Easy Jerkbaits
Jerkbaits have received considerable coverage in the lure and pike angling press over the last few years. They were developed in the USA especially for catching Muskellunge, their "magnum" pike. Modern carbon rods and the advent of braided lines made jerkbait fishing easier, and with the increase in use of jerkbaits came a growing interest in pike, for so long the poor relation of the "muskie".
Jerkbaits have been available in this country for a few years and now the hype has died down we can fit them more easily into the lure fishing scene in the UK.
What Is A Jerkbait?
The term jerkbait is used to describe any plug that is designed to be worked with the rod tip rather than simply cranked back in. However as in all attempts to categorise lures there is a certain amount of overlap with some jerkbaits having an action (of sorts) when cranked, and some conventional lipped crankbaits and minnows having excellent actions when jerked.
What Tackle Do You Need?
Much has been written about the brutal rods required to cast and effectively work heavy jerkbaits and this, I suspect, is an obstacle for many lure anglers. If you do want to work the very heaviest jerkbaits, in the 3 to 8oz range you will need a hefty stick to cast the things, you will also need to build up your muscles or run a real risk of injuring your back and shoulders. There are smaller jerkbaits, however, that catch lots of pike and can be worked on sensible tackle, which offer a route into this most effective method without a lot of the grief.
By smaller jerkbaits I mean those in the 1.5 to 3 oz range. if you have a rod than can safely cast those weights and that is between say 5.5 and 8 ft long you should be able to effectively work many of these smaller jerkbaits. There is only one special criterion that you must meet and that is you
must
use a multiplying reel. To get the best from jerkbaits you need to use braided, low-stretch line, and while you can use this safely for cranking on a good quality fixed spool reel, when you start "twitching and jerking" you soon discover that a fixed spool reel does not keep line very tidy and horrendous tangles will ensue.
Learning to use a multiplier takes a few sessions, and will be accomplished mush easier with an experienced fishing buddy to show you some of the intricacies. Yes, you will get some birds' nests, but they are usually easy to clear with braided line. I tried using mono on my multiplier at first and a tangle with that meant ten to thirty minutes of pulling and teasing with accompanying bad language and ill humour. Once you have mastered using a multiplier I can assure you that a fixed spool reel will feel like a cumbersome brute by comparison. You must use a braided line of at least 50lb b.s. and step up your trace wire to a similar rating. The constant casting and twitching will soon find flaws in your set-up and worn line, wire or clips will result in an embarassed silence as a hesitant cast sends an expensive, unattached lure out across the water, they go a long way when they're not attached to the reel!
If you are an experienced lure angler you will already have learned to check line, knots, traces and clips regularly, if you haven't then you soon will!
What Jerkbaits Should You Try?
These jerkbaits are easily available in the UK and are simple to use:
Ace Flipper 6" 2oz
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The Ace Flipper has been around for a while now and is available from different suppliers under different names. A sinking bait that is worked with short downward pullss on the rod tip. Perhaps better in warm water than in winter, takes a few casts to get the retrieve just right but worth the effort.
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Hellraiser Cherry Bomb 6" 2.25oz
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The Hellraiser Cherry Bomb is very easy to use and can provide surprisingly good results on days when it seems very hard to catch pike. Another sinking bait, worked with short twitches, it has a very erratic and unpredictable action . Holds its depth well. Unfortunately the finish on this bait is appalling and will start to crack and flake after only a few casts, all you can do is dry it at home and patch it up with nail lacquer.
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Odyssey Pig 6" and 7" Suspending
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The Odyssey Pig is a little heavier than the first two baits and seems to sink very quickly, yet it is easy to work over shallow water, in fact it can take a little practice to keep it down in the water. It is an expensive lure but worth having if you can manage the extra weight. Slow, side-to-side gliding action on short downward twitches. |
Muskie Mania Burt 9" 2.25oz and 3oz
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The Muskie Mania Burt is available in two types: a shallow-running and a neutrally buoyant version. The shallow runner goes down no more than 3'
while the neutrally buoyant one will hold 4' to 6' and hang nose down on the pause. Both are worked with short pulls on the rod tip rather than twitches and both have a wide snaking action when cranked. Both are good catchers in varying circumstances.
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As I mentioned earlier there are some crankbaits and minnows that can be jerked. Generally speaking shallow runners are better, one special favourite is the Rapala Super Shad Rap, which will catch fish no matter how you retrieve it. Any minnow type plug is worth a try, Bomber Long 'A's are good but try anything and see what happens, mess about with different retrieves and if you think it looks good then the chances are that it will catch pike. It is surprising how often a wildly different retrieve pattern can trigger pike that have ignored "sensible" presentations, and be prepared to ignore all the old advice about slow, deep retrieves in cold water, you can rewrite the books on that one!
Finally
If you have not tried jerkbaits you are missing out on some tremendous pike sport. There are some days when it seems that nothing else will do.
Many thanks to
Rollie and Helen's Muskie Shop
for permission to use pictures from their website in this article and elsewhere on these pages.
