I have a ton of X-raps, and have always liked them alot for when the water warms up a little, and the fish want a faster more aggressive bait. But I have never liked them much for a cold water subtle "jerk", long pause type of bait. Got a TW order in today with some Luck E Strick RC STX baits, and Xcaliber EEratic shad baits, I will give those an honest try in the next few weeks and see whats what with them. First impression, just sitting here looking at them, I like the Clunn bait, based on looks,better.

Oh yea,colder water jerk baits really excel.The rouge or the orginal floating rapala always produce.I heard some guys are doing well with a husky jerk right now.Looking forward to your report on those baits.Good luck.

You need to give the LC Pointers a try.

Others I like: Megabass Ito Vision 110, Ima Flit and McStick

I hear you on the LC Pointers, but for the ammount of $5-$10 baits I loose to tootheys, I might just need to be put in a home if I started losing $15+ ones. Not even going to consider MB.....for the same reason.

The McStick has been on my radar....and I should have got a few, I just forgot. I actually used to like Rapala Husky Jerks as my cold water bait, but they just don't cast as good as all these modern baits with there weight transfer systems, nor do they have the translucent color patterns that guys I know who do fish a lot of jerkbaits in cold clear water do so well on.

I have both and really like both of the baits you bought. I've caught lots of fish on both but seem to catch much more large fish on the Erratic shad for some reason. In all fairness, they've been around longer and I've fished them more. Keep your eyes open for sales on LC pointers. I've found them down to $5 apiece when certian colors get discontinued by tackle stores. We only have a few pike in the area, no muskie or pikeral, but I know that sickening feeling of getting the "tick" setting the hook and never even feeling any resistance. Mine was a slender pointer in American Shad color, $18 gone, so I understand your concern.

I just picked up some of the RC STX baits. Of the 4 I purchased, out of the package, 2 suspend perfectly, 1 very slight rise, 1 quicker rise so not 100% sold on absolute quality of the bait. That being said, I can find uses for all of them. I have been pummeling fish with them! They are dink magnets. The past two days, 80+ fish, only 4 keepers. Might be a condition of the place I'm fishing, but I'm convinced if I get to a body of water that has a better quality of fish, they should eat it as well. Still won't take the place of my pointers, but it should have a place in the rotation!!

I am sure both baits will work fine if I do my part. Thats probably part of the problem.....me. This is one technique I am terrible with. I have caught fishon long pauses with suspending baits, but I have never had any really great days with it, I lose patience and confidence in it easy, and I'll reach for the lipless crank, or jig, or something else that I have caught more fish on. I need to go out with some one whom this is there bread and butter early season technique, and learn a thing or two.

Over the past 8 or so years I've put a lot of time fishing jb's in cold water here in Va. Sometimes they just don't want it! Time spent with them is absolutely the best way to learn it! I could tell you what works for me, but that is only hearsay basically, ha ha lol! Proper set up is a big part of it. The bait is just a bait if you don't have the correct equipment, I mean you don't flip 1/2oz jig on an ultra light rod and reel with 6 lb line!!