I was in the Rhonert Park today and decided to go to Outdoor Pro Shop. I picked up some Rip Baits (Pointer 128 "Clear Lake Hitch) and (Pointer 100 "Chartreuse Shad") and was wondering if you guys could give me some advice on fishing these as I have never fished Rip Baits before. I've heard that the Ripping bite is pretty good at Clear Lake and want to learn how to fish these baits. Also, whats your favorite Rip Bait and the biggest you've caught on them.
Thanks,
Elliott

If your fishing clear lake fish the points w/ stasyees black and gold or pearl ayu I have had 100+ fish days on these baits at clear lake!

jerk -- jerk-jerk -- jerk -- let sit -- jerk ----- jerk -- R-I-I-I-I-P-P -- jerk -- jerk-jerk...

I hope you get the point. I do kind of a random jerk-pause-double-jerk-rip-jerk-let-sit motion. Leave longer pauses in-between jerks if nothing else is working -- or just keep jerk-jerk-jerking it nonstop, fast & furious. Do remember, though, to snap your rod back to the bait after your jerks to put the slack back into the line; otherwise you're not letting it pause and hover, the way it often works best. You just never know one day to the next which pattern is going to work. I've dead-sticked 'em for 30 seconds or more before & got *HAMMERED* (no, not like THAT -- I don't even drink!). :+

Anyways, you could try just about any pattern of jerks & pauses, & you'll eventually get bit -- and like the guy said above, you can really have some big-number days when the timing is right (and the prespawn can be one of the best times to use 'em, right up into summertime).

Also, sometimes they hit it as soon as you jerk it; sometimes they pick it up on the pause. You may feel the strike or not; other times you might just see your line jump. Sometimes they're just 'there' when you go to jerk again! I think that's what's so exciting, that you never know at what point in the retrieve you're gonna get bit.

Lately, the Staysee has been my favorite, with its deeper penetration beneath the surface, but I've always got my Pointers handy too, especially for the shallower stuff.


Let 'er RRRRIP -- & tell us how you do!

Try working the bait within sight, watching the action when you RIP, and immiediately give it slack. The action SHOULD NOT look like the steady wobble of a crankbait.

At this time of year, I usually start off working the bait quickly, with pauses around 1 - 2 seconds. If there is no activity, I'll slow down the overall cadence with pauses between around 3 - 5 seconds. Sometimes I'll let it sit for up to 30 seconds on really good spots... like next to a good weed bed, a piece of wood, a really good ledge or point, etc. Longer pauses work well in cold water.

Good luck,

Mike F

What do most of you prefer, Staysee's or Pointers?

if pointers, would you go deep pointer or regular? What model?

What are some good all around colors to use for clear water?

Anymore tips would be helpful.

Thanks,

I haven't been using my jerkbaits as much as I'd like to but they can be effective almost all year round. Fall and early Spring tend to be the best for most but again, winter and summer can be awesome!

Charturse shad is by far my favorite color and can be used on almost any lake and I've caught fish on it in gin clear water along with muddy Spring Lake last year.

I generally prefer the regular Pointer 100s but will use the deep diver, 78 and 128s along with the Staysee. The 78 deep diver has been killer on Clear Lake during this time of year for the last few years.

Biggest I have so far is only 6lbs but have many fish in the 4-5 lb range (most of those in tournaments!).

Todd