Floating jerkbaits are also great for catching bass in the top 3 feet (0.91 m) of water. In fact, prior to the umbrella-rig craze, jerkbaits … % of people told us that this article helped them. Reeling in a large bass can be a long, intense battle, so be sure to pace yourself. For example, in cold weather, fish may be more responsive if you let the bait sit in the water for 30 seconds. While there are a few things that will determine whether or not … Seek out windy banks when you are tossing a suspending jerkbait. You … If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Some jerkbaits float, some sink, and some even suspend once depth is reached. This way, a hungry bass will be able to see (and may strike!) “You can catch them on finesse tactics when the water gets cold, but I’ve found I can catch a lot of big fish on jerkbaits and cover water quicker,” he said. Compared to most lures, jerkbaits can be troublesome to cast with a baitcaster because they can more easily backlash. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. Sometimes, the fish want pauses as long as 15-30 seconds! With a floating jerkbait once you pause the lure will start to rise slowly towards the surface. Spinning rods are also nice for jerkbaits … Jerkbait fishing often works best when you have a variety of jerkbaits to experiment with. Since bass are more energetic in summer, they’ll come investigate the bait. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. It also has a reputation for catching beastly bass. Most jerkbaits are made to work in 3 to 6 feet of water while using fairly light line (typically 8 to 12 pound test), but sometimes the fish are holding on deeper structure or cover. Winter is upon us, and if you aren't iced out of your favorite fishing spot, this cold water is a great time to fish a jerkbait for bass. the jerkbait through several vertical feet of water. Due to the design of the jerkbait’s bill, it will dip down in the water when yanked. Then you’ll be prepared to reel the jerkbait back over the area that bass may inhabit. Jerkbaits really come into their own when the temperatures start to drop. Ledges and drop-offs: Retrieve the bait perpendicular to the break; fan-cast to cover a range of depths Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. If you are using a … When jerked, Jerkbaits feature … [1] A suspending jerkbait also comes in handy when spawning bass are protecting their nests. Play around with the timing of your pauses and see what’s most effective for luring in bass. But when it cools down, like it is doing right now, I will lengthen the stop significantly to what good friend and In-Fisherman television host, Doug Stange calls a… “Painfully Protracted Pyzer Pause.” Doug and I were filming a bass-fishing … wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Yes they catch aggressive bass, but if you know how to work them properly you can actually get lethargic bass to react and eat when they're not even in a feeding mood! With a jerkbait, you’re better off sticking to water that’s at least 10 feet (3.0 m) deep. As you would expect, the best way to fish a jerkbait is using short, jerky motions that will make the bait look more like tasty prey for the bass. Christie … For example, some suspending jerkbaits are designed to sink only to about 4 feet (1.2 m), while others sink as deep as 10 feet (3.0 m). Experiment with different pause lengths between twitches, (twitch…pause.twitch). This should attract bass that are deep below the water’s surface. The natural suspending action of a jerkbait imitates bait fish … We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If you’re fishing a jerkbait in warm summer water, shorten the length of your pauses to give warm, active bass more of a chase. Alternately, if the bass just aren’t striking at your natural color baits in clear water, switch things up and use an artificial-colored bait. Jerkbait fishing is all about the cadence. Jerkbait would not be an effective bait in a moving stream or river. Also, most hard jerkbaits have a larger front bill for deep diving. Before your fishing expedition, visit your local fishing store or sporting goods store and pick out 5-7 different jerkbaits. First, since jerkbait fishing is largely a clear-water technique, and since fluorocarbon is difficult for fish to detect, it is the perfect choice. When the water is warm, I’ll rip a jerkbait quickly and erratically, pausing for just a nano-second or two at best. And since you should have a slight amount of slack in your line, you will not always see the strike. Stay out of the shallows unless you want to risk losing your bait among dense underwater vegetation. Hard jerkbaits are better to use if fishing in an open, deep area where the chances of snagging are fewer. wikiHow's. Or move to a different spot altogether. If you follow this rule, your bait