Friday, October 31, 2014

Jerkbait tips from Hillary Hughes!

Fall fishing can be one of the most fun season’s to fish. Big bass are chasing the shad and loading up for the cold months ahead. Many people know that jerkbait fishing can catch big fish throughout the cold winter months; what about when the water temperature is in the high 50’s to low 60’s and you can’t seem to get a bite on anything else? Match the hatch, find a windy point, and pick up a jerkbait!


There are a couple tricks to fishing a jerkbait. The Vision 110 is a great bait that comes in many colors, but Ozark Shad particularly stands out for this time of year. Change the front and back treble hooks to Round Bend Gamakatsu. Make the front one red while keeping the back treble hooks black to create an injured appearance, which can trigger strikes. This set up will also point the nose down at about a 45 degree angle, which is KEY! To finish the bait off apply a coat of UV. This will help to reflect sunlight the way shad do naturally. When retrieving your lure, remember you're trying to imitate a dying shad—don't rush the pauses between each jerk and always jerk on a slack line.













This is also where a great rod comes into play and I would recommend a 684 Champion Series Dobyns casting rod. Using a 6’8 rod is key for me because I was not blessed with being tall so it’s more comfortable to have a shorter rod and my rod tip won’t hit the water during retrieval. I usually use 8-10 pound fluorocarbon line because it sinks, which helps when trying to catch those deeper fish. If you find yourself in really clear water, downsize to a smaller line, from 10 to 8, or 8 to 6. Now go tie on your favorite jerkbait, and catch some pigs!



PS Don't tell Hank Cherry I shared this info with you! haha

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