A jerkbait or rip bait is popular bass fishing lure that is phenomenal at triggering sight-induced strikes from bass. It excels in cold and clear water conditions and is a great way to catch both largemouth and smallmouth bass. In this article we cover everything you need to know about fishing a jerkbait.
What is a Jerkbait?
A jerkbait is a fishing technique that is designed to resemble small bait fish such as a shad. There are two main types of jerkbaits: hard-body and soft-body Fishermen typically fish this technique by giving the bait a stop-and-go, twitching type motion allowing the lure to resemble an injured or dying bait fish.
What are the different kinds of Jerkbaits?
Hard Jerkbaits – Most hard-body jerkbaits are made out of plastic and appear similar to a crank-bait. Here are the different types of hard jerkbaits.
- Floating – Ideal for shallow water and areas that have a lot of vegetation.
- Suspending Jerkbait – Ideal for cold water temperatures and open water conditions.
- Sinking – Ideal for fishing in deep cover or structure.
Soft Jerkbaits – Soft Jerkbaits are often referred to as flukes. A soft jerkbait is made of soft plastic and has several advantages over hard-body jerkbaits.
Where do you use a Jerkbait?
When fished properly, a jerkbait is tough for a bass to resist. Bass are opportunistic predators, and when they get a glimpse of a wounded baitfish (your jerkbait) they can’t help but react and strike. Although jerkbaits are phenomenal bass fishing technique understanding where and when to fish these lures is key. Here are some high percentage areas to target with a jerkbait:
Best places to use a jerkbait
- Clear water – Jerkbaits are site lures. The farther a fish can see it, the farther they will travel to come get it. Clear water is a big player when jerkbait fishing. In most cases the clearer the water the more effective a jerkbait will be.
- Windy banks – Clear water and windy banks = money. There are a few reasons why a windy bank can be a huge alley. First off, wind will push bait fish up into the shallows and bass will take advantage of this and will start to feed. Secondly the wind will break up the water clarity, making it tougher for a bass to see if your lure is real or not.
- Around cover – Many anglers just think of a jerkbait as an open water lure. But it can also be a super technique for fishing around docks, trees, brush and other types of cover.
- Schooling fish – Any time fish are schooling a jerkbait is a prime time way to catch them. Nothing can get them fired up like a jerkbait.
- Vertical Drops – Vertical drops are a great area to target bass especially in the winter and early spring. These spots allow bass the ability to move up and feed but then get back to deep water easily.
- Near Spawning grounds – In the pre-spawn bass will stage around spawning areas such as flats and coves. If you can find breaks and tapering point drop offs toward deeper water near these areas, you are almost guaranteed to catch fish with a jerkbait.
When is the best time to throw a jerkbait?
Jerkbaits are well known for being a great presentation in clear water, early spring and in cold conditions. However, if you have ever tried fishing a jerkbait outside of these situations you have probably figured out that they can be a deadly technique all year-round.
Here are a few tips that will help catch more fish on a jerkbait at any time of the year.
Spring Jerkbait Fishing
A jerkbait can be one of the most effective techniques during the early spring and pre-spawn conditions when bass are hungry chasing bait. During the winter and early spring, bait fish will die due to cold water conditions and a jerkbait is perfect for imitating these type of situations.
Working a jerkbait in the spring
Long pauses and slow retrievals are key in the spring. In colder water conditions bass and their forage are going to be more lethargic. Working your jerkbait slower will give them more time to react to your lure and will better imitate their forage.
For more tips on fishing a jerkbait in the spring check out TacticalBassin’s video on Easy Jerkbait Tips For Bigger Spring Bass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZP5KbvdeGo
Summer Jerkbait Fishing
When the water heats up, many anglers will stop throwing a jerkbait. This can be a big mistake. A jerkbait can be a great lure throughout the summer all across the country. The reason many anglers tend to do this is because they are working their jerkbaits the same way they would during the spring.
How to work a jerkbait in the summer
- Speed up your retrieve
- Use louder and flashier colors
- Fish break lines
Fall Jerkbait Fishing
Jerkbaits are a go-to lure in the spring and fall and really shine in cool-to-cold water conditions. They can be a staple for both largemouth and smallmouth bass during this time of year. In the fall temperatures start to cool and bait fish like shad have a hard time adapting and
How to work a jerkbait in the fall
Much like the spring longer pauses and slow retrievals are key in the fall. In the fall the water starts to cool and bass and their forage are going to be more lethargic. A Slower reaction will give fall time bass more time to react and will get you more bites.
