Cold Water Jerkbaits

[Wizard]

Most anglers who watch fishing on media know you have to slow down in cold water. A true statement but how slow is slow? Having fished jerkbaits for decades and watching anglers as they fish, I learned there are two kinds of slow. The first slow is just reducing speed from the normal run and gun approach to just semi-fast. Our society is based upon speed. The second kind of slow is Ozark slow. As in the old Ma and Pa Kettle movies where Ma asks Pa to milk the cow and Pa says, " yessum, right after I take a nap and think on it". Slow is a relative term. In fishing cold water, the secret is to fish slow. After you slow down, think again and fish sl-ow-er. Then again and fish s-l-o-w-e-r. Slow down until after the cast and reaching depth, the lure sits suspended in the water. Ozark folk twitch the bait once then let the bait sit. I will let it sit a minute or more before I move the bait. Move the bait with the reel slowly to see if it has weight. Twitch the lure back to the boat.
Lake of the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake are not far apart in latitude but fish differently. LOZ has Gizzard shad and Table Rock is predominately Threadfin shad. LOZ can get significantly colder than the Rock as shown by not having Threadfin shad. Threadfin begin dying at 40 degrees water temperature. The jerkbait retrieve is done a little faster at Table Rock.
Another thing about cold water shad. The weaker shad start to die off in cold water. Gizzard shad begin to have patches of white scales appear as they weaken. The weaker the shad, the easier it is for bass to feed upon them. I will use a knife to scrape patches of foil off blue/chrome or black/chrome jerkbaits to reveal the bone color plastic underneath the foil. This matches a weakened shad and makes it look vulnerable.

Wizard

[zippyduck]

Excellent post. 
In spring on Raystown lake most use a jerkbait with a looong pause. I have actually taken an egg timer to slow me down. Up to three minute pauses fast retrieves would be in the one minute pause range.

I will be taking a knife to a few of my jerkbaits. 

[caddyjoe77]

another one of those great tips.  Thanks for the reminder Wiz.

So, i dont think I have ever asked you this.  Do you have a twitch cadence depending on water temp as a general rule?
for example:
60 degree water you might start with 30 second pauses
55 might be 45 seconds
50 might be 1 minute
45 might be 1 minute, 30 seconds

with the idea of starting somewhere (the times) and the fish telling you what they want (based on their reaction up or down to that time), in my mind it seems better to have a system to start with and work from there?

[zippyduck]

For me 60 degree water is a fast retrieve somewhere between 3 - 10 second pauses

Below 50 degrees is where the long pauses start. And it still depends on their mood.

Below 40 degrees is the fall asleep and then jerk and go back to sleep stuff.

[caddyjoe77]

For me 60 degree water is a fast retrieve somewhere between 3 - 10 second pauses

Below 50 degrees is where the long pauses start. And it still depends on their mood.

Below 40 degrees is the fall asleep and then jerk and go back to sleep stuff.

thank you -- looking for a "place to start" and adjust from there

[apenland01]

I just started fishing jerkbaits this year for the first time.  I got sold on it catching smallies in New Mexico.  I haven't gotten any bites on them in the last couple of tournaments, so I likely need to slow down to get bit...

[D.W. Verts]

I grew up around some of the greatest jerkbait fisherman in the world. This technique as we know it today started in the Ozarks, specifically Table Rock and Bull Shoals, and the first bait to ever be employed was the "saltwater" Rebel Spoonbill Minnow. Their was this feller named "Poindexter" (right Wizard or loomisguy, or did I screw that up?). He was legend for his abilities to catch monster bass in cold water, and his "cadence" was almost non-existent. He never moved the durn thing. I never met the man but I heard the stories.

Guys like Jimmy Crisp, Basil Bacon, Dick Collier and Sonny Chafin amongst others picked the idea up and put new twists on it. Then came the use of the Smithwick Rogue and the phrase that us older guys use to this day when we talk about what we're doing- we're "jerkin' a Rogue".

Somehow "jerkin' a 110" doesn't sound the same.

One of the more memorable days of my life was spent in the boat with the late great old-time B.A.S.S. pro Shorty Evans. I got a lesson in jerkbait fishing that day that has stayed with me forever.

Those cadences above are all fine and good, except- jerkbait fishing is a technique that can change BY THE HOUR in cold water. Baitfish movement, wind, and lighting changes all have an affect on these baits. It can get a little complicated if you are really trying to stay on 'em.

