Jerkbait

A jerkbait is the lure for you who have noticed that the fish follow but do not take. Instead of an even retrieve it is fished in twitches with pauses, an irregular action that imitates a wounded, fleeing baitfish. That movement is hard for a predatory rainbow trout or brown trout to resist, and that makes the jerkbait an effective complement to the evenly swimming wobbler.

The movement that triggers the take

The point of a jerkbait is the unpredictability. Each twitch makes the lure shoot to the side and wobble, and in the pause it hangs still or sinks slowly, just like a prey that has lost its orientation. Fish that have followed an evenly swimming lure without deciding often strike in the pause, when the lure suddenly stops and looks vulnerable. That is why the pauses, not the twitches, are often the most important part of the fishing.

Suspending, floating or sinking

Jerkbaits come in three basic types. A suspending model becomes neutrally buoyant and stays at depth in the pause, which keeps it in the strike zone longest and is often the best choice in put and take. A floating model rises slowly in the pause and suits shallow water, while a sinking one takes you deeper but leaves the strike zone faster. If you have a suspending model you cover most situations.

How you fish it

Cast out, wind the lure down to the desired depth and then start fishing with short, decided twitches of the rod tip, mixed with pauses. Let the lure rest between twitches and be ready for the take just then. Vary the length of the pauses until you find the right one: sluggish fish often want long pauses of several seconds, while active fish can want a faster, more staccato action. Keep slack line in the pause so the lure can work freely.

When you choose the jerkbait

Bring out the jerkbait when you see fish follow without taking, or when evenly swimming lures no longer give a take. It asks a little more of you than an ordinary lure, but it rewards anyone who varies the action. The whole method of casting and playing we take under spin fishing, and more lures to switch between sit in all baits for put and take.

Our pick – jerkbait

Two proven Rapala models that take rainbow trout and brown trout in put and take:

• Aggressive action – Rapala X-Rap XR10 (4.7★). Sharp, striking twitch action with a long pause — a classic trigger for following fish. See price on Amazon
• Suspending classic – Rapala Husky Jerk 10 (4.6★). Becomes neutrally buoyant and stays in the strike zone in the pause. See price on Amazon