Found a few floating jerkbaits in my dad's old box and he doesn't use em much. I thought they could be good over grass not yet at the surface with 1-5ft of space between the surface and the grass. Anyone throw em? Balsa vs plastic? Fish em fast? Slow twitches like a topwater? Both? Let me know how you like to throw em!

I fish jerkbaits year round, but not as much in the summer. Although, they can still be very productive. I fish floaters and suspending baits with less of a pause in warmer water. Also, I'll usually fish a smaller bait in the summer. I would never rule out a jerkbait.

   I fish jerkbaits all year round, although I'm not a fanatic about them. Other than the Countdown, I prefer plastic floaters. Using them over weeds was the original reason I wanted to try them, and I liked what I found. So yes, it's productive. I fish them stop-and-go with short pauses. Basically it's the same pattern as cold waters, but speeded up for warmer temperatures.        jj

Both. If & when you have the patience fish them slow with prolonged pauses & twitches much like a topwater. You can also switch to a more normal retrieve  if the slow style doesn't work. 

3 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

   I fish jerkbaits all year round, although I'm not a fanatic about them. Other than the Countdown, I prefer plastic floaters. Using them over weeds was the original reason I wanted to try them, and I liked what I found. So yes, it's productive. I fish them stop-and-go with short pauses. Basically it's the same pattern as cold waters, but speeded up for warmer temperatures.        jj

Okay good to know, any specific plastic floating preferences? I was looking at the rapala stealth but what do you use?

3 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Both. If & when you have the patience fish them slow with prolonged pauses & twitches much like a topwater. You can also switch to a more normal retrieve  if the slow style doesn't work. 

Will try thanks!

9 hours ago, Biglittle8 said:

I fish jerkbaits year round, but not as much in the summer. Although, they can still be very productive. I fish floaters and suspending baits with less of a pause in warmer water. Also, I'll usually fish a smaller bait in the summer. I would never rule out a jerkbait.

Interesting will try this method thanks!

 

In south Louisiana where I mainly fish, a floating jerkbait will work year round. I fish them either slowly on top with light twitches or a steady twitching retrieve under the surface depending on the mood of the fish. In either case, most hits occur after you let the bait rest on the surface for a few seconds after each series of twitches.

 

I use both the plastic (Smithwick Rogue; Cordell Redfin) and balsa (Bagley Bang-O-B; A.C. Shiner) models. At this time of year I especially like them from dawn until the sun gets up over the trees. 

 

 

I knew a old man about my age now who fished Rapala original balsa Minnow floating F13 silver black back year around at lake Casitas very successfully. 

You can wake it slowly, steady retrieve or stop and go or fish like a jerk bait fast, anything in between and catch bass. The old man would start at the north end of the big island and work all the way around in his aluminum boat.  I think he knew every bass around that island, every stick, rock, brush, everything. Never noticed him fishing anywhere else on the lake.

Tom

1 hour ago, WRB said:

I knew a old man about my age now who fished Rapala original balsa Minnow floating F13 silver black back year around at lake Casitas very successfully. 

You can wake it slowly, steady retrieve or stop and go or fish like a jerk bait fast, anything in between and catch bass. The old man would start at the north end of the big island and work all the way around in his aluminum boat.  I think he knew every bass around that island, every stick, rock, brush, everything. Never noticed him fishing anywhere else on the lake.

Tom

Fascinating, some of the oldest techniques are hard to beat and me being in the new generation of fisherman, I  have found a love for these older techniques! Thanks  for sharing the different methods of retrieve and will try these out. Maybe I'll head up to Casitas some time again but haven't had much time as of late, thanks again for the ideas

1 hour ago, riverat said:

 

In south Louisiana where I mainly fish, a floating jerkbait will work year round. I fish them either slowly on top with light twitches or a steady twitching retrieve under the surface depending on the mood of the fish. In either case, most hits occur after you let the bait rest on the surface for a few seconds after each series of twitches.

 

I use both the plastic (Smithwick Rogue; Cordell Redfin) and balsa (Bagley Bang-O-B; A.C. Shiner) models. At this time of year I especially like them from dawn until the sun gets up over the trees. 

 

 

Awesome will try these retrieves, yeah I thought it would be a good alternative to bass that are gorging on baitfish in early morning summer patterns but won't quite commit to a spook or popper.

3 hours ago, PressuredFishing said:

Okay good to know, any specific plastic floating preferences? I was looking at the rapala stealth but what do you use?

 

In the past, I was firmly in the Bomber Long A camp, mostly the 13A and 15A. However,the last order of these that came in have been problematic. So I've gotten some other jerkbaits, some cheap and some more expensive, to see whether I can hit the mother lode again. The Rapala Shadow Rap Shad  shows some promise. I'll know more a year from now.           jj

29 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

In the past, I was firmly in the Bomber Long A camp, mostly the 13A and 15A. However,the last order of these that came in have been problematic. So I've gotten some other jerkbaits, some cheap and some more expensive, to see whether I can hit the mother lode again. The Rapala Shadow Rap Shad  shows some promise. I'll know more a year from now.           jj

Thanks for the update, will try out a shadow rap and perhaps even a original for more wakebait/low under water presentations

I fish jerkbaits all year. They are one of the best bass fishing lures once you learn how to fish them well.

I love jerkbait fishing.  Most "suspending" jerkbaits are slow float when I submerge them in my sink in regular temperature tap water.  I do not know if they do that in order to offset the sink of fishing line in order to suspend while fished or what the reasoning is.  With that said, I classify lures like the Rapala Floating Minnow and some Bagley lures in their own category as "extreme float" and use them as top water lures.  Cast them out, give them a tug or two, and wait a second until they comeback to the surface and repeat.  Most strikes come on the small pause while the lure returns to the surface or is on the surface. 

 

 

4 hours ago, Happybeerbuzz said:

I love jerkbait fishing.  Most "suspending" jerkbaits are slow float when I submerge them in my sink in regular temperature tap water.  I do not know if they do that in order to offset the sink of fishing line in order to suspend while fished or what the reasoning is.  With that said, I classify lures like the Rapala Floating Minnow and some Bagley lures in their own category as "extreme float" and use them as top water lures.  Cast them out, give them a tug or two, and wait a second until they comeback to the surface and repeat.  Most strikes come on the small pause while the lure returns to the surface or is on the surface. 

 

 

One lure I found that is perfectly balanced surprisingly is a trout magnet jerkbait in suspending. They make larger sizes for bass as well and are reasonably priced compared to most suspenders

  They work but I under-utilize them . I cant use everything . The Bomber Long A Minnow in silver flash  has caught a few keepers in standing timber for me during the summer .

Ive seen Glenn have video about them year or two years ago in bass resource Youtube Channel about the floating jerk baits and he put a link to buy them on amazon in description as well. Best advice go and find that and it will help you a lot.

ill try to find it and share it here.