Jerkbaits - The Best Bass Lures Around?

Jerkbaits are arguably one of the best bass lures an angler can use. Almost everyone has a few in their tacklebox. Some jerk baits float, some sink, and some are neutral. Different sizes, colors, and actions can make jerk bait selection tough. Yet each lure has its place and under the right conditions, can be very effective.

All jerkbaits have a few characteristics which set them apart from all other baits. Jerk baits are long and slender. Although most jerk baits are high floaters, they all trigger the bite while underwater, which separates them from a pure top water lure. All of the hard jerkbaits have some type of lip to pull the bait underwater, much the same as a crank bait.

But the thing that sets them apart from other lures is the way they are worked. To get the most out of a jerk bait, you use the rod in short or long jerks without reeling. This rod action is what gives jerkbaits their name and their action underwater. It is this action that induces strikes and have some anglers believing they are the best bass lures in the game.

Jerk Baits are reaction lures. Since they resemble the profile of a threadfin shad, bass will strike readily. The quick action of the jerk, sometimes combined with splash if worked on top, can attract fish from a long range. Jerk baits can be fished in several situations, depending on the mood of the fish and the particular bait and tactic you use.

Jerkbaits are almost solely a horizontal presentation, so you need to know exactly the depth you're trying to fish. The small treble hooks can pose some serious limitations. Once you get a fish hooked up solid with the small hooks, trying to pull a fish out of heavy cover can be particularly frustrating. This forces most anglers to fish jerkbaits in open water, where there is little to get tangled up in.

Jerkbaits continue to be primarily clear water bait. The quick, erratic motion of the baits is what makes them attractive, so they remain a sight bait for the most part. But clear water is a relative term. Slightly stained water can be the very best place for a jerkbait, since the bass will strike at the motion rather than examining the lure too closely. Any water with over a foot or so visibility can be fished with a jerkbait.

The jerkbait. One of the best bass lures around. If you don’t have any of these in your tackle box, you may want to think about investing.

Thanks for reading.

Good fishing.

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