Since jerkbaits are mostly used in clearer water (not always, but pretty much always in COLD water) cloudy days are almost always best. Think of a jerkbait as a topwater, fished underwater. If that makes any sense. Wind is a huge help on sunny days.

I have let the bait set for 45 seconds in one spot, on a regular basis. A few times for over a minute, but man. That gets tough. You have to be huge confident that the bass are there. Methinks that forward-seeking radar will also change cold water jerkbait fishing. Sucks.

Anyway, I use a jerkbait twelve months out of the year if the conditions are right, and when the water temps are above 55 degrees or so I jerk the hell out of it. WAP, WAP, WAP. You can hear me coming a LONG way away when they're biting that way.

I really hope to do some jerkbait fishing this winter, and maybe some YouTube stuff.

Dale

[Wizard]

I like reading Dale's posts. We give much the same information but he goes into greater depth. Different ways of teaching anglers. Dale gives all you need to do something and I give the basics and want you to learn more on the water. Methinks his way may be better. Anyway, he spins a great story.
Dale mentioned some folks that brought back memories. I learned my cold water jerkbait tactics sitting backseat in Basil Bacon's boat. My hot weather knowledge came from Jim Bitter in Florida.  Jim would throw a jerkbait in 100 degrees air temp and 90+ degrees water temp. He probably holds the record for number of hottest bass put in the well and has a great recipe for poached bass.
Sonny Chafin was a charactor. Often incredibly funny and fished like a bird dog on Quail. I told a story on UB years ago where Sonny and I were fishing together at Table Rock before a late March cold front. The day before the front it was 74 degrees air temp and fishing was great for both LM and SM. The next morning was 65 degrees and fishing even better than the previous day. Then, the wind of the cold front hit us. In an hour the temp dropped 30 degrees and a light rain turned into a hard driving freezing rain. The fishing was still good when things became dangerous. The boat was freezing over. Decks were ice covered and we were cold.  The steering wheel had frozen and the key wouldn't turn. All we had was my pen knife to chip ice. Eventually we made it to the dock. It started to snow and by evening we had 7 inches on the ground.  Two days later, it was 70 degrees and the snow was gone. That was typical Table Rock weather in the 1970's.

Wizard

[loomisguy]

I do remember Basil Bacon.  I also can remember a couple of marina's ,I think it was Baxter and Campbell point that actually rented those old Rapalas  that had been weighted to suspend.
There has really been a lot of history made in this area. From my Driveway I can see Gene Larew's old place. Wizard mentioned Sonny Chafin of chompers and the Hibdon's and on and on.
One of my best days on Table Rock started out as freezing rain ,then sleet then snow . When I stepped onto the dock at the weight in water came out of my boots.
Miserable day weather wise but we train wrecked em on the stickbait and A rig.  As wizard said... Table Rock weather
For me the key is where you fish them slow. If I can wind it down into some tree tops I'm going to leave it sit awhile.

'

[D.W. Verts]

I fished with Bitter too, on LOZ in the '96 B.A.S.S. Invitational. He was leading after that day and he caught his bass on a spinnerbait and a jerkbait.

Dale

[D.W. Verts]

I wish someone would build a cold-water jerkbait with no rattles. I don't often like a noisy bait, but in cold and clear water I want a SILENT bait. I'm going to try something I did with Rogues years ago- and I'll probably ruin some good baits doing it.

Dale

[apenland01]

I wish someone would build a cold-water jerkbait with no rattles. I don't often like a noisy bait, but in cold and clear water I want a SILENT bait. I'm going to try something I did with Rogues years ago- and I'll probably ruin some good baits doing it.

Dale

Take out your hearing aids and they'll all be silent.......

[FD]

I wish someone would build a cold-water jerkbait with no rattles. I don't often like a noisy bait, but in cold and clear water I want a SILENT bait. I'm going to try something I did with Rogues years ago- and I'll probably ruin some good baits doing it.

Dale

Take out your hearing aids and they'll all be silent.......

As Gomer would say, That's just mean, mean, mean....

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

[D.W. Verts]

Wow.

Dale

[stevemyoung]

I wish someone would build a cold-water jerkbait with no rattles. I don't often like a noisy bait, but in cold and clear water I want a SILENT bait. I'm going to try something I did with Rogues years ago- and I'll probably ruin some good baits doing it.

