Jerkbaits get the job done for all species, from pike and walleyes to smallies and hog largemouth bass like this 20-incher coming on a Rapala X-Rap. Simonson Photo.
By Nick Simonson
I can recall the first instance of a smallmouth smashing a rusted-up firetiger Husky Jerk I weaseled out of my dad’s gold flip-sider tacklebox for a trip upriver one spring night after work. After the rings from the lure’s splashdown along the shoreline at the spot where a small feeder creek met the main flow, I reeled up the slack and snapped the rod tip twice, pulling the pencil-length bait down below the surface and out toward the boat along the delta. It was just deep enough to conceal the sub-surface explosion of the four-pound prespawn smallie which sent a noticeable boil up as part of its attack.
From that point on I was sold and a number of jerkbaits have found their way into my spring arsenal, be it the classic Rapala Husky Jerk, the more modern Rapala X-Rap, the Smithwick Perfect 10, and several other varieties in both natural and standout colors that I lean on in the early goings of the season. As it turned out, those lures not only connected with smallmouth bass starting in April, but also largemouth bass in May, as well as hungry walleyes as they staged for the spawn. Let there be no doubt that these multi-hooked wonders work for pike as well, though I try to avoid throwing them if I plan on a quick release for springtime northerns, as the more hooks a gator gets in it, the more it tries to share them with a landing net (or worse, a couple of fingers) during the unhooking process.
Jerkbaits are the ultimate puppet for any angling puppet master. They can be worked fast or slow depending on the conditions, and more often than not, the amount of time they are paused is even more important than the cadence or pace at which they are moved. When things are cooler and water temperatures are lower, fish are more lethargic and a suspending stick in the shape and pattern of something edible just seems easier to get when it’s standing still in the water column. Utilizing jerkbaits like the Rapala Countdown also let anglers target those places where fish are holding based on the day, and pausing and ripping them through targeted areas becomes more easier with a simple “one second equals one foot” count after every case. Keep in mind that after the pause a fish will often strike on the first furtive movement or the slightest twitch, so be ready to set the hook and expect that first snap of the rod to encounter the weight of your quarry and double tap a strong hookset immediately after that experience to make sure the hooks get where they need to be.
On warmer days, retrieves can be faster and more erratic. Following spring cold fronts, slow them down and add more and longer pauses, and work baits a bit deeper and up breaklines to make contact with fish that might have been pushed out of the previously warming shallows where their spawning movements are put on hold by a bit of a chilly spell. The versatility of a jerkbait and the ability to manipulate it in so many ways helps anglers give fish what they want.
Also remember not to shy away from brighter colors, especially on clear spring days where the growing power of the sunlight highlights bright pinks, oranges, chartreuse and firetiger patters to trigger reaction strikes, along with those more natural minnow, shad and bluegill shaded sticks which match available forage.
While they might be a bigger investment than other springtime lures such as jigs and soft plastics, jerkbaits are an amazing addition to any springtime repertoire. Find the patterns and cadences that work for the specific day and species being pursued, knowing that just about any predator fish is going to take their shot at a well-presented stick. With a twitch and a pause, it’s easy to set your spring fishing into fast-forward, producing battles that would be worth a slow-motion replay from memory sometime down the road.