Jerkbait
Also called: suspending jerkbait, minnow bait
A slim, minnow-shaped plug fished with sharp twitches and long pauses, best in clear, cool water.
- Type
- Hard Baits
- Target fish
- Bass, Pike & Walleye
- Skill
- Takes some practice
- Depth
- About 2 to 10 feet, depending on the lip
- Best seasons
- Early spring, late fall, and winter
Note: Treble hooks are sharp and can injure people and fish. Pinch the barbs down, keep hooks covered when you are not fishing, and use pliers to remove them. Some waters limit the number of hooks or require single or barbless hooks, so check your state's rules.
When it works best
- In cold, clear water, from late fall through early spring.
- Before the spawn, when bass move toward shallow flats.
- When fish follow other lures but do not bite.
How to fish it
- Cast and let the lure settle.
- Give it two or three sharp twitches with the rod tip, then let it pause.
- In cold water, pause longer, sometimes 5 to 10 seconds.
- Most strikes come during the pause, so stay ready.
Tips
- Suspending models hover in place during a pause, which is the trigger.
- Silver and shad patterns work well in clear water.
Common mistakes
- Skipping the pause or making it too short.
- Fishing too fast in cold water.
- Using a stiff rod that pulls hooks out.
Gear
A medium-action rod with a soft tip helps work the lure and keeps hooks in.
Often confused with
- Shallow crankbait: wider body, fished with a steady retrieve instead of twitches and pauses.
Fish it catches
Field notes
A jerkbait looks like a stunned baitfish. The pause is what makes it work, and patience is the main skill.
Related guides
What works varies by water, season, and the fish that day, so use this as a starting point. Regulations on live bait, hook type and number, lead tackle, and baitfish transport differ by state and water body. Check your state's current fishing rules; our state resources directory links to each state's official regulations and license portal.