Dale

Before I go back and read the whole thread... I'm under the impression that this would be the gold standard:

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Megabass_Ito_Vision_110_Silent_Jerkbaits/descpage-MB110S.html

[Larry Francis]

So I will put out a little secret some may have heard but most won't.

Rebel made a jerk bait in the 60's called the Sinking Rebel.  It would sink slowly about 5 ft or so depending on the water temps. This jerkbait still out produces any other I have found and used to this day (including the Jap ones). The reason is as you jerk it in short pulls that move it forward wildly about 6 inches then it will back up 2 inches. this makes a bass crazy. It will call fish out of 20 ft in clear water and they hit it like a mack truck.  The original hooks they have are worthless on them and need replaced. I had over 50 of these at one time but I am down to about 12 now. I know at one time some one  ordered enough from rebel that they made more and were on the market about 10 years ago. I think they will make them if someone orders 10,000. I have seen a few on Ebay for around $30 each which is crazy.  No rattle but a wild action when jerked and then they back up a bit and then they suspend. Great bait for cold clear water and spawning bass.

[njpaulc]

Are these the ones with the BB in the lip, or is the weight internal?

[TNDiver]

Wow a lot of great info and stories here.  I know that I have not caught fish because I fish too fast, but these numbers tell me I am fishing WAY too fast  .  Thanks for the info and the stories.

[apenland01]

Wow.

Dale

Just teasing ya Dale!

[apenland01]

I wish someone would build a cold-water jerkbait with no rattles. I don't often like a noisy bait, but in cold and clear water I want a SILENT bait. I'm going to try something I did with Rogues years ago- and I'll probably ruin some good baits doing it.

Dale

Looks like Wlure has 2 silent ones from a quick look.  I've never heard of them until Smallie mentioned them.  I ordered 10-12 and like the looks a lot, especially for the money!  Took 3 weeks to get here from overseas, but should work fine.

The M639 and M762 seem silent.  The M is for Minnow, their jerkbait.  All the others have rattles that I can tell.  They also sell blanks that may be silent as well, but you would have to paint and seal them yourself, which isn't a problem for you....

[D.W. Verts]

I got the tease! And Larry, new folks are not allowed to give away valuable tidbits like that Rebel. Back off a little, sir... (another tease).

Folks, ya'll need to watch a shad while it is in its death throes. It'll show you everything, IF that's what you want to represent with a jerkbait. And that slightly sinking bait? It's critical sometimes. Truly.

I know folks have expressed a dislike for Randy Blaukat and his YouTube videos, but he is a jerkbait MASTER. He was a key mover in the invention of that 110. Yes, he whines, but he admits it and the info is SOLID. Mostly. Anyway, he's very much spot-on when it comes to winter-time jerkbait fishing, at least in the colder water part of the country.

As far a that "silent 110". Yep, that's the ticket. But I myself refuse to spend that much money on a lure. I'm thrifty. I have an experiment that I'll be doing on my Predator jerkbait soon to see if I can screw them up, or maybe make them do what I want. But $18 to $20 or more for a lure? Nuts.

I absolutely LOVE fishing jerkbaits, no matter what time of year. But figuring out Winter bass with them is special.

Dale

[D.W. Verts]

Alf, I don't have a clue what you just said, as far as the company and lure is concerned. You got to type slower (or something) for me...

Dale

[apenland01]

They are what seems to be a decent lure manufacturer that sells their jerkbaits for between .89 cents and $3.99 per bait.  Here is the link and look for those models I listed and watch the tank video.  They do a tank video for every bait and they all sound different, except the two I mentioned that have no sound other than the bait smacking the side of the tank.

Go to their website and you can check out the various baits and blanks they have....

[D.W. Verts]

Cool. Thanks.

Dale

[Wizard]

The early Rapala was wood and silent as a grave. We drilled out some wood and used BB's to balance them. A drop of clear over the hole and a prayer you got it right. I did the solder around the hook trick for awhile but the Suspend-dots were the easiest way to balance a jerkbait.
In cold weather there is little activity on the water and sound carries underwater further. I cut the outboard further from my fishing spot, use lower power on the TM and drift to my target. One look at my sonar to make sure bait is present and then turn it off. I try to be silent in the cold. Bass have been unmolested until you arrived. They hear your outboard, TM and sonar. Bass are especially attuned to bursts of sound followed by silence. Sonar pings and going on and off the TM constantly can stop bass from feeding. If you are on water with few boats and little activity, being silent is good advice. If fishing a jerkbait, it is even more important.

Wizard