soft plastic jerkbaits

[mainbutter]

I make my own soft plastics and have a jerkbait mold. I was wondering if you guys have a preference for jerkbaits that are buoyant or negatively buoyant. I figure with added weights of a hook through the nose my buoyant plastic might be just enough to keep it fairly close to neutral, is this what is desired in jerkbaits, or do I want it to sink?

[Dylan33]

I think neutral, buoyant and sinking would all be good....it depends on how fast you want to fish them. The neutral buoyancy is great for a slow presentation, twitch and jerk the bait, and let it sit and slide for a few seconds without sinking.

With a fast retrieve, it doesnt matter if the bait sinks or floats, a fast enough retrieve will keep it near the surface.

long answer longer, all would be good and could work in different conditions

[RK]

Hiya -

Sinking or close to neutral will be fine I think. I don't think pike are that choosy really. If you're fishing them Texas rigged on a wide gap hook you can use weighted hooks (Northland, Falcon, Mustad and others make them). One of the best ways to fish these though - I think anyhow - is on a jighead. You can fish them fast like a jerkbait, swim them, or whatever. Great multi-species bait in Minnesota - go down a weedline with a 4 or 5" jerk shad type bait and you'll catch about everything in the lake from pike to walleyes to bass.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Comit 2]

I like mine to slowly nose down and start to sink. Give the rod a small twitch have it shoot up and slowly nose down and start to sink again. Throw in a little walk the dog action then let it drop into a pocket in the weeds and let it set for a few seconds.

I can see the line going tight and heading to the left right now.

[mainbutter]

Awesome, thanks guys. I've got some no-weight hooks and some jig heads to give a shot with no-salt-added jerkbaits. Tomorrow is officially test-day for about a dozen and a half lures