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Jerkbaits
by "The Bass Coach",
Roger Lee Brown
There are "Two" basic types or styles of Jerkbaits
that are sold on the bassin’ market today, and they would
fall in the categories of "Hard-Jerkbaits" and "Soft-Jerkbaits."
The "Soft-Jerkbaits" type or style would cover the
soft-plastic baits such as; Bass Assassins, Squids, Slug-O’s,
Dartin’ Shads, Skuirmin’ Jerks, Flukes, Flappin’
Shads, Etc...... And the "Hard-Jerkbaits" type or style
would cover the hard plastic or even wood types such as; Rapala’s
Husky Jerk, Jointed-Minnows, Floating Minnows, Smithwick’s
Rogues, Bomber’s Long-A’s, Rebel’s Minnows, Bagley’s
Ratlin’ Twitcher, etc...... and there many, many, more of
these same type of baits made from different manufacturers that
would fall under this category.
Jerkbaits, without question would definitely fall in the "Top-10"
category of all artificial baits used by Tournament Anglers in
today’s bass fishing mostly because these types of baits
have proven themselves over and over to not only catch bass in
numbers, but they catch quality bass as well. One of the primary
reasons that these baits are used by so many anglers is because
Jerkbaits are considered to be one of the more versatile types
of baits on today's market and can literally be fished just about
anywhere at any time. There are many different techniques and
presentations you can use when fishing with a Jerkbait, I’ll
explain a few of the more popular presentations in hopes to help
you increase your success rate when it comes to catching bass.
First of all, I’ll cover some of the more popular techniques
for "Top Water Fishing" while using these Jerkbaits.
Let’s say that you pull up into a area where you would find
thick floating vegetation in about 1 to 6’ depth of water,
and this vegetation is covering the surface with very little
exposed open water pockets, a "Soft-Jerkbait" would
be the preferred Jerkbait to use in a situation like this simply
because of the "Weedless Rigging" it allows you to
use to keep from getting caught on the vegetation. In a area
such as this, you would rig the "Soft-Jerkbait" without
any added weight at all and rig it as a "Texas-Rig"
using a wide gap hook. Now you’re ready for business!.....
Cast the bait into the midst of the vegetation and make short
twitches periodically letting the bait lay still on top of the
vegetation, then keep repeating this technique all the way back
to the boat. If you don’t have any vegetation on your body
of water, then cast the bait over submerged structure areas.
Now, let’s say that you are into an area that has scattered
vegetation with pockets of open water at the same depth, you
can use either a Soft or a Hard Jerkbait!, but keep in mind that
a "Hard-Jerkbait" has exposed hooks already fastened
to the bait (which means it is easy for the bait to get caught-up
on this vegetation). With either bait, cast it into these open
pockets of water, make a couple of small sharp twitches, then
let it lay still for a moment. Usually after the bait lays still,
usually the first twitch after this still period is mostly the
time when a bass will strike!, so be ready. Or in this same area
(using a Soft-Jerkbait), add a little weight to the bait to where
the bait will slowly drop to the bottom. Again, let it lay there
for a moment, then make a couple of small sharp twitches lifting
the bait back up to the surface and let it drop again. You will
find that this technique can be very rewarding if you give it
a try. This technique will work around structure, rip-rap, docks,
fall-downs, bank edges, trees, stump areas, and just about any
areas fishable.
Now, let’s move out into deeper water areas to where
you may have 6 to 10’ depths. These same techniques already
mentioned for surface and sub-surface patterns will work just
as well in this deeper water (especially around and on top of
submerged structure and vegetation), but now let’s fish
a little deeper with these baits. In the case of the "Hard-Jerkbait",
select one that suspends and or has a diving-bill on the front
of it to get it down under the waters surface. Most of these
"Hard-Jerkbaits" will be made for the depth of water
you choose to fish (the bigger the front bill, the deeper it
will go). Now, choose one for a 8’ depth, cast it out, start
your retrieve to get it down to the desired depth, then start
jerking or twitching it a few times than let it lay motionless
for a moment. Keep repeating this technique all the way back
to the boat, however, when the bass are more active, you can
just twitch and jerk the bait all the way back to the boat without
any pause. One factor to always remember when bass fishing is:
"Always let the bass dictate how they want the presentation!"
Now, let’s use a "Soft-Jerkbait" in this same
area. To get the "Soft-Jerkbait" down in deeper depths
you can rig it actually three different ways. 1. A Texas-rig
with a front weight. 2. A Straight-rig with a pencil weight,
or nail weight inserted into the bait itself. 3. A Carolina-rig
with the bait free floating attached to the leader line of this
weighted rig. Either three of these riggings will allow you to
work these "Soft-Jerkbaits at deeper depths.
Although I’ve cover some of the basic presentations with
these Jerkbaits, there are many more! I would be happy to answer
any questions that you may have concerning bass fishing in general.
I teach many students at my 3-Day "On-Water" Bass Fishing
School all phases of recreational as well as tournament fishing
techniques with a focus on "Individual Personalized Instruction."
If you want to be much more successful about bass fishing, contact
me for information about this 3-Day "On-Water" Bass
Fishing School........ Until Next Time!
Take Care & God Bless!....."The Bass Coach"
www.capital.net/~rlbrown and
www.fishing-boating.com/basscoach
(518) 597-4240
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