I like to fish jerkbaits. Some people throw them throughout the season. I only fish them at water temps of 50 and below. I primarily fish only 4 brands of baits though I do keep a few other brands and sizes on hand. The 4 baits I use the most are the Lucky Craft Pointer 100, the McStick, the Luck E Strike RC, and the Ito Vision 110. While all 4 of these baits generally look the same in size and appearance there are also differences. I have difficulty deciding which bait to throw. I need a general standard or gauge to assist in making my choice based on the conditions I encounter. Can you offer ideas on how to choose a particular bait over the others and explain why? Consider things like sky condition, water color, water temp, and depth when commenting and also add feedback on bait color patterns you would choose under the conditions. Do you like a bait that sinks slowly, floats upward slowly or completely suspends ? Do you like them to suspend neutrally or nose down or up ? I do catch fish on jerkbaits but I pull my hair out trying to decide which bait would be my "best choice" for that day.

thanks

Well. You've got the best baits around. Some will perform better at different water temps. Most are designed to totally suspend at certain temperatures. I like natural colors on my jerkbaits, shad colors primarily. If the water is really clear and it's sunny I may true a "ghost" pattern, ghost minnow is my favorite. When I'm really on fish and I know they're there I switch to baits I have less confidence, it's how j gain confidence with new or unfamiliar baits. But bottom line, it's fishing, u gotta mix it up w different retrieves, lures/colors, etc. good luck!

Only throwing them in winter is where your messing up. I throw 3 types of jerkbaits mainly. The LC Pointer, Megabass Ito 110, and Rapala X-Rap. I throw them all in different conditions. The pointer I throw in warm water, xrap in cooler water and the Ito 110 in COLD water. I base this off the actions of the baits and my fish catches. A jerkbait is my number one bait on clear water lakes. I throw them pretty much 10 months a year on select lakes. I have caught some really good fish (7-9s) on them in the heat of the summer an my partner caught a 10 last july on the pointer. I've even sight fished cruising fish in the summer time with the pointer. From my experience I can get bit better on xrap than the other two when the water is in 50s on a bright bluebird day. The Ito I throw when the water is sub 50s and its really clear blue bird days. The Ito movement just allows it to be worked slower than the other two which results In better bites for me.

Jerk baits are big fish baits.

I'm not a big jerkbait fisherman, but I throw the Xcaliber EEratic Shad in winter and sometimes a Bomber Long A in hot weather. I grew up fishing bayous with cypress knees everywhere and a Bomber Long A floater was deadly sometimes.

I have one tied on year round.. And have 2 tied on when the water gets 60 or below.. Bottom line they catch fish.. It's kinda my hidden secret ... I never tell my buddy's when I'm catching them on jerks...

Staysee...

Thanks for the comments guys. I struggle with fishing them in warmer water. I know I need to do more of that. The Ito in the really cold water was also my way of thinking. I can't wait to get back out there.

Steve when fishin them in warm water fish them FAST. It's all a reaction bite and they normally choke it.

Thanks Chance, I'll do it. I think I'm going to get a chance to get after some smalljaws Saturday on the Cumberland river right in downtown Nashville. I'll throw a jerkbait there some.

shhhh! Keep it down they don't catch fish its just a rumor especially ghost shad ayu those colors never work.

Throw that jerkbait around floating boat docks with shad spawn up there. I bet nobody hardly does it and I'm sure with y'all's deep lakes they have plenty floating docks

I have a question on the Megabass. I really hate the stock hooks that come on it, and when I have changed hooks I can't get it to suspend the same. Anybody that replaces the hooks, have some that don't affect the action much?

I changed hooks before and came across the same problem . Use suspension dots or crimp a small split shot to the hook to help suspend the suspension dots work a lot better though.

I love to run a Bomber Suspending Pro Long A Silver Flash with orange belly during the spawn and post spawn.