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Jerkbaits

Jerkbaits are one of the ultimate lures for covering water and driving predator fish crazy. Jerkbait lures are a prime lure for bass, walleye, and even pike and muskie. Jerkbaits can be deep diving or suspending to hit all parts of the water column, and at Fin Feather Fur Outfitters we can hit all budget columns with jerkbaits for sale and fast shipping on your orders.

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How To Use A Jerkbait

Fishing jerkbaits can be one of the most exhilarating fishing styles because of how hard fish hit them. I personally love jerkbait fishing so much I have a Rapala Husky Jerk Jerkbait tattooed on my arm! It is just that beautiful, perfect, timeless fishing lure that got me to fall in love with fishing. There are tons of colors, sizes, styles, and techniques so you may be wondering, how do I even fish with a jerkbait? One of the best and easiest ways to fish them is just a basic cast and retrieve. This will swim the jerkbait through the water looking like a baitfish, you can add extra pauses or “jerks” of the rod to make it look like a wounded baitfish. If you have a boat, jerkbaits are an excellent option for “trolling” which is when you cast the lure out behind the boat and slowly drive the boat past things like structure, drop offs, docks, and grass edges to cover a lot of water quickly. However you fish a jerkbait, they drive fish crazy and will trigger aggressive strikes.

Here is a basic step guide to fishing jerkbaits:

  1. Cast past where you expect fish to be
  2. Reel in the lure (adjust speed on how deep you want the jerkbait to swim)
  3. Twitch and pause the lure to mimic injured bait fish
  4. Adjust your speed and cadence until you find strikes ( I like to do three reels, then a 2-3 second pause)
  5. Find fish and set the hook when you get a strike
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Best Time For Jerkbait Fishing

Typically, Spring is going to be the best time to use jerkbaits, especially for bass (Check out our complete guide to Spring Bass Lures). In the Spring bass move shallow, waters range from 45-65 degrees, and fish are aggressively chasing food to recover from the winter & spawn. In the Fall jerkbaits are still a good lure to use since fish are feeding heavily before the winter. Water temperatures in the fall are decreasing back into that cooler range letting fish know to fatten up before winter, so covering water with a jerkbait is almost sure to trigger some hungry strikes.

Types of Jerkbait Lures

Similar to crankbaits, there are tons of different styles of jerkbaits on the market for different fishing situations.

  • Suspending Jerkbaits

    Suspending Jerkbaits are arguably one of the most popular options for bass. They are called a suspending jerkbait because they don’t float, but they also don’t sink to the bottom, they hover or “suspend” in the water column and are twitched through the water perfectly representing a wounded bait fish. They typically come in smaller and medium sizes making them great for bass fishing.

  • Jointed Jerkbaits

    Jointed jerkbaits have multiple bodies connected by hinges or joints that help create extra swimming motion and can present a more natural movement in the water. They will give you a wider wobble which can trigger aggressive strikes when fish are feeding. They are great for aggressive, feeding fish in warm stained water.

  • Deep Diving Jerkbaits

    The deep diving jerkbait is designed with a much larger lip or bill that helps them reach depths of 15 feet deep or even more depending what you are using. They are an excellent option for fishing deep structure, ledges, drop offs, and deep points. These are an amazing option for Walleye fishing especially up here on Lake Erie.

  • Lipless Jerkbaits

    Lipless jerkbaits are made without the diving lip, or bill and rely on the weight of the body and hooks to sink and vibrate when you reel them in. Some fishermen consider these a separate category of lure all together, but in my book you can still jerk and twitch them around getting the same effect, so these are still jerkbaits. Some of these also have rattles in them to increase the vibrations making them effective in windy conditions, stained water, and open water when scouting for fish.

