How to fish the jerkbait in spring? Prespawn fishing jerbait technique, advice and stories, from the bassmaster, Kevin VanDam. KVD breaks down his power fishing style and how to keep driving the bass crazy.
A Jerkbait will catch you bass in any water, in any season at any depth. So how do you select and work the bait and when? @StrikeKingLure has what you need and KVD profiles the techniques for different temperatures of water. The sinking jerkbait can even get you to that next level of bass fishing strike zone.
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I was born and raised in Cazo and grew up fishing all the lakes around this region. From the very beginning of spring, there are countless techniques an angler can use, but for me, I’ve always leaned toward being a fast-paced, power fisherman.
It’s hard for me to go out there, cast a bait, and slowly work it back. I want to move fast, cover water, and trigger those reaction strikes. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, trolling motor on high, I’m casting, moving, and constantly searching.
Because at the heart of bass fishing, the biggest challenge isn’t catching them, it’s finding them. Once you’ve located the fish, catching them becomes a lot easier. That’s why efficiency and water coverage are so important to me.
Why the Jerkbait Stands Out
The jerkbait has always been one of my key tools, especially in spring. It’s a go to lure that helps me find fish quickly.
The bait imitates a wounded baitfish so visibility matters. Some jerkbaits have rattles for sound, but it’s really the darting, erratic action that makes fish react. That sideways darting, unpredictable movement is what triggers instinctual strikes.
Common Mistakes & Pro Retrieval Tips
Now here’s the biggest mistake I see people make: they cast a jerkbait and just steadily jerk and reel it back. That’s not how you get the most out of it.
To really make a jerkbait dance, you’ve got to work it on slack line. I want that bait to move erratically to never go in the same direction twice. So I start my retrieve with slack, pop it forward, pause, and repeat. Every time I jerk, I point the rod tip back at the bait to maintain that slack.
That unpredictable movement is what gets bites. And sometimes it doesn’t take long one will load up on it fast.
Gear Setup: Rod, Reel & Line Tips
When fishing a jerkbait, I prefer a high-speed reel like my KVD Tour Reel or the new EXO in a fast gear ratio. Since I’m not pulling the bait with the reel just using it to pick up slack, it’s important to have that quick pickup ability.
The rod matters just as much. I use an all graphite rod with a good tip so I can make the bait respond even at the end of a long cast especially on windy days. That snappy tip gives me that sharp darting action I want.
For line, I match it with fluorocarbon. Want your bait to run deeper? Use lighter line. Want it to stay shallow? Go heavier. Line choice helps you control the bait’s depth with precision.
When I cast it out, I’ll pop the bait forward two or three times and then stop. That pause is deadly. The bait just suspends, sitting there like a dying shad and the fish can’t resist.
Even though many people think jerkbaits are just springtime lures, I use them all season long. Especially up north, when it’s cold and clear, this presentation is hard for fish to ignore.
And if you’re chasing smallmouth bass, well, they’re just too aggressive to pass it up.
Final Thoughts: Spring Fishing Tips
The way you fish a jerkbait doesn’t really change. Always start and end with slack in the line. Let that bait hang. Let it look like it’s struggling. The fish will come to find it.
When done right, it’s one of the most effective lures I own, not just for catching bass, but for finding them in the first place. And once you find them, the fun really begins.
