

In shallow waters such as ponds and creeks, jerkbaits are ideal. You can check my recommended fluorocarbon lines here and my picks for braided lines here. They’ll do great near banks, vegetated lakes, or shallow waters.

Jerkbait can be useful in this scenario too. It will allow a minnow to reach its maximum depth. This will make it put much more upward resistance on a minnow. The line you’re using will affect upward resistance affecting depth: When fishing on drop-offs or steep banks, sinking types are ideal because they allow the lure to reach the strike zone. Predatory fish pay close attention to and respond to this wobbling. They have an action when retrieved at slow speed, that is more of a wide wobble than a wiggle. Lakes and deeper waters are prime locations to use minnows. Swimming Actions (with different Scenarios) In Deep Waters They’re ideal if you’re fishing in creeks and ponds. Because of that, they tend to have a much better performance on the upper side about 1-to-3 feet (about 0.3-to-0.9 meters) from the surface of the water. Their bill sizes, which are responsible for the sinking effect, are typically less than ½ inch (1.3 cm) long. Several fish species, including stripers, crappie, and bass, congregate in deepwater areas, making deep-diving minnows the most effective bait. These deep divers perform best in areas where there are steep drop-offs on the banks or in deep river channels where fish may be present. These shallow-running minnows are ideal for fishing along a river or pond bank with a gradual drop in depth.Ī faster dive at deeper depths is expected if the eyelet is fixed directly to a long lip. The position of the eyelet and the size of the lip are two factors that decide the depth at which these artificial minnows dive.Ī shallow dive can be expected on lures where the eyelet is attached to the minnow’s nose and the lip is small. The main model of the minnow specifies the retrieval depth. The shorter the bill and the steeper the angle, the shallower the bait will run making jerkbait suitable for shallower waters. However, they’re very short not exceeding ½ an inch (1.3 cm). Their motion is practically provided by the angler by twitching the rod tip over and over again. They have slender and long bodies that come out as one piece. But they share the thin body characteristic. Jerkbait bodies are not that various compared to minnows. They have smaller and more narrow lips which give them a tight wiggle at high speed. Both imitate baitfish preyed upon by bass. The second, what might be called stubby in comparison, resembles shad. These minnow baits are often referred to as “stick baits” because of their long, thin, streamlined shape. The first is long and thin like the “common minnow”. The two primary crankbait shapes are the minnow body and the shad-shaped body. The jerkbait bill is typically just a bit larger than the fingernail while the crankbait bill tends to be longer and wider.īody Types Jerkbait (top) – Minnows (bottom) However, you should keep in mind that the bill on a jerkbait is smaller than that on a crankbait. Jerkbait can also have a lip or a bill like a crankbait. Rocky shorelines, points, and mid-lake structures.Jerkbait is ideal when you’re fishing in structures such as: Its slim body gives it the advantage of passing through rough structures which can be ambush points for the fish you’re targeting. A jerk-bait shines when fished with a snap-pause retrieve, which gives it an unpredictable, darting movement that drives fish crazy. A jerkbait swims with a shimmying motion when fished with a straight retrieve. What is Jerkbait?Ī jerkbait is a minnow-shaped lure that is presented horizontally. When the jointed minnow is retrieved, all parts of the minnow move independently of each other, providing a rather natural swimming movement that can’t be resisted by hungry fish. When fishing on drop-offs or steep banks, sinking types are ideal because they allow the lure to reach the strike zone.Īnother type of minnow is the jointed one. When not being retrieved, most minnow lures float, but there is also a type that sinks.
