Jerkbait

A jerkbait is a slim, minnow-shaped hard bait designed to imitate a baitfish that is injured or disoriented. Most versions suspend or slow-float, which lets them sit still in the water column during a pause instead of sinking away or popping to the surface. This makes them different from crankbaits, which rely on steady retrieves and bill action to do the work.

Anglers fish a jerkbait with a rhythm of sharp rod twitches followed by pauses of a second or more. Each twitch makes the lure dart side to side, and the pause lets it hang in place, which is often when a bass strikes. This is especially effective in clear water and cooler temperatures, when bass are watching more than chasing.

Water temperature changes how long you should pause. In cold water, bass are sluggish, so pauses of three to five seconds can trigger more strikes than fast twitching.

• Use a slow, steady retrieve with short twitches in warmer water.
• Lengthen pauses when water is cold or fishing pressure is high.
• Match the jerkbait's suspend depth to where bass are holding.