Jerkbaits Part 1

The jerkbait is my favorite lure to throw, not just in the spring but all year round. I always have two of them tied on at all times. I have one on a baitcaster and the other on a spinning reel. The best part about fishing with a jerkbait is the fish will tell you how they want it. It is such a versatile lure I believe they can be used to find fish or to fill the livewell.

The jerkbait catches fish by acting like a fleeing or injured baitfish with its erratic action. The fisherman puts the action into this bait by the way they use their rod and reel. All jerkbait movement should be caused by the rod and then the reel will take up the slack before the next jerk of the rod. The rhythm at which this takes place should all be determined by the fish. I always start fishing my jerkbait with the same rhythm, which is pretty fast, so if I am not getting any fish to strike the lure I know I will need to change to a slower retrieve. I like to start with a fast retrieve because that is what comes natural to me and I know how I will need to adjust if I am not catching fish.

There are a number of factors to consider when using a jerkbait including, water temperature, water clarity, depth of water, ect. Because bass are cold blooded they will move slower in colder water so it should be expected that a slower retrieve will be needed in these conditions. It is not necessarily going to be true 100% of the time but more often than not they won’t be in the mood to attack a fast moving bait. Traditionally the jerkbait was considered a clear water lure but don’t be afraid to throw it in stained water. The jerkbait can be a very visual lure and draw fish from long distances but the reason I like it so much is that it is a reaction lure. A fish may not be hunting for food at the time but when one of these flashes in front of his face his instants will kick in and he will smash the lure thinking it’s an easy meal. Fish in dirty water will react just was well as fish in clean water. The jerkbait can be fished in shallow or deep water. In shallow water I like my lure to run at a depth where it will be bouncing off the bottom. Just like a crankbait hitting stuff on the bottom it is going to cause a scene and get the attention of the surrounding bass. If you are fishing in deeper water it will be important to know the depth of the fish and the depth of you lure. Fish will travel for a lure but if they are at 15 feet and your lure is running at 2 feet it is going to be hard to pull them that far.

This is the lure I had my son start fishing with at age five. I think it is a pretty easy lure to learn how to fish and I know on the lake we are fishing that there is a pretty good chance he will catch one. Most children and some adults, myself included, get bored if nothing is happening so this a a great lure to keep someone’s attention on the fishing and keep them engaged in the activity instead of getting bored and throwing lures over the side of the boat to see if the sink or float.

The jerkbait is a great lure to throw anytime of the year in any fishing condition. There are many different styles, sizes and colors to choose from and we will dive into those in the following post. For now enjoy the fishing and tie on a few jerkbaits and put some fish in the boat. – Michael