masterS series
All the jerkbaits I ’ ve designed have a weight-transfer system so they cast really well and they suspend . You can also work them really aggressively , which suits my fishing style .
When it comes to colors , I generally lean toward the most natural patterns that match the forage in the water I ’ m fishing . My all-time favorite is probably clear ayu because I think it ’ s a great match for the perch that are usually common in smallmouth waters . I go to brighter — beacon-type — colors during the spawn and postspawn when I think I may need to pull the bass toward my lure from greater distances . That ’ s when I tie on a color like pro citrus shad or something bright that they can see from 20 feet away or more . It can make a big difference at times , but I generally believe that the action of a jerkbait is more important than its color .
the basics
Because a lot of smallmouth water is very clear and a jerkbait is generally better in clear water , I like to make long casts . Once the lure hits the water , I ’ ll start jerking right away . It ’ s important to keep some slack in the line . I generally have about 2 feet of slack , which means that I have to move my rod tip 2 feet before I feel the line tighten on the lure and it starts to move .
I generally snap the rod tip pretty hard when fishing a jerkbait . I want it to move sharply and erratically . That ’ s what triggers the strikes . A slow pull or drag is rarely effective . My retrieve is so aggressive that you can actually hear and see the line slapping the water in front of me , and the momentum of the rod movement is enough for the tip to sort of rebound back into position for the next jerk .
Of course , every situation is different , and some days the fish want a more or less aggressive retrieve . You ’ ll know you ’ ve got it right when you go to twitch the bait and it feels like you ’ ve hit a brick wall . Then it ’ s time to set the hook . I do that by pulling into the fish from the side and letting the rod load . Sharp hooks will do the rest . I use Mustad KVD Short Triple Grip Trebles in size 4 for most of my jerkbaiting . They ’ re sharp and strong and — because they ’ re short — they reduce the leverage a fish has when trying to throw the bait .
bonus
A lot of anglers lose jerkbait fish at the boat because they ’ ve only got one hook in them or the hook is in an awkward position . To avoid that , I do a couple of things . First , a lot of anglers use a medium-action rod for jerkbait fishing , but my medium-heavy rod allows me to get a better hookset . I also tighten my drag so that it won ’ t slip on the hookset , even with a big fish .
Second — and this can be critical — when I get the fish near the boat , I ’ m always watching to see how it ’ s hooked . If it ’ s a good fish or not hooked very well , I ’ ll punch the free spool button and use my thumb as the drag for any sudden pulls on a short line . I feel like I can be a lot more responsive than the drag in that situation .
If the fish is not well hooked , I ’ ll take things slow and look for an opportunity to pull another hook into the fish as it changes direction or by changing the direction of the pressure I put on it . Doing these things near the boat often means the difference between boating your trophy and watching it swim away .
66 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | JUNE-JULY 2021