When people fish jerk baits in the winter, do you think it's a strike zone approach or are you calling in bass from several feet away?

I have always wondered if you are targeting fish in close range of the cast or if you are expecting to dar bass in to the lure from several feet away

Are the bass caught on jerks usually supsended or can they be rising up from the bottom cover to grab the lure?

Bass will definitely come from a long ways to hit a jerkbait, but water clarity plays an important role in this approach. As a rule of thumb (and there are always exceptions), you always want the lure above the fish. I caught an 8.03 last winter over 25 ft of water (fish were in 20') with a lure that only went 4'. Most of my fish hit the lure on the pause. If smallmouth are in the area, keep a firm grip on the rod. They will crush it.

Suspended, will attack from several feet away.Rip stop twitch....BAM !

But the year the guy caught all the bass on Rayburn with custom painted Rogue (deer stand area) that was relatively shallow, right?

and the year Cochran did so well with the Strike King (presumably) at Guntersville was too?

Depends on water clarity.

I tend to use the rogue in more stained conditions. They also work shallower because they don't dive deep and float up (unless modified).

If water is clearer I am trying to fish 4-6' with a suspending jerkbait.

Good luck!

Yes relatively shallow but suspended.