I have a large jerkbait that is pretty difficult to work on the rod that I have. I was thinking of just using it like a crankbait with a steady retrieve. Maybe pause from time to time. Anyone know if this can be effective or would I be better off just sticking with a crankbait?

I do this with those LC Live Pointers. They are horrible as a jerkbait but on a slow retrieve they are deadly.

 

Allen

No. A fish has never attacked a slowly moving bait fish before. It must be paused.

14 minutes ago, iabass8 said:

No. A fish has never attacked a slowly moving bait fish before. It must be paused.

 

Touché

I do it all the time, especially with rip style lures. Jerkbaits with cupped bills swim the best. Try the Baker JLD, Jackall Squad Minnow and Megabass Trick Darter. 

That's the way I used x raps for about 2 years before I "knew" how they were supposed to be used. Still caught fish. 

My dad isn't very good at fishing jerkbaits. His usual retrieve is a jerk, then several cranks of the handle that moves the bait a few feet before the next jerk. He doesn't typically catch the numbers I do when they're on a jerkbait bite, but he still catches some while cranking the bait along. 

I crank a jerkbait and jerk a crankbait when fish tell me to.

This could definitely work.  Sadly I learned two days ago why they are called jerkbaits and not crankbaits.  Accidentally cranked a Husky Jerk I was fishing off of a submerged log jam and the bill broke off.  Ouch.  Maybe I can find a way to use it as a topwater bait now.

The first rule is...there are no rules!!

 

The fish will tell you what, how and when..to throw what, how and when

 

 

 

 

Mike

5 hours ago, reason said:

I crank a jerkbait and jerk a crankbait when fish tell me to.

 

1 hour ago, Mike L said:

The first rule is...there are no rules!!

 

The fish will tell you what, how and when..to throw what, how and when

 

 

 

 

Mike

Do they have scratchy voices? Always been curious as I've not had one speak to me yet.

Walleye guys troll jerkbaits all the time. 

 

There's more than one way to skin a cat, and there's more than one way to fish a lure...

4 minutes ago, Jeff H said:

 

Do they have scratchy voices? Always been curious as I've not had one speak to me yet.

 

No, they have a deep, low, resonant, rhythmic voice, somewhat below tenor....

I've caught more bass 1.5-2.5 mph trolling a 8' depth jerkbait than a 8' depth crankbait. Water clarity was 10'+. I usually catch more pickerel with that method than bass.

Edited May 8, 20179 yr by HeavyTwenty

2 minutes ago, HeavyTwenty said:

I've caught more bass 1.5-2.5 mph trolling a 8' jerkbait than a 8' crankbait. Water clarity was 10'+. I usually catch more pickerel with that method than bass.

 

Wow, I've caught bass on big lures, but that's next level...

3 minutes ago, reason said:

 

Wow, I've caught bass on big lures, but that's next level...

Oops, meant 8' depth  

Just now, HeavyTwenty said:

Oops, meant 8' depth  

 

Darn, I was already carving a 2X4 into a jerkbait...

24 minutes ago, reason said:

 

No, they have a deep, low, resonant, rhythmic voice, somewhat below tenor....

 

Hah, great!

 

 

I have also found that cranking a jerkbait is like a siren song for pickerel. 

39 minutes ago, Jeff H said:

 

Do they have scratchy voices? Always been curious as I've not had one speak to me yet.

 

Not really, but it's kinda hard to tell because they always start to blow bubbles when I ask, and I never get a straight answer. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

13 minutes ago, Bunnielab said:

 

13 minutes ago, Bunnielab said:

I have also found that cranking a jerkbait is like a siren song for pickerel. 

 

Yes, there is something specific to that action that applies to other lures...

You can target them or try to avoid them when the bite is hot and bass and picks are both around.