Jerkbait question

[Ravox]

Jerkbait is a lure that i still need to learn how to work properly saw some videos that is totally possible that bass can hit a jerkbait if you just reel the jerkbait back to you like a crankbait, is that true? or it will depend on the jerkbait type/ body?

[gim]

I don't have a significant amount of time using jerk baits, but all of the fish I have caught or had strike on one, did so on the pause.  I'm sure a fish would hit a jerk bait if you simply reeled it in steady like a crank bait too at some point, but that's not really what the lure is designed for.  If you wanted to fish it like that, I think you'd just be better of actually using a crank bait instead.

[Deleted account]

10 minutes ago, Ravox said:

Jerkbait is a lure that i still need to learn how to work properly saw some videos that is totally possible that bass can hit a jerkbait if you just reel the jerkbait back to you like a crankbait, is that true? or it will depend on the jerkbait type/ body?

Yes, most jerkbaits can be cranked or swept. "Other" anglers troll the same exact JBs bass guys jerk. I'd reserve it for slightly warmer water, the exception is "spybaiting" a JB.

[813basstard]

Yes they will. 
Probably not as effective as the intended use but then again I saw my 12 year old son consume an entire thanksgiving meal without the assistance of utensils so when they want to eat, they’ll eat..

[Big Rick]

The "jerk-pause" retrieve is most effective in cooler waters that have the basses metabolism slowed down. Most jerk baits will suspend or rise very slowly on that pause, thus leaving the bait in the strike zone for a longer period of time. That's why it's so heavily used in the colder seasons. 

 

In the warmer seasons a jerk bait is seldom paused for any length of time; say maybe a 1 count. This is due to the heightened metabolism of the bass affording them the energy to chase down bait. By this time of the year many anglers are moving to other baits that are more effective. But, that doesn't mean a jerk bait with a steady retrieve won't catch fish. If I were to employ that method I would at least give a pause every 5 turn of the handles. That would incite a strike from a bass following along. 

[king fisher]

I caught thousands of bass and other sportfish, on floating, and count down Rapala's, both reeling them strait , and trolling, years before they started calling them jerk baits.

[A-Jay]

34 minutes ago, king fisher said:

I caught thousands of bass and other sportfish, on floating, and count down Rapala's, both reeling them strait , and trolling, years before they started calling them jerk baits.

When I first heard the term,

I thought someone was insulting me, again.

A-Jay

[Bluebasser86]

I've caught lots of fish on them after I'd given up on the retrieve and gone to reel them in. Maybe the increase in speed triggered the strike, but they still struck during a straight retrieve. 

[Bankbeater]

I always start out with a steady retrieve.  If that fails to get a bite then I start pausing the bait while reeling it in.

[Dwight Hottle]

There is no wrong way to work a jerk bait as long as your around fish.

[OkobojiEagle]

In the right places a slow steadily retrieved jerkbait can bring some nice sized walleye to hand...

 

oe

[Way north bass guy]

Up here, right after ice out in the spring, we often troll jerkbaits with an in line planer board for lake trout. Depending on the lake we’re on, there’s often a large number of super fat, prespawn smallmouth that are mixed in the same areas as the trout. Dragging a KVD 300 jerkbait along at 1-2mph, we often have to move from an area if we’re catching too many bass instead of trout ( bass season is closed then so we’re not supposed to target them at that time). 

[Scott F]

In my experience, while a steady retrieve of a jerk bait will certainly catch fish, the jerk, pause retrieve will out fish it by a wide margin especially in the cooler water during the spring. 

[papajoe222]

Right after ice-out, I'll work a jerkbait by slowly sweeping the rod, stopping to pick up slack and sweeping it again.  I'm basically swimming it for a few feet. Sometimes they'll hit it on the pause and other times, they'll hit it as it's moving.

[Mbirdsley]

Yes you can work them by just retrieving them.  That is how I fish the jointed j-7 and regular size 7 rapala’s in the rivers.  However, I believe certain jerk baits are better for this than others.  Mainly the ones with a little bit rounder bill IE all of rapala’s, bomber long A, smith wick rogues. We troll for various species in the Great Lakes with the above mention lures.  Bandits, rapala’s, and rapala husky jerks  are the cold water trolling lure of choice when the water is 35-66 degrees of water 

 

pic is a river smallie I caught on straight retrieve