Areas to target
- Flats
- Points
- Green weeds near deep water
- Tributaries
- Sunny rocky shorelines
Best Fall jerkbaits
Winter Jerkbait Fishing
Winter is often regarded as a finesse season for most bass fishing anglers. However, if you aren’t fishing a jerkbait in the winter time, you are missing out. During the winter months’ bait fish are dying off and a jerkbait is perfect for these situations.
When the water gets cold, bass will head for deeper water. That’s why having a deep diving jerkbait in the winter is key. This technique also allows you to cover more water and calls in bass from structure and from distance. Bass typically don’t’ feed as much in the winter but they are accustomed to feeding on bigger dying bait fish.
How to work a jerkbait in the winter
During the winter months’ bass will migrate to deeper water. It’s extremely important that you select a jerkbait that can reach these deeper depths. Long pauses are critical in the winter months a slow finesse presentation will be the best wait to catch bass on a jerbait in the winter.
Areas to target
- Main lake points
- Secondary points
- Deep Docks
- Rocks
- Bluffs
- Ditches
Best Cold Water Jerkbaits
- Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbaits
- Rapala Shadow Rap
- Jackall Rerange
- Megabass Vision 110
- Megabass Vision 110 +
- Megabass Vision 110 Silent
- Lucky Craft Flash Pointer 100
- Lucky Craft Staysee 90
For more in depth information about fishing a jerkbait in cold water check out this video by TacticalBassin called Cold Jerkbait Fishing – Everything You Need To Know: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8XNej7Jql8
What is the best Jerkbaits?
Selecting the right jerkbait for any given situation is critical. The right lure will allow you to match what the fish are keying on, keep your lure at the right depth and trigger bass into striking. Each jerkbait is designed to excel in different situations. Here are some proven jerkbaits that well shine in the different weather conditions every angler will face.
- Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbaits
- Rapala Shadow Rap
- Lucky Craft Flash Pointer 100
- Jackall Rerange
- Megabass Vision 110
- Megabass Vision 110 +
- Megabass Vision 110 Silent
- Lucky Craft Staysee 90
How to fish a Jerkbait
When fishing a jerkbait is important to remember that all of the action of the lure should be imparted on your rod tip. All that you should be doing with your reel, is retrieving the slack line as you work your lure. Working the bait when your line is constantly tight will impede the action of your lure.
The cadence or rhythm of retrieving your jerkbait will differ depending on the conditions and mood of the fish. After a long cast the standard cadence for jerking/twitching these baits is a jerk, jerk, pause jerk jerk pause. Any good jerkbait fishermen will adapt his or her cadence to the conditions they find themselves in. Here is a good rule of thumb for each condition:
Warm water temperature – fish more aggressively, user shorter pauses and harder jerks. With the warmer temperatures bass will be more active and willing to travel a longer distance to strike your jerkbait.
Cold water temperature – longer pauses and slow twitches are they key for having success when the water temperatures are low.
The greatest angler to toss a jerkbait is perhaps Kevin VanDam. Check out his jerkbait fishing tips in these two Wired2fish video’s for some great jerkbait fishing information.
Best Equipment for Jerkbaits
Smaller (finesse) jerkbaits
Having the right equipment for fishing a jerkbait is critical. The right tackle will allow you to work your lure properly and keep the bass biting. Here are few tips and things to keep in mind when selecting the right equipment for jerkbait fishing.
- Reel: Spinning
- Line: 6-8 lb fluro carbon
- Rod: 6″10
Larger Jerkbaits
- Reel: Baitcaster
- Line: 10-12lb fluro carbon
- Rod: 6″10
Line
Fluoro carbon line is a perfect match for fishing a jerkbait. The best pound test to use will depend on the size of jerkbait you ar throwing. As a general rule of thumb, for larger jerkbaits I’ll use a baitcaster with 10-12 lb test, for smaller sized jerkbaits I’ll use a spinning rod with 6-8lb test.
Rod & Reel
Both a spinning and baitcasting setup work great for fishing a jerkbait. The ideal rod will be a rod that has as faction action tip and a back bone. The reel isn’t as important, since you will be working your jerkbait on slack line.
Final Thoughts
A jerkbait is a phenomenal bass fishing lure that shines in cold clear water conditions and flat out catches bass. With these helpful tips you will be well on your way at mastering the art of jerkbait fishing. Now go hit the water and give a jerkbait a try.
Tight lines!