One of the most effective lures for catching bass during the fall, and the entire year for that matter, is a jerkbait. Once primarily used in the winter and prespawn periods, jerkbaits have proven to work in all months and various conditions. Since they are so popular, countless lure options with different sizes and diving depths are available.
Here is more insight on picking the right jerkbait and choosing the gear to get the most out of them.
Choosing the Right Jerkbait
The “right jerkbait" varies significantly as various brands offer many options and great lures. No single bait can do it all, and the action and diving depth differ significantly from one bait to another. Add in the fact that there are many different sizes and things to consider, and it becomes clear that multiple baits are needed to cover your bases.
The diving depth is one of the most important things, as most standard jerkbaits will dive to around the same depth, roughly 4 to 6 feet deep. Then, you have deeper versions that will go even deeper. This allows you to cover a wide range of depths and target fish in all sections of the water column. To have a complete arsenal of jerkbaits, one should have a handful of standard versions, some that will dive deeper, and a few smaller versions when bass are eating smaller forage fish.
For standard jerkbaits, some of the best and most popular are the Megabass Vision Oneten, Jackall Rerange, Berkley Stunna, Ima Flit, Spro McStick, and others. Most of these are slightly less than 4.5 inches long or 110mm, and although they all look similar, they have different actions. Some are more aggressive and better suited for warmer weather, but all deserve a shot and place in your jerkbait box.
For deeper diving baits, many of those same baits mentioned above are available in +1 or +2 versions with the same body profile but a longer bill to help them get deep. Besides reaching down further into the water, the bill allows them to dive there much faster, which can benefit when trying to reach specific fish you see on your forward-facing sonar. There are many reasons to try these deeper diving baits, and they deserve a spot in any bass angler's tackle box.
Smaller jerkbaits are one more segment of jerkbait fishing to consider, and having a handful of small baits is a good idea when the bass are eating small baitfish or bass are less aggressive due to the weather or fishing pressure. Some excellent choices are the Megabass Vision 110 Jr., Megabass X-80 Trick Darter, and the Lucky Craft Pointer 78.
The final consideration for choosing the best jerkbaits is color, which partially depends on the forage in your local waters, but generally, a handful of shad imitating colors that are solid and translucent will be enough to get you by. Translucent colors work well in clear water, flashy colors can be great in sunny and cloudy conditions, and solid colors excel in slightly dirtier water and overcast conditions.
Rods and Reels
The rod and reel used for a jerkbait can significantly impact your bait's performance. Typically used on baitcast gear, jerkbaits can also be fished on spinning rods, and some anglers prefer this, but you can do it with either.
No matter which one you decide on, picking a fairly limber rod will help, as a too stiff rod will make it more challenging to jerk the bait and get it to dart from side to side. An excellent all-around power is a medium; generally, the shorter the rod, the better. A rod less than 7 feet in length will allow you to work the bait by twitching down towards the water, and a shorter rod will keep you from hitting the water with your rod.
Also, a very sensitive rod is not required as the bites will be noticeable, and you can go cheaper on your rods in this case and spend more on a quality reel. One good choice is a Phenix Maxim, a 6-foot, 10-inch medium-heavy that is more like a medium power and is their budget option, retailing for around $100.
A quality reel that can cast a jerkbait a long distance is critical. Casting further will allow your bait to reach the maximum diving depth and stay there longer, leading to more bites. A faster reel is a benefit since much of the action is done with the rod. Something with a gear ratio above 7.1:1 will allow you to quickly reel up the slack and jerk the rod again to work the bait.
Jerkbait Line
One of the more overlooked aspects of jerkbait fishing is the line used. Choosing a line size is critical as each different pound test will have a big difference in the maximum diving depth of a bait and how freely it can work through the water. An excellent all-around size is a 12-pound fluorocarbon, and a limp and castable line such as Seaguar InvizX will ensure excellent casting distance and lure performance. Fluorocarbon is ideal because of its sinking properties, helping the bait perform better.
Going down a size to 10-pound will allow your jerkbait to dive even deeper, and going up a size to 15-pound will hinder the diving depth, which can be good in some instances. Going to a heavier line is ideal when fishing shallow water or keeping your jerkbait above grass or other obstacles. The same is said of lighter lines when fishing for deeper bass or times with extremely clear water and spooky fish. You can generate more bites by using a lighter line in these instances.
Picking the right jerkbait comes down to several factors, including your fishing depth and what the fish are eating. Having various baits is always a good idea, and no one jerkbait can do it all. The other important thing is having the correct gear, as a good rod, reel, and line will make things much easier on you and allow you to take advantage of the fish-catching power of a jerkbait.
