Best jerkbait under $15

[MichaelJ7]

I have megabass jerkbaits and don’t get me wrong. They’re great. But at $25 I have a problem continuing to buy them. I really like the KVD standard and deep divers. But thoughts on other jerkbaits around the $15 and under price? 

[TnRiver46]

X rap has always worked best for me but they are also the most expensive ones I have ever thrown. Surely rogues Work but I haven’t ever had any luck with them. When it comes to floating jerk bait I like cotton Cordell, although I used to have some lures called Excalibur ghost minnow that were good. I’m not sure if they are still manufactured.

[Obi_Wan]

I like the Spro jerkbaits and I've caught fish on the Academy sports H2O jerkbaits.

[Gundog]

I've got a good selection of Rapala Husky Jerks, Rapala Originals, Smithwick Rogues and Rebel Minnows. All work for me pretty good but the Husky Jerks are my go to jerkbaits. 

[Montanaro]

Duo realis.  End.

[38 Super Fan]

Luck e Strike Rick Clunn model. Upgrade the hardware, use different trebles and/or suspend strips to get the balance and suspension where you want them, and you've got a poor man's Vision 110.

[Scarborough817]

berkley skinny cutter both in the 90 and the 110

[Turkey sandwich]

I don't fish them nearly as often as some of the other guys on here (I can't figure out how to throw a jig and a jerk bait at the same time...), but I do have a good collection.  I don't think I've ever paid over $15 for a jerk bait.  Even the Pointers I own, I bought on sale.  I also have a sweet VIP membership through Rapala.  So, most of mine are Rapala, and I generally like all of them differently.

 

For fast presentation by the surface, or for letting something die on top - floating Rapala

For a very slow floating action - Husky Jerk

For a suspending bait I can fish at a lot of different speeds - X - Rap/X-Rap deep

For something I want to fall/sink - Shadow Rap/Deep

 

I also like the KVDs and Pointers, but if I had to pick one for versatility, it would probably be the X-Rap

[drscholl14]

KVD Jerks are one of my go to baits.  I feel it has the most erratic action out of the many I've tried.

[MainelyBASS]

I have a serious addiction to jerkbaits, and to make matters worse, I work at Cabelas. Without even exaggerating by 1, I have 51 jerkbaits. They are pretty much from all the different manufacturers, but what I have learned is that the Rapala Shadow Rap, Lucky Craft Pointer, and KVD Jerkbait are the 3 most consistent when it comes to being able to just take the lure out of the package and fish without defects or adjustments needing to be made. I have tried them all due to the fact that I could afford some of the higher priced ones using my employee discount. My 3 faves as I mentioned in order are Shadow Rap, Pointer, and KVD Jerkbait.

[Bluebasser86]

Berkley Skinny Cutter, Lucky Craft Pointer 78 and 100, and the KVD 300 would be my picks. 

[smalljaw67]

I like fishing jerkbaits, and I have a bunch of different types and brands. The Rapala Shadow Rap is really good, I've taken to using it more and more. The X-Rap is one of my top 5, they don't get much press anymore as they are common and don't have a high price tag but they just work and they work in a variety of conditions. The Smithwick Rogue, I put these in a category I call "must haves" when it comes to jerkbaits, the regular suspending rogue and the newer Elite 8 are fantastic. There are others like the RC STX as well as some store brands that are good, I've also taken a liking to the Yo-Zuri 3DB jerkbait, it is 3.5" and is just under 1/2oz so you can cast it well but it only dives to 2' so it performs better in the higher temp range for suspending baits. The last one is my "best value" pick, the Storm Twitch Stick, they are relatively cheap but catch fish and I like them a lot. They have a size 8 and 10, the larger one weighs 5/8oz and reminds me of a Pointer 100, it has a larger profile, nice heavy hooks and it has a distinct wobble when you pause it, the newer ghost colors have exceeded my expectations.

[Oregon Native]

Squad Minnow

[mattkenzer]

Rapala Shadow Rap .....

