A JERK AT BOTH ENDS

Make no mistake; fishing involves a lot of jerks. Often you'll find them at both ends of the line!

It's a fact that incorporating an erratic darting action (aka jerk) to a crankbait just about doubles the chances a fish will eat it. This retrieve method is so effective an entire family of crankbaits have adopted the collective name jerkbaits. Jerkbaits are typically shallow diving minnow style lures that are designed especially for this specialized type of crankbaiting.

As a whole, jerkbaits share one trait regarding action. On a steady retrieve, the action of these lures can be described as consistent, uniform and predictable. At a glance these baits appear natural and alluring, but the longer you look at them the more they appear mechanical and unnatural.

To a bass or other fish waiting beneath a log or other cover to ambush unsuspecting prey, a crankbait with a consistent action is often very effective. In this situation the fish only sees the bait for a brief period of time. In most cases a reactionary bite results as the bait passes within the fish's strike zone.

Unfortunately, not all crankbaiting situations are this cut and dried. If the target fish are living in open water environments where cover is limited or lacking a completely different reaction can occur. Fish in this scenario have the luxury of scrutinizing what they eat more closely. A crankbait traveling along at a slow and steady retrieve, often yields lots of follows and few strikes.

Adding in a taste of "unpredictable action" can turn an otherwise stale presentation into a fish magnet. It's no secret that jerkbaiting produces strikes, but the many methods and tricks used to gain the maximum number of strikes remains a mystery to most anglers.

SETTING THE STAGE

Jerkbaiting works in a wide variety of waters, but this technique shines best in clear to slightly stained water environments where bass can see and respond to lures from long distances. The more turbid the water becomes, the more precisely baits must be positioned among cover that holds fish.

It's for this very reason that jerkbaits are more often used on smallmouth than largemouth bass. Smallmouth are more often found in clearer waters, while largemouth can adapt well to both clear or turbid waters.

Jerkbaiting first becomes effective during the pre-spawn when bass move shallow to take advantage of warmer water conditions. Often these fish simply cruise the shallows looking for an easy meal.

During the spawn, jerkbaits can also be very effective at tempting male bass who are guarding the nest into striking. In this case jerkbaits become a refined sight fishing lure that often become one of the most exciting ways to catch bass. However, it's after the spawning season is completed that jerkbaiting enjoys its greatest success. Post-spawn bass that are hungry and active enough to chase a fast moving lure are tailor made for this presentation.

Large sprawling flats with water from 6-15 feet deep are one of the best areas to incorporate jerkbaiting. Jerkbaiting areas can be relatively free of cover or feature low growing and/or newly emerging weed cover. Scattered patches of driftwood or submerged brush are also good places to try jerkbaiting. The key is having a couple feet of clear water between the surface and the submerged cover so the darting lure doesn't contact the cover and become fouled.

BASIC GEAR REQUIREMENTS

No specialized equipment is needed to enjoy jerkbaiting. Most avid anglers already own most of the equipment they will find necessary. For smaller and lighter jerkbaits, a seven foot graphite spinning rod/reel combination loaded with six to eight pound test clear or green monofilament is an excellent choice. Reels that feature large diameter spools aid greatly in casting distance. Long casts cover water more quickly and help in approaching clear water fish that are often spooky.

For larger full sized jerkbaits, a six-seven foot graphite baitcasting outfit equipped with 10-12 pound test line is essential. Not only does baitcasting gear provide the edge when fighting fish, this type of gear enables anglers to control casting distance and accuracy by feathering the spool with a light touch of the thumb.

A complete list of effective jerkbaits is too long to navigate, but some classics include the Salmo Minnow, Smithwick Rattlin Rogue, Rapala Floating Minnow, Rapala Husky Jerk, Bomber Long A, Storm ThunderStick, Mann's Loud Mouth, Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow, Dave's Lures Nitro Shiner, Strike King Wild Shiner and Lucky Craft Flash Minnow. Many of these lures are offered in both floating and suspending versions. The suspending versions are the best choice for jerkbaiting.

