jerkin shads

[tanman]

i have been tryin a new type of fisih with shads but i cant get them to run strait they keep spinning and twistin up my line but when i get them to jerk-bait right the work amazing...and ideas for weightless rigs?

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Soft jerkbaits are great producers and twisting line is something you need to deal with, especially on spinning gear. You can try using a small swivel to keep twisting down but this adds weight and can change the presentation.

Dont worry about working these lures the 'right way'. The erratic action is one of the reasons they work so well.

[Wayne Ek]

If your talking about soft-plastic baits like Zoom's Super Fluke or Strike King's Z Too then I would suggest. Going to a larger hook, I usually fish them on 4/0 to 5/0 wide gap hooks. The larger gap on the hook acts like a rudder and keeps the bait stable. Also, you have to make sure these style baits are rigged as close to perfectly straight as possible. I fish them with a bait-caster and use 14 to 17 pound mono. the heavier line slows the fall rate when you kill the bait. It also helps to stabilize the bait. Fishing them on a spinning rig is a little harder as you do not have the option of using a larger dia. line.

[BassProAddict]

What's the cadence like?

[matthothand]

If it's rigged straight it won't twist up. Not like Justin Timberlake straight but like Chuck Norris or Steven Seagal straight. Often the line will tear the head of the bait a bit and that's where the steering takes place. Make sure the bait doesn't rip. Strike king's 3x series zulu baits float and seem to be fairly resistant to tearing like stiffer plastics tend to do. Perhaps by switching the brand you use the problem will be solved. Good luck bud.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Like Agape said, its more about bigger hooks and making sure its rigged straight. Heavier lines also ward off some twist...

as far as cadence question.. you really cant fish them wrong. A twitch and pause... The hardness of the twitch and the length of the pause will depend on the mood of the fish and the depth water you are fishing.

[BassProAddict]

So when do you use soft jerkbaits as opposed to hard ones?

[Deitz Dittrich]

BPA- In weedy situations, for obvious reasons the hard jerkbait may not be the best to throw. I fish a hard jerkbait much faster than I do a soft, so I tend to throw it when fish seem a little more active, I can cover more water.

I use softs throughout much of the year, again in weedy areas, while not using hard jerkbaits as much, just more so in the spring of the year.

[BassProAddict]

Haven't done much soft jerkbaits.Do those softies have as much/lesser action as the hard ones (especially the pencil types)?

[Wayne Ek]

The only action soft-jerk-baits have is that imparted by the angler. Otherwise they are just a piece of soft plastic. They also fish pretty well (actually very well) for deep water presentations if you fish them on a gopher mushroom head jig.

[BassProAddict]

Can you T-Rig a soft jerkbait?

[Deitz Dittrich]

For sure, why not?

texas rig it, carolina rig it, jig worm/jighead it, dropshot it, wacky rig it, Roller rock it, weightless rig it, mojo rig it, use it a a jig pig trailer, use it as a spinnerbait trailer..

Kinda like the American Heart Association... Just DO!

[BassProAddict]

The other rigs I could easily understand but doesn't the T-rig weight kill the action? I mean I've tried it and all but never really had much fun with it (as opposed to hard jerkbaits with super erratic action).

[Deitz Dittrich]

couasily?.. That word is new to me.

A soft plastic jerk-bait bait like a Fluke or RT slug, or Sluggo. works great on a mushroom head jig, or texas rig. You just need to get by the fact that the lure needs to have an action. When that lure falls the tail will put out vibration, and the soft plastic jerk-bait baits, look more realistic than most of your other plastics on the market. in my opinion!

They work, give them more time!