Kalin's SuperFloozy, Mann's Shadow, Gambler's Flapp'n Shad, Berkly's Power Slug, just to name a few brands.

Since the Slug-Go (Lunker City) was invented by a Connecticut fisherman and lure inventer, Herb Reed, Soft Jerk Baits have had a big impact on bass fishing during the past dozen years. Since then, different companies have come out with their own version of soft jerk baits. All these baits are soft and have a feature-less shape like slugs or minnows. They do not have any built-in action like crankbaits or spinnerbaits. But all share a common feature, when fished correctly, soft Jerkbaits mimic a struggling bait fish better than any other lure. As the name implies, you have to put the action into the baits. The most common way is to jerk with your rod tip. That's how the name started.

They're great tools for finding and catching bass. You can cover lots of water with them. Soft Jerkbaits are also effective on heavily pressured fish as well. You'll have no problem fishing behind other anglers, as long as they are not throwing the same bait. That's a big plus in tournaments.

When and Where

You can use soft Jerkbaits as soon as the bass season opens around here, all the way until the water temperature cools to below 50 degrees in the fall. Primarily, look for shallow areas with clearer water and lots of cover. Just about anything that will hold fish is right for soft Jerkbaits. Rocks, wood, vegetation, or any combination of the above that should cover the top half of the water column (1-5 ft). The past few years, I also had success fishing the lower half (5-10 ft). Fish it just like a worm, but you can work it faster to cover more water. Texas rig it with bullet weight, or Carolina rig with a 16-24 inch leader, on days that the fish are active. Fish outside the edge of weedlines on points and cuts. But, on days that fish are inactive, usually that's after a cold front or on hot bluebird days, then you have to go into the weeds to get them. Use your soft Jerkbaits like a jig. The advantage of soft Jerkbaits straight body over a swimming-style worm that the Jerkbaits won't grab onto the weeds like the worm tail will. It just drops in and slides through the weeds to the bottom where the fish are.

Since we are dealing with lots of vegetation and heavy covers, I would use 17-20lb line (lighter line for fishing deeper) 4-5 ought off-set hook. I use a 6'6"-7' St-Croix m/h action rod paired with Shimano Chronarch or Curado reels, feature 6.2 to one ratio, so you can bring the fish out.

In dealing with thick covers, you may be frustrated getting hung-up with weeds, branches, plastic body slides down the hook, etc…

Here's a way to prevent it. I slide a glass/plastic bead on the line first, tied the line to the hook, and rig the jerkbait Texas-style. Then I would peg the bead with a "flat" toothpick, and then take a "round" toothpick, put it right through the hook-eye, and trim it off flush with a pair of nail clippers. There you have it! This rig will come through any thick stuff you'll encounter, and don't forget to hold for that 1-2 count, you have to feel the fish, or see your line start to move before you set the hook.

You can contact me if you have more questions about this fishing technique at jig_and_pig@hotmail.com.

Good fishing!
Steve Lee

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