Use Your Soft Jerkbaits Effectively

GO SHALLOW

Soft jerkbaits are perfect for when bass are sitting on inshore flats, or hanging out in shallow cover. They can even replace a spinnerbait, in multiple situations.

Fishing it aggressively against bass beds post-spawn can trigger some defensive strikes. Throw past the school, and work it back through.

CHANGE YOUR RETRIEVE 

People get stuck in the same twitch-and-pause retrieve when they fish soft jerkbaits. You really need to switch it up to catch fish.

Go fast, and throw into heavy cover. Work it near the top to create noise that can help draw the fish to the bait. Change up the speed of your twitch-pause. Sometimes, it’s simple adjustments that can make all the difference.

SLOW DOWN IN THE COLD

Don’t dismiss the soft jerkbait when it gets chilly. Just follow the fish into deeper water, and slow it down. Soft jerkbaits sink slow, so patience is key. Use a little weight to get down to the bottom. Then use a variety of slow action, and retrieves to entice a bite from lazy fish.

HOOK WITH PURPOSE

You have to be a little more picky with your hooksets with a soft jerkbait. Sometimes fish will take a hit at it, then spit it right back out. Be patient, though - if the bass doesn’t eat it the first time, odds are it’ll circle back around. Hesitation can pay off.

DEADSTICK

Sometimes if the fish slow down, you need to also. Deadsticking, or casting letting the bait slowly sink to the bottom, can be a killer method for soft jerkbait fishing.

Pick rock walls, bluffs, or anything with a steep edge. Cast parallel, feed some line, and let it fall. Don’t be afraid to take it deep - if the bass are there, they’ll hit it.

THROW IT ON A JIG

Hooking a soft jerkbait onto a jig can produce great results. The action can resemble an injured or dying baitfish. Fish if off the bottom, with short, quick turns of the reel. The bait jump up, then dart right back to the bottom.

CAROLINA RIG

The erratic action of certain soft jerkbaits suits a carolina rig perfectly. Throwing into a current can cause the bait to swim more - and drive bass crazy.

Use it when shad are schooling, and bass are sitting below picking them off. Erratic movement will simulate that coveted wounded-fish action.

CHANGE THE ACTION

Switch up how you hook your soft jerkbaits. The positioning of the bait on the hook can make a huge difference. Put the barb of the hook at an angle to one side, and you’ll produce a more erratic, darting action.

PINPOINT THE FISH

Throw baits quickly, through areas you’re confident will produce fish. You can pull an entire school to the surface, and get an idea of what’s sitting in the area. Once you know what’s biting, slow it down and get some strikes.

NAIL THE RIGGING

Always make sure you’re using the correct hook - and that your bait is presented properly. If the bait isn’t sitting right, the action could be totally off - and fish will take a hard pass on biting.

Use something with a wide gap. Hooks with some extra bite will help keep the bait in place - you can also use a dab of super glue. Swivels can help reduce line twist, but can affect how the bait swims.