Be it a small stream, large river, ponds, or lakes, big fish eat little fish everywhere I go. Many species strike a jerkbait—bass, perch, pickerel, northern pike, trout, and walleye will all attack a jerkbait when it is presented at the right time and in the correct manner.

Let’s review a few things that ought to help you catch a few more fish casting a jerkbait.

What Is a Jerkbait?

A jerkbait is a hard-bodied minnow-style lure designed to imitate injured or fleeing baitfish. It is typically fished with a series of rod twitches followed by pauses, allowing the lure to dart, suspend, or dive depending on its design.

Jerkbaits are extremely effective across a wide range of freshwater species because they closely resemble natural forage and can be fished at multiple depths.

Jerkbait Categories and Colors

Jerkbaits generally fall into two categories: floater-divers and suspending models.

Floater-divers usually reach depths of 3 to 4 feet, while suspending jerkbaits can dive to 10 to 12 feet with ease. Color selection is extensive, and many manufacturers offer pre-selected color sets for clear or stained water, making them a great starting point if you are unfamiliar with the local forage base.

How to Fish a Jerkbait

One of the most effective jerkbait retrieves is the classic twitch-twitch-pause method. After casting, reel up the slack line and begin twitching the rod tip twice, then pause.

As water temperatures cool to 50 degrees and below, the pause length should increase—from a few seconds to as many as 10 to 15 seconds, or sometimes even longer. In warmer water, a faster retrieve generally produces better results. In warm, gin-clear water, faster retrieves can be especially effective.

It is also important to observe how fish react to your jerkbait as it gets closer to you. Some days fish will follow the bait all the way in without striking. This usually indicates that the color is correct, but the retrieve speed, cadence, or bait size may need adjustment.

When this happens, first adjust your cadence by experimenting with twitch-pause-twitch or longer pauses. If cadence changes fail to produce strikes, increase the jerkbait size first, then try a smaller size while keeping the same color.

This method of refining the retrieve usually yields positive results; it does require you to obtain bait sets, i.e., sizes 78, 100 & 128 in the same colors, but it’s well worth the investment. I believe in today’s economy I’d much rather have three baits to help dial-in the best retrieve, as opposed to casting eight to ten lures the same size of varying colors hoping to generate a strike.

Match the Hatch

"Match the hatch" is a common phrase among trout anglers and is equally applicable to jerkbait fishing. It means selecting a bait that closely resembles the size and color of the natural forage in the water you are fishing.

In early spring, most minnows are small—usually 3 inches or less. As water temperatures rise, those same minnows grow larger. As the forage grows, you should increase the size of your jerkbait accordingly.

Color selection is just as important. If the water you are fishing contains perch as the primary forage, choose colors that mimic perch. In waters like the Great Lakes, where alewives are the main forage, black-and-silver or blue-and-silver patterns often perform best.

Preferred Jerkbait Sizes

Most jerkbait lengths are listed in millimeters with 65, 78, 100 and 128 being the most popular. To give you a better idea of how big they are, here’s a quick conversion into inches.

1. 65 mm (approximately 2.55 inches)
   Best suited for panfish and trout, especially in cold water or when forage is small.

2. 78 mm (approximately 3.07 inches)
   A versatile size that works well for trout, bass, and other light-biting predators.

3. 100 mm (approximately 3.93 inches)
   Ideal for bass, and walleye when fish are feeding on larger baitfish.

4. 128 mm (approximately 5.03 inches)
   Designed for pickerel, northern pike, and larger forage profiles, especially in open water.

Sizes 65 and 78 work best for panfish and trout. Sizes 78, 100, and 128 are ideal for bass, pickerel, northern pike, and walleye.

Rod, Reel, and Line Setup for Jerkbaits

To obtain the maximum performance from each jerkbait requires the correct rod, reel and line. It’s very easy to overpower the jerkbait if the rod is too stiff, or the reel is the wrong size. You’ll want to balance your rod and reel to match the jerkbait you’re casting. Some anglers prefer to use spinning gear while others select casting gear. It’s entirely up to you but get one that best fits your hand and feels comfortable to cast and retrieve.