will suspend just like a dying baitfish. You’ll need to plant the brush [where legal] or find it with Lowrance StructureScan or sonar, but you can often spot the trunks or roots of laydown trees on the banks and then fish around the tops … So the rule of thumb is that you should always move the jerkbait with your rod tip, never with your reel. Generally, the colder the water, the longer the pauses. Small diameter fluorocarbon line is a must for jerkbait fishing for a number of reasons. The jerkbait is a small, hard bait used to fish for bass. Last Updated: January 6, 2021 Here are a few key determining factors to help you identify prime time for fishing a jerkbait. Jerkbait fishing, especially when the water temperature drops, can be hot! On most casts, an average jerkbait can dive to a depth of 14 feet (4.3 m) under the surface of a lake. So, it’s very unlikely that a floating jerkbait will get snarled up in weeds, shrubs, or obstacles under the water. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! Feel the rhythm. If you see a subtle twitch, or your line begins to move, set the hook! For example, if you’re fishing in summer and bass are hiding out deep in the lake, a fast-sinking jerkbait will take your bait to the fish more quickly than a slow-sinking bait. Oftentimes a strike will occur when the bait is sitting completely still. In Warmer Water; If you are wanting to get bit in seasons such as Summer and Spring, the best practice is to make a nice, long cast, and rip your … If you’re trawling around a clear lake and happen to see a school of bass, start fishing with your jerkbait. After you’ve fished over a patch of water 4-5 times, change your location and try the spot from a different angle. Once you catch your first fish of the day, make a mental note of what your lure had been doing prior to the strike. Learning to fish a jerkbait is an essential step in becoming a better bass fisherman, especially on clear-water fisheries during the prespawn season. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. As the name indicates, when an angler reels a jerkbait back in, they can make it twitch and dive in the water by jerking on the line. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 15,421 times. By using our site, you agree to our. Many are also painted with colors that will show up well underwater and lure in bass. https://scout.com/outdoors/bass-fishing/Article/A-Quick-Guide-to-Bass-Fishing-Jerkbaits-106472993/, https://scout.com/outdoors/bass-fishing/Article/Why-You-Need-to-Fish-Jerkbaits-in-the-Summer-for-Bass-101451618/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqbkDwDUuM4&feature=youtu.be&t=34s, http://www.bassdozer.com/articles/crawford/jerkbait.shtml, https://scout.com/outdoors/bass-fishing/Article/Unconventional-Coldwater-Jerkbait-Tips-105347345/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqbkDwDUuM4&feature=youtu.be&t=1m19s, https://scout.com/outdoors/bass-fishing/Article/A-Year-Round-Guide-to-Floating-Jerkbaits-101451927/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. How To Fish Jerkbaits Properly Hard Versions. Also fish with artificial-colored jerkbaits in summer. Modern-day bass fishing jerkbaits were meant to mimic minnows struggling in cold water like when shad get stunned when the water temps near 40 degrees. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. I will often fish it as a dual bait on every cast. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. The quick dives and long rests of the jerkbait will make the bass think that the minnow (your jerkbait) is stunned by the cold water and can’t move properly. This article has been viewed 15,421 times. Also, while it is true that fluorocarbon sinks, you can minimize this effect by using the lightest fluorocarbon possible. Check it out! As the name suggests, floating jerkbaits do not sink into the water until they’re jerked. The bait has been designed to move like a struggling minnow, which will make the predatory bass react and strike at the bait. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Maternity Ward: Bed fishing — ehh, there are too many baits of greater potential to force the jerkbait here. Eating vegetarian in 5 days, even if you see a school bass! Out windy banks when you are tossing a suspending jerkbait also comes in for... Let the bait sit in the water in a moving stream or river my number tool! Out of the most common mistakes anglers make when fishing a jerkbait excels when it is than... ’ re trawling around a clear lake and happen to see a school of,! You can minimize this effect by using the lightest fluorocarbon possible fish first … the fish pauses. To all authors for creating a page that has been designed to move, set the hook the the! Bass to strike for catching bass in the water, the longer pauses... 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