All of these lures function best when attached to the line using a small (No. 1 or 2) Fast-Lock snap available from most sporting goods outlets. Avoid using snap swivels or tying the line directly to jerkbaits. The open connection provided by the Fast-Lock snap allows the bait to enjoy more freedom of movement and it helps to increase the erratic and unpredictable action that makes jerkbaiting so effective.

If you insist on tying directly to the crankbait, replace the factory split ring with an oval split ring. Oval split rings insure that the terminal knot can't get pinched in the split. This simple but important step helps to maintain line strength and also allows lures to enjoy the maximum action.

ADDING WEIGHT TO A JERKBAIT

The hottest jerkbaits are those lures that are carefully weighted to make them suspend in the water column at rest. All the popular brands are offer suspending style jerkbaits, but with a little effort any floating style jerkbait can also be converted into a suspending lure.

A couple simple methods can be employed to add modest amounts of weight to jerkbaits. The Storm Suspend-Strips are pieces of thin lead with an adhesive backing. Approximately one inch long, these lead strips are attached to the belly of the lure along the center line. Attach a strip then place the bait in the water. Ideally the bait should sink very slowly at rest. If necessary several strips can be placed one atop another to gain the correct amount of weight and the perfect neutral balance.

Another method of weighting jerkbaits is to add soft lead wire to the shank of the treble hook. This method of weighting allows the orientation of the lure to be altered. For a face down orientation, place the wire on the front treble hook. For a tail down orientation try putting the wire on the rear treble hook. Each method yields a slightly different look and action to the presentation. Experimenting with each orientation is the easiest way to determine which method produces best on any given day.

MASTERING THE JERK

To the casual observer, one man's jerkbaiting method is the same as the next. With the rod pointed down towards the water, rapid and short snaps of the rod tip are used to suddenly change the lure direction and speed. When the rod tip is snapped, the bait darts and slack line is created. The next time the rod is jerked, the bait jumps in whichever direction it is facing. Changing the direction the rod is jerked also changes the direction the lure moves.

What makes one presentation better than another is the subtle but important movements of the lure itself. Often anglers who work jerkbaits incorporate a cadence or rhythm to the retrieve. This retrieve style is sometimes carefully planned, but often happens as an unfortunate byproduct of our cookie cutter lives. Either way, the more predictable the action becomes, the fewer strikes a lure will produce. The key to generating consistent strike responses is making the bait dart and jump in the most unpredictable manner possible.

Mixing random rod jerks with variable pause periods creates a stimulating presentation that milks strikes from even the most lure savvy bass. Once this random but effective presentation is mastered, anglers can move on to other details like lure size and color.

Smaller lures tend to produce more strikes, but they also produce a smaller average sized fish. Larger baits can be casted further and therefore cover more water per cast giving them the edge in efficiency.

In clear water, natural lure colors produce best. Baits with plenty of flash can be seen from great distances, increasing the draw of these lures. The more turbid the water becomes, the more that brightly colored baits become essential to this sight dependent presentation.

REFINING LURE DEPTH

Jerkbaits as a whole are shallow diving lures. Most are capable of less than six feet even on a steady retrieve. To work a jerkbait near the surface, begin the darting retrieve the instant the lure splashes down. To get the lure a little deeper, cast well beyond your intended target and crank the bait fast with the rod tip pointed down to the water surface. After a few turns of the reel handle the bait will be a few feet below the surface. Stop the steady retrieve and start a jerking style retrieve.

As in any crankbaiting presentation, sticky sharp hooks are a must. Keep a hook hone handy and sharpen each and every point on the treble hook until the point is razor-like. To test hook sharpness, grab a crankbait from the tackle box and squeeze it gently in your hand. Next turn your hand upside down and open it. Upon opening your hand if the bait drops to the floor the hooks aren't sharp enough. Sticky sharp hooks grab on and start to penetrate at the slightest pressure.

SUMMING IT UP

Jerkbaits work in just about any body of water and they produce good numbers of bass right up until the summer sun dives fish deep. Effective and an easy presentation to learn, working a jerkbait just about guarantees a lot of jerking will take place at both ends of the line.