Long recognized as a great tool for finding and catching spring bass, the jerkbait is gaining status in BassFans' autumn arsenals. Anglers continue to discover the special flash-and-dance action of jerkbaits and just about every hard-body luremaker is producing one or more models in response to the demand.
Tour pro Bernie Schultz is one of the jerkbait's biggest advocates. He believes there may be no lure better at searching for and tempting hungry fall largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass.
Lure For All Reasons
Most anglers need no introduction to the fish-catching abilities of jerkbaits before, during and after the spawn. And Kevin VanDam proved the lure's value during the heat of summer at this year's Bassmaster Classic at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers. But Schultz said anglers are missing a major opportunity if they fail to experiment with jerkbaits as the calendar heads toward winter.
"Jerkbaits are one of the best search baits in the fall," he said. "You can cover so much water and they have great pulling power. The fish will come up long distances, especially in the clear water we have so often in the fall, when the fish are actively feeding by sight."
He said jerkbaits work for him throughout fall on any water.
"They're great for free-roaming, open-water fish on natural grass lakes, where the bass are following baitfish. But they also are excellent for searching for bass when the bait isn't so evident. And reservoir bass, which are creek-oriented in the fall, will wallop them too."
On natural lakes, he works jerkbaits around shallow shorelines and grass edges.
"Not the protected areas, but the places where the wind is blowing. You want to follow the bait. Grass can be a factor, but it isn't a necessity. It's up to the baitfish. Wherever they go, that's where the bass will be and a jerkbait will find them. If you can't locate the bait, then go to the grass edges, especially points and irregularities."
As bass follow the shad back into reservoir creeks, Schultz chases them with jerkbaits. "I look in the arms with feeder creeks and go all the way back to where the creek is within its original banks and the flats near the stream's inlet."
If At First You Don't Succeed
Schultz noted some anglers get discouraged when their jerkbaits don't draw strikes and conclude – incorrectly – the fish aren't hitting them.
"There is so much involved in fishing jerkbaits that it can be easy to overlook the fact that you need to do something different when the fish aren't responding," he said. "I start by trying to achieve an underwater walking-the-dog action. But sometimes the fish want something more erratic or something more subtle.
Schultz especially likes the Rapala X-Rap (left) when fish are interested but still a little fussy.
"It's important to carry a range of body styles and sizes. Just because they aren't biting one does not mean they won't hit another."
When he notices bass reacting to, but not eating, his lure, he changes his presentation until he figures out what will make the bass commit.
"Sometimes it might be size or color. I try to match the baitfish, but sometimes the bass want something different, like maybe more noise. Sometimes they want the Husky Jerk (by Rapala) and other times it will be the (Rapala) X-Rap," he said.
He's found the X-Rap, in particular, provides an advantage when the bass are interested but still a little fussy.
Tail Feathers Entice
"We've all had those times when the fish are blowing up all around the boat, but they're hard to catch," Schultz said. "The feather tail on the X-Rap is a killer teaser. It's a great enticer and really closes the deal when the fish are ignoring other baits."
The feathers work best for Schultz when he's jerking in less than 7 feet of water. "I don't use them when I'm fishing deep or super slow."
His other "go-to" jerkbait is the venerable Rapala 13G (G for gold) minnow. "It just may be the very best bait for clear water – in reservoirs or natural grass lakes – when the fish are super spooky."
Notable
> Schultz typically ties on jerkbaits in shad colors for largemouths. "I like gold, silver, green backs with white bellies," he said. "Spotted bass and smallies, however, prefer brighter, gaudier colors."
> His normal outfit for standard-size jerkbaits is a 6'6" medium-action casting rod and reel spooled with 10- to 12-pound mono. For smaller baits, he'll use a spinning rod, but he rarely goes to lighter line. "The only time I use line lighter than 10-pound-test is if the fish are real spooky or I need extra distance in the wind."
> His knot of choice is a double improved clinch. "I can snug it real tight to the split ring. I don't tie a loop knot unless I'm fishing the original Rapala minnow."
