Best Jerkbaits for Bass Fishing
Jerkbaits can be one of the most fun lures to use when targeting bass because of their ability to trigger reaction bites. In fact they are probably the best bass lure for triggering a reaction response.
This really pays off when you come across a big school of bass because if you can trigger one bass then you will likely trigger the entire school. This makes for exciting fishing when you are pulling in one after another and can be very addictive.
When picking out a jerkbait start by choosing a size that matches the baitfish in your water. Next look for a diving depth that matches the depths you are targeting. These are the two most important things to know when fishing a jerkbait.
There are a ton of jerkbaits on the market and unfortunately, most are fairly expensive. Luckily for you, I have tried most of the jerkbaits on the market and have narrowed down my favorites to a select few proven winners.
Best Overall Jerkbaits
- Megabass Vision 110 – When water temperatures are dropping
- Jackall Rerange – When water temperatures are rising
4 Styles of Jerkbaits You Need in Your Tackle Box
- Subtle jerkbaits
- Aggressive jerkbaits with a ton of flash
- Oversized jerkbaits
- Shallow Water jerkbaits
Best Subtle Jerkbaits for Colder Water
Megabass Vision 110
You cant talk about jerkbaits without starting with the 110. The Megabass Vision 110 has been the industry-leading jerkbait for years because of how precise it is. It’s perfectly balanced and has the exact action you are looking for when you pause a jerkbait.
This makes it a great option when the water cools down and you have to slow down and really let your bait pause. It’s the only jerkbait I don’t change hooks on because of how balanced it comes stock. From coast to coast this bait catches fish. It is a more expensive jerkbait because of its a universal success but it is definitely worth the price.
Megasbass 110s come in two sizes, the standard which is 4.33″ and the Jr. which is 3.85″. Each size have multiple versions depending on the depth you are targeting. Below I break each down so you can better choose what matches the baitfish in the water you fish the most.
- Megabass Vision 110 – Dives down to the 4-6ft depth range.
- Megabass Vision 110+1 – Same as the 110 but has a larger bill that allows it to dive deeper down to the 5-9ft range.
- Megabass Vision 110+2 – Same as the 110 but has a larger bill that allows it to dive deeper down to 12ft.
Megabass also has a junior 110 line that has the same great balance and action but in a slightly smaller profile. It is great if your body of water has smaller baitfish.
- Megabass Vision 110 Jr. – Identical to the 110 but in a slightly smaller profile. Dives down to the 4-6ft depth range.
- Megabass Vision 110+1 Jr. – Same as the 110 Jr. but dives a bit deeper down to 7ft.
Colors: French Pearl, GP Pro Blue, M Shad, Wakin React
Rapala Shaddow Rap
The Rapala Shaddow Rap is similair to the Magabass Vision serius in that it comes in two sizes, a shallow and a deep version. If you are targeting up shallow in the back of pockets go with the shallow version. If you are targeting points, go with the deeper version.
The biggest difference between Vission 110s and a Shadow Rap is a Shadow Rap is a slow sinking bait. This is benefitial if you to fish a bit deeper. With a Shadow Rap you can count down your bait and allow it to reach your target depth.
Colors: Elite Blue, Clown, Moss Back Shiner
Best Aggressive Jerkbaits for Warm Water
Lucky Craft Pointer
The Lucky Craft Pointer is a great jerkbait for fishing aggressively. It produces a ton of sound and flash that really draws in fish. The sound it produces is identical to LV-500 lipless crankbait which is one of my favorite lures.
The Lucky Craft Pointer has a skinny belly and a fat back which gives it the rolling action that puts out all the flash. The only time you should avoid this bait is when the water starts getting cold. This jerkbait comes in multiple sizes so it’s easy to match the hatch of your body of water. It dives down 1-4ft.
Colors: Blue Pearl Shad, Silver Shad, Matte Pearl White
Jackall Rerange 110 & 110MR
The Jackall Rerange comes in two versions, the standard and the MR (medium runner). The only difference between the two is the size of the bill.
The MR has a bigger bill so it can dive a little deeper down to the 6-8ft range. The standard 110 dives down to about 2-6ft. So choose the version based on the depth you are targeting.
The Rerange has a much wider back like the Flash Pointer but has a thinner belly. This shape creates a ton of rolling and flash when you work the bait. It has more flash than any other jerkbait on the market and it absolutely catches fish because of it.
It has a weight transfer system that helps when casting. It’s magnetized so the weight stays in the front until you whip it back and cast. When you fling the bait forward the weight gets pushed to the back and it launches the bait and prevents it from tumbling in the air.
Colors: Ghost Minnow, Chartreuse Shad, Crystal Pro Blue, American Shad
Best Oversize Jerkbaits for Catching Giant Bass
Megabass Oneten Max LBO
The Megabass Oneten Max is a jumbo-sized Vision 110. It has a larger profile being 5.3″ long while still having the same great action. This larger bait is for targeting larger bass in bodies of water with large baitfish like gizzard shad.
The Oneten Max has a nice subtle action that is well suited for clearer water. This bait dives down 5-6ft and is great when needing to upsize your jerkbait.
Colors: MB Gizzard, GP Pro Blue
Jackall Rerange 130
The Jackall Rerange 130 is another large profile jerkbait for targeting giant bass in bodies of water with large baitfish. The Rerange 130 has a much more aggressive action and flash compared to the Oneten Max. The more flash and aggressive action make this large jerkbait more suited for murkier water. This jerkbait dives down to 4ft deep.
Colors: RT Holo Minnow, SG Threadfin
Best Shallow Water Jerkbait
Damiki Slim Jack
The Damiki Slim Jack fishes super shallow. When bass have bait pushed up shallow and you need a jerkbait that can fish in less than 1ft of waterthis lure thrives.
I fish this jerkbait super fast with very short pauses.
Colors: Black Shiner, BS Crystal, Spayu
Best Budget Jerkbait
13 Fishing Whipper Snapper
The Whipper Snapper is a great affordable option that doesn’t break the bank. It comes in two sizes: 4.25″ and 3.2″. I tend to use the smaller 3.2″ version the most.
It has good movement that puts out decent flash. It does have some rise to it but not much for a budget jerkbait. For the price, the Whipper Snapper is a great option.
Colors: Lucky Charms, Olive Crush, Casper Shad
Best Jerkbait Colors
With jerkbaits, you really only need 3 colors categories: see-through/ghost, flashy, and bold. If you have these three color categories covered then you set for every circumstance.
If you are picking up a bait I recommended above then you already have the specific colors but if your bait shop doesn’t have those brands look for the following. Anything ghost minnow would be good for see-through. American shad is a good flashy color. For bold look for a white or chartreuse color.