Soft jerk baits

[FlatCrazy]

After reading a bunch of the old posts on this forum I noticed that not much has really said about fishing the soft plastic jerk baits on the flats. Over the past three years I have almost exclusively switched over to fishing the 5-7" soft baits. They are so versatile that they can be fished on top or on the bottom. My hookup rate when using them as a topwater seems to be much higher than with traditional top water baits; seems like the fish miss them less and usually hold on to them longer. I do not know of any other bait that can be thrown five feet into heavy grass after redfish and not get hung up. I found a bubblegum color that redfish and trout just can't resist.

Has anyone else has this same experience or am I the only one?

[Jumptrout51]

Yes,the hookup rate will be higher with any bait other than top water, unless you know how to effectively fish topwater.
There are many on this forum that will put topwater up against any other bait on any given day and put bigger on the Boga.
You might catch more on other baits, but not bigger.

[Flint River Pirate]

There are many on this forum that will put topwater up against any other bait on any given day and put bigger on the Boga.

Are you one of these people JT?

[Eerman]

Plenty of folks on here use soft jerkbaits. A lot of times you'll see somebody refer to the "Ty Smith rig". That's a soft jerkbait nose hooked.

[FlatCrazy]

You might catch more on other baits, but not bigger.

To be honest with you I really have not noticed any difference in the size of the fish I catch on the 7" jerk baits than the ones I would catch on super spooks, which is what I used to fish with. I am not sure what you consider to be a big trout. I have never caught any 30" trout, but I have caught several 23-25" fish on the jerk baits, but mainly I have always caught my larger trout on large live baits. But, I love topwater fishing, nothing is better than watching the surface of the water explode as your line tightens.

[Natureboy]

I am a big time live bait man. Even when I fish in freshwater live bait really outperforms. If I am fishing the flats I use a lot of cutbait. That is why ladyfish and lizzardfish were invented.

[Littoral]

This here Cobia (February) says:
Strike King 3X Plastic Baits - Zulu
I get on the water a little better than once a week and I've used the
same (1!) bait since the middle of November.
Just saying.
But please don't put one on a Mikes 1/16 oz jig, they aren't any good.

[captkeyser]

Ew ew I like this topic !!! I fish 3 baits... My favorite of course would have to be the Super Spook. It will consistantly pull larger trout than most other plugs, if not all other plugs. Well, put it this way, If I was to fish a tournament and could only weigh my largest trout and had to throw one lure all day long, it would be the SS.

However, my second choice would be the 7" Bass Assassin in the pearl color. However, I don't like to hook it "Ty Style" as I feel like it is easier to sling the bait off that way. I hook it weedless put punch the hook through the top of the bait for better hook ups. I agree, this bait is the most versitile bait to throw. You can fish it in any depth and grass on the surface doesn't affect it. It does catch LARGE trout, and reds, but the best thing about fishing this type of bait is the fight. Because you are using a single hook, and not multiple trebles the fish can close it's mouth and swim freely. It rarely will come up and shake. A 23inch trout will pull like a red when it's mouth isn't held wide open by a topwater plug.

My third bait of choice would have to be a Bomber stick bait. It throws better than a Redfin and has a wider wobble.

Just my thoughts.

[SHOWBOAT]

There is no good info on this thread. I recomend everyone move on to the next one

[flounderpounder]

I have been doing well with large 7" DOA jerk baits rigged on a 1/16 Slayer weedless hook. I tend to carry 2 rods one with that and the other big topwater. Bigger has been better most of the time for us.

[Littoral]

I tend to carry 2 rods one with that and the other big topwater.

12 months of the year. Gold spoon is choice #3.

[whitebc]

Showboat, someone hit a nerve?!

[SHOWBOAT]

nope ...it is always impressive to see how much info folks on this board are willing to share. There is even more to learn when you attend the meetings, tournaments or go fishing with forum members.

[Joe]

Could someone please describe the most common action or retrieve when targeting Reds on such plastics. While I am asking for welfare "Change" might as well ask cool and warm water temp diferences. Thanks Guys!

[FlatCrazy]

Could someone please describe the most common action or retrieve when targeting Reds on such plastics. While I am asking for welfare "Change" might as well ask cool and warm water temp diferences. Thanks Guys!

I rig mine weedless with a 4/0 wide gap red worm hook. 99% of the reds I catch on them I will be in really shallow water. Just get it in front of his nose and he will eat it. The nice thing about this weedless rig is you can always get it in front of him, no matter how far back he might be in the thick the grass. The bait will not get hung. For trout or blind casting on the flats I usually work mine just like a topwater bait. Think walk the dog. Jerk, jerk, jerk....pause and repeat. You do not have to jerk very hard on these to get great action. Soft twitches will usually get the job done. The bait will dart from side to side on top and sometimes will dart below the water surface. It is not as easy to control as a spook for working on the top, but you do not need to worry about that because the bait has so much action to it that the fish will be attracted to it no matter what it does.

I can't comment on the water temp thing because I only have experience fishing in the spring and summer.