jerkbait – Ike's Fishing Blog

Top Four Baits for December

December 6, 2024December 5, 2024Mike Iaconelli 0

It’s hard to believe it’s December already but here we are. In this blog, I’m going to outline for you the top four baits for the month of December. And, as always, we’re breaking it down for you depending on where you live. If you’re in the North, above Virginia, you’ll get two baits that dominate cold-weather fishing. For my Southern anglers, Carolinas and below, you’ll get two picks perfect for those transitional conditions. But before we dive into the baits, let’s talk about December because, man, it’s a unique time to fish! December: A Month of Change Up North, […]

Unlocking the Power of Mid Strolling: The Game-Changing Technique for Suspended Fish

November 15, 2024November 13, 2024Mike Iaconelli 0

In today’s blog, I’m going to talk to you about a technique that I think is going to explode over the next couple of years: mid strolling, or mid-depth strolling. If you’re out there chasing suspended fish and struggling to get them to bite, mid strolling is the technique you need to know. This is a finesse technique designed to trigger those tough, suspended fish into striking, something you can’t always do with traditional baits or methods. I’m excited to dive into the details and give you the inside scoop on what’s been working for me. So, let’s break it […]

April Top Baits

April 5, 2024April 5, 2024Mike Iaconelli 0

Alright, folks, here we are, diving into the nitty-gritty of my top four baits for the month of April. April is that time when the fish wake up from their winter slumber, stretching their fins, and gearing up for some serious action. Now, depending on where you’re located, April could mean a variety of things for those fish. Up north, we’re talking about pre-spawn action, with those fish making a beeline for their spawning grounds. They’re staging, getting ready for the big show, and most importantly, they’re hungry. That’s right, in April, those fish are packing on the pounds before […]

Top Four January Lures

January 12, 2024January 9, 2024Mike Iaconelli 0

January is typically among the coldest months of the year. Depending on where in the country you live, that could mean ice, or the water temperature could be as high as the low 60s. It’s a relative thing, but my starting point is to look for deeper, more vertical areas. Up north, that could be a bluff where the depth drops from 10 feet to 30. Down south it could be a deep-water canal that is 8 feet deep. In either situation, expect the fish to be relatively lethargic. As always, I’m going to give you two baits for up […]

Top Four Lures for October

October 6, 2023October 6, 2023Mike Iaconelli 0

October is all about fall fishing patterns. As the water starts to cool down, the bait move shallow and the bass follow. Then when they’re done feeding up, they head back to their wintering areas. It’s a big transition, and if you use the right lures you can find and tempt quality fish the whole time. If you’ve read my previous “best baits” columns, you know that I like to pick two for the North, from Virginia up, and two for the South, from the Carolinas down. Don’t let that box you in. All four are good just about anywhere, […]

Top Five Power Fishing Lures for Early Winter Fishing

December 2, 2022November 30, 2022Mike Iaconelli 0

For a lot of us around the country, it’s early winter right now. The leaves are off the trees, the mornings are cold, and water temperatures are down. That typically means that fish have left their fall patterns. They’re headed to or in their wintering holes, but they’re still feeding. That often means you can still catch them with power fishing techniques. I have five lures that fit the bill The first, without a doubt, is a suspending jerkbait like the Rapala Shadow Rap. I can’t think of a better bait for this time of year. It emulates a struggling […]

Colors for Cold Clear Water

January 21, 2022January 21, 2022Mike Iaconelli 0

Last time we talked about cold muddy water baits and colors. This time we’ll talk about the exact opposite, cold clear water baits and colors. Before we get into that, though, we need to define clear water. In my world it’s water with 10 to 14 inches of visibility. But there’s also ultra-clear water. That’s water with clarity down to 10 feet. The difference between the two is mostly academic. They’re both tough. I deal with both conditions the same way. My colors don’t change regardless of how clear the water is that I’m fishing. I will admit, however, that […]

Jerkbait Choices for Right Now!

January 29, 2021January 27, 2021Mike Iaconelli 0

OK, so the water’s cold and the air is even colder. I don’t care. I want to go fishing. And, I want to catch some bass so I’m going to break out my jerkbait box. They’re one of my go-to baits for right now. But, I don’t carry just one size, shape or type. No, I carry a whole collection of them. The differences between them might be subtle, but they’re important. Let me say it again: Subtle differences are important in cold water. Don’t forget that! I carry at least three different ones for three different sets of conditions. […]

Winter Water Jerkbaits

December 4, 2020December 2, 2020Mike Iaconelli 0

One of the best winter lures in the whole world is a suspending jerkbait. Now, when I’m talking about winter conditions. I’m talking about water temperatures below 50 degrees all the way down into the 30s. That’s right now in most of our country. I use two models depending on the depth of the water I’m fishing. In water that’s less than 8 feet deep I go with a short bill Rapala Shadow Rap. If the water’s deeper, maybe up to 15 feet, I’ll go with a long bill version of the same lure. They both have an internal, fixed […]