Weighted Jerkbaits

Jerkbaits are popular floating/diving hard plastic or wood lures. The floating or unweighted models float at rest, dive when twitched or reeled, then float to the surface again when you stop reeling. Fished as is they are effective around shallow cover in water warmer than 68 degrees. But pro anglers add weight to these lures to allow them to be fished more slowly in cold water. By varying the amount of weight used, you can make jerkbaits rise more slowly after twitching, suspend, or sink very slowly.

WEIGHTING METHODS: 1. Until recently, weighting jerkbaits was a slow hit or miss process. One weighting method involved drilling a hole(s) in the lure body, filling with lead, sealing with cement, and then testing and reweighting until the desired depth/buoyancy was attained. 2. An alternate method, again no longer necessary, involved wrapping varying amounts of lead solder around the lure's leading treble hook to weight it. 3. Today, virtually all pro anglers use stick on weights. These weights let you modify the buoyancy and balance of floater/diving lures much more quickly and precisely, and do not permanently alter the lure. Under most conditions, place the stick on weights on the lure's belly, between the leading and second treble hooks. This will keep the lure in a horizontal presentation, like a swimming baitfish. For a more erratic presentation, shift the weights to the to the tail of the lure. After adding stick on weights, test the lure to see if it's properly weighted. If not, add or remove weight as needed.

WEIGHTING BY WATER TEMPERATURE: Pro anglers fish weighted jerkbaits in cold water, usually from February through April. They vary the amount of weight to make the lure perform differently in various temperature zones. 1. In extremely cold water ( mid 30s to low 40s ), baitfish often die off and float slowly to the bottom. A slow sinking jerkbait presentation is highly effective in this temperature range. Start by applying weight then fine tune by adding a little weight at a time until the lure sinks slowly. 2. In water from approximately 45 to 55 degrees, use less weight so the lure suspends. 3. In water from 55 to 65 degrees, the lure can be weighted to either suspend or rise very slowly, depending on the mood of the fish. 4. Above 68 degrees, do not add weights to the lure.

WHERE TO FISH WEIGHTED JERKBAITS: Pro anglers use weighted jerkbaits in cold, clear, relatively open water with a visibility range of at least 18 inches and preferably 3 to 5 feet. Here are some places to try them: 1. On bluff walls in deep highland lakes. 2. On shallow gravel banks. 3. Over submerged rockpiles. 4. Around rock bank transitions ( example: where fist size rock shifts to gravel ). 5. Inside or outside of weedlines. 6. Over main lake points or humps. 7. Over submerged grassbeds.

WEIGHTED JERKBAIT RETRIEVES: More than most lures, weighted jerkbaits demand the right cadence ( retrieve timing ) to draw strikes. This is because they're being used to tempt sluggish bass in cold water. Here are some retrieves to try: Sinking Retrieve. Use when fishing extremely cold water. a. Make a long cast to the target zone. b. As soon as the lure hits the water, jerk the rod tip sharply so the bait dives. c. Stop. Hold the rod parallel to the water and to the side. d. Twitch the rod tip, reel up slack, and twitch again, much as when fishing a plastic worm. Repeat. e. When properly weighted, the lure will sink slowly between twitches like a dying shad. f. Most strikes occur as the lure sinks slowly. Watch your line. If it jumps, set the hook hard. g. Remember that bass will be extremely sluggish in cold water. DO NOT OVERFISH THE LURE! Start by allowing at least 5 seconds between twitches. Vary the cadence until you contact fish. Suspending Retrieve. Use this retrieve in water 45 to 55 degrees. a. Repeat steps a through e for Sinking Retrieve. When weighted properly, the lure will suspend between twitches, like a living baitfish. b. Begin by pausing 3 to 5 seconds between twitches. Experiment until you find an effective cadence. c. Watch for the line to jump, then set the hook hard. Ripping Retrieve. Use this retrieve in water 55 to 65 degrees. This retrieve works when the lure is weighted to either suspend or rise very slowly after being twitched. a. Make a long cast to the target zone. b. When the lure hits the water, sweep the rod tip from 3 to 4 feet to the side. This will cause it to dart and flutter like a fleeing baitfish. c. Pause 3 to 5 second while reeling up slack, then sweep the rod again. d. Most strikes occur on the pause, when the lure either suspends or rises slowly. Watch your line and set the hook hard if it moves. e. Again, vary the cadence until the fish react positively. Some pro anglers report waiting 10 seconds or longer between twitches at times.

JERKBAIT SIZE AND COLOR: 1. These lures usually come in 4 1/2 inch and 6 inch sizes. In clear, cold water, most pros use the smaller lures. Try the larger sizes in lakes where bass run big, and where water visibility is at the low end of the preferred range. 2. Because they're best used under high visibility conditions, lure colors should simulate baitfish. Try shad, gold, chrome, and bone patterns. Reflective colors work best on sunny days. 3. On overcast days, whenever the water has visibility around 18 inches, and anytime your fishing for smallmouths or spotted bass, try fire tiger.