Ive seen a couple of different techniques for jerkbaits. one is tip down an a snap motion and also a pull or snap to the side. is this a preference or a difference of 2 presentations?

I usually combine the two or three techniques. Stop and go jerk etc.

I snap down and about 30 degrees to the left (I hold the rod in my right hand) about 90% of the time.  I snap directly down when I want a more subtle presentation.

i snap directly down in front of me.  this wears me out less.  i try not to move the bait with my reel, only to pick up the slack and concentrate hard on the length of the pauses trying to determine what the fish want.

matt

I am nowhere near perfect at this, but this is what I try to do; I try to find out what the baitfish are doing. If it's a warming trend and they are active, or a cold front has slowed them down, or whatever they are doing, I try to focus with all the attention I can(which never seems to be enough) and move the lure so that it resembles them. The biggest problem is usually a jerkbait is used in cold water and it's hard to see what the forage are actually doing. But I think thats one of my favorite things about bass fishing is the amount of concentration that is required. I just wish I was mentally stronger in that area :-[

I will snap the rod tip up, down, side to side....whatever I feel like the most realistic action is.

I snap the tip up when I want to keep the bait from going too deep, down when I want to keep it out of sight.

You typically want your jerkbait to imitate injured or struggling baitfish, hence the jerks and pauses so that the bait doesn't look like a healthy fish.  Everyone who fishes these on a regular basis will tell you that the pause is extremely important.  Make sure the pause is long enough.  I jerk sideways and down but I've performed the technique other ways as well.  While the typical methods are probably best most of the time you never know what can work on a given day with any bait.  Sometimes something different and odd will bring in a fish.  I've enticed bass to bite these by making 3 or 4 quick turns of the reel handle after a jerk and pause.