Another important consideration is your fishing line. Using a line that’s too heavy can shorten your casting distance and negatively affect the jerkbait’s action. Too light of line can also have ill effects, the lure won’t respond to the action imparted during the retrieve or it could snap off on the hookset. To assist in selecting the correct combination, here’s a quick reference table that’s served me well over the years.

Recommended Setups by Jerkbait Size

Best Jerkbait Rod And Reel Combo For Bass Fishing 2025

1. 65 mm Jerkbait Setup
   Use a 6'- to 7'-foot rod with light to medium-light power and a fast action.
   Pair it with a 1000-size spinning reel or a BFS casting reel.
   Line range: 4- to 8-pound test.

2. 78 mm Jerkbait Setup
   A 6'6"- to 7'2"-foot rod with medium-light to medium power and fast action works best.
   Match it with a 2000-size spinning reel or BFS casting reel.
   Line range: 6- to 10-pound test.

3. 100 mm Jerkbait Setup
   Choose a 6'6"- to 7'4"-foot rod with medium to medium-heavy power and fast action.
   Pair with a 3000-size spinning reel or a casting reel.
   Line range: 10- to 12-pound test.

4. 128 mm Jerkbait Setup
   Use a 6'10"- to 7'4"-foot rod with medium-heavy to heavy power and fast action.
   Pair with a 3000-size spinning reel or casting reel.
   Line range: 12- to 15-pound test.

Choosing the Right Fishing Line

Line size and type has a big impact on how the jerkbait reacts. Monofilament (mono) line tends to float a bit, has a slower sink rate, and about an inch of stretch for every 36-inches of line. Fluorocarbon sinks well and stretches less than mono, and it’s more abrasion resistant. Braided line tends to float, with a slower sink rate, has less abrasion resistance than fluorocarbon, and has no stretch. Fluorocarbon is probably the most popular line for casting a jerkbait, but there are exceptions depending on how deep you desire the jerkbait to dive.

A reliable technique to help keep a jerkbait higher in the water column is using a slightly larger diameter line. An example is, if you routinely present jerkbaits in 8-foot or less using 12-pound test mono you might want to increase to 14- or 16-pound test. The same holds true if you desire to gain a bit more depth on the retrieve, simply downsize your line, or switch to fluorocarbon line to obtain a better sink rate.

Putting It All Together

Successful jerkbait fishing requires attention to detail. Choose the correct bait category for the depth you are fishing, select colors that match the available forage, and pair your jerkbait with the proper rod, reel, and line combination.

FAQ

How should I fish a jerkbait in winter?

In cold water, slow down your retrieve and lengthen the pause between twitches—sometimes up to 10–15 seconds. Fish are less aggressive, so a subtle, steady twitch-pause pattern often produces more bites. Stick to smaller jerkbaits that mimic the size of winter forage.

How do I adjust my jerkbait retrieve when fish follow but don’t strike?

If fish follow your jerkbait without striking, first experiment with twitch-pause-twitch variations. If that doesn’t work, try changing the bait size while keeping the same color, then adjust color if necessary. Fine-tuning cadence and size is often the key to triggering bites.

How do I choose the right jerkbait color?

Always match the hatch: select colors that resemble the local forage. In clear water, natural colors like silver, shad, or perch patterns work best. In stained water, brighter or more contrasting colors help fish see the bait. Observing what’s in the water can save time and increase strikes.

Finally, refine your retrieve cadence until it triggers strikes. While there is always more to learn about jerkbait fishing, these fundamentals will help point you in the right direction and put more fish in the boat.

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About the Author

Captain Burnie Haney is owner/operator of New York Fishing Adventures, Army veteran and retired Sergeant Major with a 38-year military career. A tournament bass angler since 1992, he has won five Angler of the Year titles, set the NYTBF five-fish weight record, and qualified for two National Championships. Burnie holds two International Game Fish Association (IGFA) New York State line class records (walleye and smallmouth bass) and the IGFA All Tackle Length World Record for Chain Pickerel. He is a lifetime member of B.A.S.S. and member of the New York State Outdoor Writers' Association. Burnie was inducted into the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame in 2017. Today, Burnie focuses on multi-species seasonal fishing adventures.