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Winter JerkbaitsIn the colder months of the year a primary pattern that develops is fishing suspending jerkbaits in and around pods of bait (primarily threadfin shad). This can be done on any part of the lake; points, coves, creek channel bends or river channel ledges. The key is baitfish.
The cooling water slows the metabolism of the baitfish as well as the bass, in some cases the water gets cold enough that the shad actually begin to die off. The bass will not be far away and in many cases are suspended under the pods feeding on the dying shad as they fall towards the bottom. This is where a suspending or sinking jerkbait can load the boat, so to speak. This is still winter fishing and catching large numbers of fish is rare although it can happen.
The key is the baitfish, again. So a close eye on your electronics and the water is important. When you find an area that has alot of bait begin fan casting the area with your jerkbait. Oh, the jerkbait well lets talk about that a bit.
Many companies make jerkbaits; they come in all colors and sizes. I use three primary colors and each has a place depending on water clarity. In muddy or heavily stained water the clown colored baits get the call. Clearer waters get more natural, shad colored lures and in clear water the clear/transparent baits with natural colored backs are what I use. The clearer the water the deeper you?re going to have to get the bait.
I always upgrade the hooks to #4 or #2 Gamagatsu round bend trebles. This additional weight will usually cause a suspending bait to begin to sink. The rate of fall can be adjusted by type of line and or line size. Fluorocarbon line sinks and will allow your baits to sink faster, for a slower fall monofilament works well and the larger the line the slower the fall.
I want my baits to fall nose down, in many cases that means I have to add lead tape under the bill. I think this nose down position is more natural and better simulates a dying shad, it also tends to give the bait better action when you twitch it. Adding larger hooks and lead tape to a suspending bait will often cause it to sink too fast. Time on the water will tell you what the fish prefer. I often find the floating baits with the larger hooks and lead tape give me the rate of fall that I am looking for; these baits with all the hardware are heavier and cast better.
If you?ve ever gotten to watch a school of bait in cold water you will see some of the bait turn up on their side, flutter and sink head down. This is the action I am trying to imitate with my jerkbait. Remember the bass are often waiting below the bait for these shad to fall close to them. While working my jerkbait I throw it out and try to get down to the depth of the bait. From there I will twitch or jerk the bait and pause allowing the bait to fall. Most of the bites will come as the bait is falling! I believe that it?s the bait jerking erratically that gets the bass? attention and the falling head down that triggers the bite. You want to keep enough slack in your line for the bait to fall on a slack line, the slack line also allows for a more erratic action when you jerk or twitch the bait.
Now you?ve just got to get out there and figure out the rate of fall and the amount of action the fish want. Remember this can be slow fishing and the bites can be few and far between, but the results are often very rewarding as the quality of fish is typically above average. There is no substitute for time on the water!
2006-03-10 14:34:14
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