 

And yes, I do have Berkley, Live Target, Lucky Craft, Megabass to mention a few.

[burrows]

IMA flint

[Backroad Angler]

Rapplas are the best jerkbaits imo

[DomQ]

Berks  and Raps all day long

[Dwight Hottle]

9 hours ago, MainelyBASS said:

I have a serious addiction to jerkbaits, and to make matters worse, I work at Cabelas. Without even exaggerating by 1, I have 51 jerkbaits. They are pretty much from all the different manufacturers, but what I have learned is that the Rapala Shadow Rap, Lucky Craft Pointer, and KVD Jerkbait are the 3 most consistent when it comes to being able to just take the lure out of the package and fish without defects or adjustments needing to be made. I have tried them all due to the fact that I could afford some of the higher priced ones using my employee discount. My 3 faves as I mentioned in order are Shadow Rap, Pointer, and KVD Jerkbait.

 

You have a minor addiction. I have never counted mine but I have a minimum of 300 to 400 jerkbaits. I carry a minimum of 15-18 jerkbait boxes in my boat. 

For under $15 price point you can pick from Rapala, Smithwick, KVD, Rebel, Bagley, Duo Realis. Ima, Storm, Spro,Yo-Zuri, Bomber, some Lucky Craft and the list goes on. 

 

My favorites are Rapala, Smithwick, Ima, Duo Realis & LC with honorable mention to Rebel.

[All Day Fishing]

11 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

X rap has always worked best for me but they are also the most expensive ones I have ever thrown. Surely rogues Work but I haven’t ever had any luck with them. When it comes to floating jerk bait I like cotton Cordell, although I used to have some lures called Excalibur ghost minnow that were good. I’m not sure if they are still manufactured.

Yeah Xcalibur did discontinue their products but I found a bunch at discount for $1-$2 each!  they are awesome jerkbaits!

 

Also I think Yo-Zuri is a very underrated brand, they make great jerkbaits and baits overall.  Of course Lucky Craft are great but so many options below $15.  I like Rapalas, Duo-Realis are little expensive.  Yo-Zuri, try them out! haha 

[OkobojiEagle]

8 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

 

You have a minor addiction. I have never counted mine but I have a minimum of 300 to 400 jerkbaits. I carry a minimum of 15-18 jerkbait boxes in my boat. 

For under $15 price point you can pick from Rapala, Smithwick, KVD, Rebel, Bagley, Duo Realis. Ima, Storm, Spro,Yo-Zuri, Bomber, some Lucky Craft and the list goes on. 

 

My favorites are Rapala, Smithwick, Ima, Duo Realis & LC with honorable mention to Rebel.

Dwight, expect a visit from the FBI very soon as you are dangerously unstable...

 

oe

[OkobojiEagle]

I use jerkbaits when covering depths to ~15'.   I cover every 2' depth starting with the surface to ~10' -- that's 6 baits.  I want two bait sizes - [3"-3 1/2"] and [4"- 4 1/2"] -- now I'm at 12 baits.  I primarily use natural bait fish patterns plus maybe 2 bright colors -- 14 baits.  Work them appropriately for the season and the bass won't care what brand they're biting!

 

oe

[MIbassyaker]

Not a huge jerkbait user but I've always liked the smithwick rogue and Rapala husky jerk. The KVDs and Berkley cutter I have used the last couple years and are good too, as well as the Ima Flit, which seems quite underrated.

[NYWayfarer]

11 hours ago, Scarborough817 said:

berkley skinny cutter both in the 90 and the 110

The Skinny Cutter gets my vote as well.

[Bankbeater]

When I do use a jerkbait it is usually a Smithwick rogue.

[A-Jay]

Some great baits already mentioned.

Many of which have found a home in my own arsenal.

One I didn't see listed is the 6th Sense PROVOKE 106 line of Jerkbaits.

To dismiss this one could be a mistake.

A-Jay

https://www.6thsenselures.com/provoke-jerkbaits