A:
I use my jerkbaits anytime I have good to excellent water clarity, and I have success on them from early spring through late fall.
I have never used them in the winter as we have to deal with ICE up here in good ol' NE Pennsylvania!!!!
Don't be afraid to break the rules a little bit with these lures. I have seen many tourneys won on these when no one else would think of throwing them. I won my last tournament on the Susquehanna River throwing one of these, retrieving it rather quickly and the water clarity was maybe 20-24 inches!!