Jerkbait question

[brownies]

Around here, when water temp gets down below 45 degrees, seems that a hard plastic, suspending jerbait, is hard to beat.
BUT, not being a "self-professed" power fisherman, I find it difficult to know when to move.

If I'm not pitching a jig or slow moving some type of soft plastic and spending an hour on a 100yrd stretch of cover....I'm lost.
BUT, this time of year, I can fish a crankbait or jerkbait..r-e-a-l s-l-o-w, and still be pefectly contect.
The problem is with moving and covering water. It almost seems like if there is a fish(largemouth) within 20ft either side of my retreive, he's going to eat that jerkbait the 1st cast, or, he's not going to eat it at all and 50 casts later is just a waste of time.

Is that more true than not?
Should I be making a cast every 50ft instead of every 10 with the trolling motor a notch or two higher?

AS a general rule....not always, but, for the most part?

Lube Dude? any suggestions or any other baits to try?

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Jerkbait question

When water temps get low, you have to slow down cause the fish do.
They are not in the habit of chasing anything so you just about have to hit them in the face with something for them to react.
Just the nature of their body.
When temps are low, look for any rocks that have the sun hitting them.
These will be warm spots for them to gather at.
Not always, but a good bet there are 1 or 2 hanging around them.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Jerkbait question

Working a suspending jerkbait slow is a good way to get bit. I catch myself fishing them too fast at times. Like SPN said sometimes you need to put in their face. Work the same area for a good while, try baits that suspend at different depths, and try different lengths of time on the pause.

Try the lucky craft pointer. They work.

 

[AnglersResource]

Re: Jerkbait question

I would work the suspending jerk bait the same speed as a jig with bigger jerks. These cold water fish are not going to chase thngs down and may just sit there and looka t the bait before they bite maybe even 2 or 3 casts to the same spot. If there is a spot that really should hold a fish do not think twice about throwing a few casts in the same spot. Just remember that in cold water the slower the better...

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Jerkbait question

Smallmouth and spotted tends to come from a little distance to hit your bait but largemouth won't in cold water. I once fished in 40 degrees water, worked a jerkbait real slow (like I'm supposed to) across a rock point. My partner had caught a big largemouth in the same vincinity. We went back and forth through that area, combing every inch of it. I got frustrated from not getting bit so I decided to change up. I started to ripped it real eratically and fast. A pig of a smallmouth came out of nowhere and unloaded on it.