  • Floating Jerkbaits

    Floating jerkbaits do exactly what they say, they float on the surface of the water when they are not being reeled in. When you are reeling in and pause, they will begin to float back to the top of the water. These are great for fishing in shallower waters, especially around downed trees, grass, and areas where fish are feeding near the top of the water column.
Type of Jerkbait Best Species Best Way to Fish It Popular Colors Popular Model Average Price
Suspending Jerkbait Bass, Walleye, Pike Twitch-twitch-pause retrieve; deadly in cold water when fish suspend Ghost Minnow, Clown, Silver Berkley Stunna 112 $12.99 - $15.99
Jointed Jerkbait Walleye, Pike, Trout Steady retrieve with occasional rod twitches for wounded baitfish action Silver/Black, Firetiger, Gold Rapala Jointed Minnow $8.99 - $11.99
Deep Diving Jerkbait Walleye, Smallmouth, Lake Trout Long cast and crank down to depth, then pause and rip Blue Chrome, Perch, Purpledescent Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk $9.99 - $13.99
Lipless Jerkbait Bass, Pike, Muskie Burn retrieve, yo-yo retrieve, or rip through grass Sexy Shad, Red Craw, Chrome Blue Strike King Red Eye Shad $7.99 - $10.99
Floating Jerkbait Bass, Trout, River Smallmouth Fish shallow cover with twitch-pause retrieve so bait rises over cover Silver, Gold, Brown Trout Rapala Original Floater $6.99 - $9.99

Jerkbaits For Bass, Walleye, & Other Species

Jerkbaits can catch almost any predatory fish which is a huge reason why people love them so much. Any kind of bass ( largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted) can be caught on jerkbaits essentially all year round. When it comes to more uncommon predatory fish like walleye jerkbaits are an elite lure because they work well in cold water, low light conditions, can dive deep, and come in tons of colors specifically designed to trigger walleye strikes. My personal favorite is using big jerkbaits to catch northern pike and musky in clear, cold, northern waters. These ultra aggressive fish can grow huge, which makes throwing a larger jerkbait really fun, you never know how big the fish at the end of the line is when it bites, and they fight hard! When I am in Canada I will throw 7 inch Rapala jerk baits that dive 18 feet, and we have caught some massive muskie on these lures, you just can’t beat catching a giant fish on a jerkbait.

  • Largemouth Bass
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Spotted Bass
  • Walleye
  • Norther Pike
  • Muskie
  • Chain Pickerel
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Jerkbait FAQs

How Do You Fish a Jerkbait?

To fish a jerkbait, cast the lure beyond your target area and reel it down to its running depth. Then use short twitches of the rod tip followed by pauses to imitate an injured baitfish. Most strikes happen during the pause, especially when using a suspending jerkbait. In cold water, use longer pauses and slower movements. In warmer water, speed up the retrieve with quicker jerks and shorter pauses.

When Is the Best Time to Use a Jerkbait?

The best time to use a jerkbait is during spring, fall, and winter when fish are feeding on baitfish. Spring is especially productive because bass move shallow and aggressively feed before spawning. In winter, suspending jerkbaits excel with slow retrieves and long pauses. Jerkbaits also work well on windy, cloudy days and in clear water conditions.

What Is the Best Jerkbait for Bass?

The best jerkbait for bass is usually a suspending jerkbait because it stays in the strike zone during pauses and mimics a wounded baitfish. Popular sizes range from 3 to 5 inches depending on forage size and water conditions. Natural baitfish colors work well in clear water, while brighter colors are better in stained water. Choose shallow or deep diving models based on how deep bass are holding.

Jerkbaits For Sale At Fin Feather Fur Outfitters

At the end of the day, jerkbaits are one of the most popular, versatile, and fun fishing lures on the market. At Fin Feather Fur Outfitters, we pride ourselves on providing you the highest quality products which is why we offer top jerkbait brands like Rapala, Strike King, and Bomber Lures. Our fishing department has decades of experience and is happy to answer any questions you might have on jerkbaits, and which ones to use because we love when our products help you land fish. Don’t hesitate to reach out, and make sure to send us pictures of your catches to share on social media!

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