Pro Tips Weekly: Luke Clausen

Chevy pro Luke Clausen on rigging jerkbaits for cold water

When you’re fishing a suspending hard jerkbait in colder water, it might be necessary to swap out the treble hooks. When the water temperature cools down into the high 40s to low 50s, a suspending jerkbait will tend to float rather than sink because the water is denser.

What I’ll do is change the middle treble hook, which is usually a size 6, for a heavier size 4. I swap out the middle treble, rather than the front or rear hooks, because I want the jerkbait to drift down horizontally, like a real minnow in distress might do. Otherwise, the jerkbait will tip or even sink headfirst or tailfirst, and that’s not good. Once I change the hook, I’ll pull the jerkbait under about 6 inches or so. If it stays there or sinks a bit, OK. If it slowly floats up, I’ll add a heavier treble to the front.

— Chevy pro Luke Clausen of Gainesville, Ga.