Jerk bait and plugs, what is the difference?

[Ronst]

I want to go pike fishing with my 8 year old son and see that Jerk Bait is banned from Burryhill fisheries.

I googled it but I still don't understand.

So simple question, What is the difference between Jerk Bait and Plugs ?

 

Cheers

Ron

[Peter Waller]

There isn't, its a question of technique. Jerk baiting in the widely accepted sense of the word means jerking over sized plugs, armed with over sized hooks, through the water with sometimes quite violent motions, ripping, which can damage foul hooked fish.

[noodle996]

There isn't, its a question of technique. Jerk baiting in the widely accepted sense of the word means jerking over sized plugs, armed with over sized hooks, through the water with sometimes quite violent motions, ripping, which can damage foul hooked fish.

 

behave

 

that comment is plain stupidity just because you may not like the method does not mean such a verbal attack is justified.

 

so at what point does a lure become oversized, and then the same question re hooks.

 

further surely any foul hooked fish is at risk of increased damage, possibly more so with samller finer gauge hooks that tend to cheeswire through soft flesh

Edited September 30, 2008 by noodle996

[Andy Macfarlane]

If you ask me a plug or a crankbait, is a lure with a built in action, that only requires a retrieve to produce that action. Plugs and cranks normally have a diving vane or bill at the front of the lure that, in conjunction with the retrieve, produces a wobble or built-in action. A jerkbait is a lure without an in-built action as such. In order to produce any action the angler must impart movement with 'jerks' or any kind of motion he or she sees fit. That's as simple as I can make it. The size of the lure has nothing to do with it.

[noodle996]

jerk baiting is a bit of a misnomer Ronst, you will find that mostly it relates to lures without a diving vane, for a better understanding of lure fishing than i could ever get accross id google DLST specialist tackle and have a read of daves articles on lure fishing, or try other well known lure anglers one who is more than helpfull would be Dave Kelbrick

 

jerk baits are usually large 5 inch plus lures that are worked with stiff rods and multipliers the stiff rods are to help impart action and cast heavy lumps of wood and plastic some of the simplest i find are glide baits where gentle downward pulls or sweeps of the rod sends the lure gliding to the left and right.

 

it may be me but to be honest most jerk baits fall into the sideways glide baits or ones that work in an up down motion, (think that was in Mr Lumbs writings actually)

 

plugs was a bit of a generic name given to just about any crankbait that you could get in the days when an abu hilo, or crrek chub pikie was at the sharp end of lure fishing

Edited September 30, 2008 by noodle996

[Andy Macfarlane]

The size of the lure has nothing to do with it. An ABU Hi-Lo (a plug) is twice the size of a Fox Runt (a jerkbait). The clue is in the name. CRANKbait.......JERKbait.......geddit?

[noodle996]

The size of the lure has nothing to do with it. An ABU Hi-Lo (a plug) is twice the size of a Fox Runt (a jerkbait). The clue is in the name. CRANKbait.......JERKbait.......geddit?

 

really my abus are tiny ones (around 20 gm) then only have two and they are both half the size of the runts

 

i did say read lumbys stuff as he explains it far better than i could, especially given an earlier response hackles are up

Edited September 30, 2008 by noodle996

[Peter Waller]

behave

 

that comment is plain stupidity just because you may not like the method does not mean such a verbal attack is justified.

 

so at what point does a lure become oversized, and then the same question re hooks.

 

further surely any foul hooked fish is at risk of increased damage, possibly more so with samller finer gauge hooks that tend to cheeswire through soft flesh

 

Plain stupid! I disagree, sorry and all that. Bury Hill has apparently banned jerk baiting, perhaps we should ask them why, and how they define jerk baiting?

 

For myself I have used jerk baiting, e.g. poker stiff rod, 50 lb line and five inch plus plugs. I am quite aware that pike lie comatose in shallow water and that they will tolerate a line being dragged across their backs, as will bream, and eventually, on feeling contact, the angler strikes and the pike is foul hooked, as I have had happen. So, as a responsible angler I no longer jerk bait in shallow water. And as a responsible angler I also warn others of the problems.

 

There is also the alleged mouth damage caused by large, solid plugs. I'm not entirely convinced but nevertheless my jerk baiting is now largely done using soft bodied baits.

[Andy Macfarlane]

I see, is my explanation of plugs and jerks wrong? Ah, I forgot, only Dave Lumb and Dave Kelbrick go lure fishing. I'm just messing around with 'spinnurs'. I don't see either of those two here at the moment so I thought I'd do in the meantime. I'll just shut-up then??

 

btw....there are lots of Hi-Los....not just 20 gram Hi-Los. The point is still valid. Size has nothing to do with it or do you that's wrong too?

[Emma two]

You made it clear enough Andy.

 

Peter W, You know that all 'jerks' are not big things with big hooks, my favourite 'true jerk' is a little silver Rapala with a rattle and is 2 1/2" long.

 

I see the soft body 'shad' type lures as briding the gap between cranks and jerks, in that while they do have and action of their own if simply wound in they benefit greatly by having some extra life put into them (jerks).

 

Seems a strange rule Ron, but them again we seem to be inflicted with a new rule almost daily, and not just in angling. I would recommend you to try soft body lure, I'm a fan of them, as you retrieve twitch your rod around a bit, let 'em fall to the bottom, like a sink and draw technique. If the water is clear enough have a look at how different rod movements impact upon the action.