their JLD1's and 2's. 

On the river shad colors do well but on lakes near me dark colors really excel in the murky water.

Every jerkbait is going to need a bit of a tune, it's part of the fun. You'll sort out which make works for you pretty quickly. There's a lot of great choices out there.

I like LC Pointers the best. 100 size mostly, but don't sleep on the 78. Ghost Minnow is my favorite color. I also like the X-Rap. I love the Olive Green color one.

So, I'm down to a few possibilities. 1.) Spro Mcsticks 2.) LC pointers 3.) Smithwick Rougue 4.) Luck-E-Strike Stx

i will probably get 3. Should I get all rattling? 

If you want a pointer get a pointer 128 (5" size-weighs 1 oz). Also a smithwick suspending rattlin rogue in the 5-1/2" size & rapala husky jerk HJ14 also 5-1/2" size.  All have rattles & three treble hooks. Like others have mentioned the larger size will help prevent bite offs. My experience with larger jerk baits is you will limit some of the smaller fish bites but not the bigger fish. 

Don't forget about the Floater's either...Floating Minnow baits or jerkbaits are still the best selling fishing lure on the market, or at least the Original Rapala Minnow still is....You can make them suspend and stay super shallow which has it's place, then Bagleys Makes the Bang O lure prop and double Prop, bomber Long A, Lucky Craft Flash Minnow, and many more...Also lures like the Max Rap are great for fishing over grass if you want a suspender that only dives a foot...Red Fin has one that does the same, only wake that I am aware of that suspends...

I Rarely fish the suspenders early in the year, I don't have alot of confidence in them unless I am with someone who does. It is a no feel technique that can be frustrating, like all fishing early in the year, but if you can become confident with it, it is a great technique for big fish early in the year...I just wait for the floaters to come into play which is all year in Florida and all year in NY if water was not frozen...We would catch Smallmouth with a Jointed rapala on a Carolina rig in Rivers in the winter....Jerkbaits are versatile lures, and I believe a Hardbait over grass will catch bigger fish than a fluke...And you can get them through 6" of water with emerging weeds along with large waves. Ripbaits are so much fun since they can be fished so many ways, for me, I like to stay moving when fishing, so in winter I am a Road runner, Jig, Small bait guy...But I will try the Rogue or Husky Jerk or Timmy Horton Suspending Long A in winter if I know fish are suspended....Or shad are dying...