Hard Jerkbaits
Find a jerkbait fishing lure.
Find a jerkbait fishing lure.
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| Hard Jerkbaits are typically made of hard plastic and wood. The hard jerkbaits are usually larger than the soft jerkbaits. Most soft jerkbaits are made for bass fishermen, although they catch other fish. Most hard jerkbaits are made for pike and muskie and they will catch bass also. Jerkbaits mimic wounded baitfish just below the surface. They have the name jerkbait because you must jerk them to give them their action. They don't have any action if reel them in with a steady retrieve. They are a great bait for catching large fish. Bigger fish love an easy meal and a big, wounded baitfish is as easy as it gets. How To Use Hard Jerkbaits Fishing jerkbaits is most effective when casting. There are some anglers that are sold on trolling jerkbaits for pike and muskie. They do so with a long sweep of the rod sideways, then letting the bait pause, followed by another sweep of the rod sideways. This erratic action drives some big pike and muskie crazy. However, most fishermen do cast their jerkbaits. When bringing in the jerkbait, short, sharp jerks will give your bait a side to side action and long, smooth jerks will give it an up and down action. Not all jerkbaits are alike either. Some are high-bouyancy, causing them to rise to the surface quicker, while others are low-buoyancy, causing them to rise to the surface slower, but they don't dive down as deep as the high-bouyancy models. Make sure to get out on the water and try all different types of jerking presentations to find out which type of jerk gives your lure the best action and most strikes. Where To Use Hard Jerkbaits Fishing near weeds and wood will give you the best results with jerkbaits. These lures are not made to cover wide open areas of water. You can work a jerkbait fast, but not nearly as fast as you would work a crankbait or a spinnerbait. Make sure you are in areas that produce fish. Keep the jerkbait around cover and work the area thoroughly. Many large fish have to see the jerkbait a few times before they decide to strike. Stay above underwater weeds, on weedlines, and shallow flats near dropoffs. Types of Fish Caught on Hard Jerkbaits The most common fish caught with jerkbaits are muskie and pike. You can catch bass and walleye on jerkbaits also, but they are more effective for pike and muskie. Problems With Using Hard Jerkbaits Most anglers that struggle with jerkbaits are not using them properly or they are not in the right areas. Learning how to find the right retrieve takes some practice. Take a few short cast and watch how the lure works next to the boat. Try to imitate a dying baitfish. A jerk or two and then a pause. Most fish will strike the lure on the pause. Anglers that are using the jerkbait properly, but still not catching fish are probably not in the right areas. A lot anglers use the jerkbait as a search bait. Successful anglers will find the fish with a crankbait or a spinnerbait and then fish those areas thoroughly with a jerkbait to pick up some of the less active fish. Once you are in a great fishing spot, work the jerkbait and you will catch lots of fish. |