Jerking Up Big Bass

​One of the common mistakes anglers make when fishing jerkbaits is on the retrieve. Some anglers tend to pull the jerkbait on a tight line, which takes away from the darting, side-to-side action.

Starting and ending with slack line will create the correct action, making the bait glide side to side. The cadence of the retrieve is vitally important—​​​​​​​the colder the water is, the longer the pauses between your jerking actions should be. As the water warms, a faster cadence will garner more strikes. Opt for 10- to 12-pound-test fluorocarbon line—the lighter line lets your bait get down deeper and deliver more action.

The Jackall Squad Minnow is a top choice among many jerkbait anglers and also led Cliff Pace to victory in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. This jerkbait suspends perfectly and has an irresistible side-to-side action that produces the right bites.