Jerkbait fishing is a productive way to catch bass all over the country. Unlike other techniques, this style of fishing isn’t specific to one region of the world. You can catch bass on a jerkbait in nearly every body of water, and it’s a skillset that every angler should have in their arsenal. With tons of jerkbait options on the market today, its hard to choose just one. Each bait has their own unique attributes that make them better for certain situations. Here at Wired2Fish we took the time to highlight some of our must have jerkbaits for every occasion.
Here’s a quick list of what we think are some of the best jerkbaits for bass and where we think each fish best.
- Best Overall jerkbait – Megabass Vision Oneten
- Best Cold Weather jerkbait – Berkley Stunna 112
- Best Budget jerkbait – Yo-Zuri 3DB Jerkbait SP 110
- Best Warm Weather jerkbait – Rapala PXR Maverick 110
- Best Big Fish jerkbait – Bill Lewis Scope-Stik
BEST OVERALL JERKBAIT: MEGABASS VISION ONETEN
If you know anything about jerkbait fishing then you know about the Megabass Vision Oneten. This jerkbait is widely known as one of the most popular jerk baits of all time. The main reason this jerkbait has been such an amazing fish catcher over the years is due to its erratic action. This bait was designed with extremely light components, allowing for a sharp darting action when twitched. The combination of light hooks, split rings and a thin bill allow this bait to shoot from side to side closely mimicking an injured baitfish.
This bait features a weight transfer system that allows for increased casting distance as well as three light wire Megabass Katsuage out-barb treble hooks. These hooks are extremely light and excel in creating great hookup percentages in open water. The outer barb of these hooks mixed with a small diameter makes for great hook penetration even when fish just nip at the back treble hook. While this bait is sold at a premium price tag, it is undoubtedly one of the best jerkbaits money can buy.
Read our full Megabass Vision Oneten review here
BEST COLD WATER JERKBAIT: BERKLEY STUNNA 112
The Stunna 112 was designed with the help of Hank Cherry who famously won two Bassmaster Classics and nearly a third on jerkbaits. With his help the folks at Berkley were able to pack a ton of features into this jerkbait giving anglers an extremely versatile tool for cold water bass fishing. This is a must-have jerkbait for any cold water scenario and is something I almost always have tied on my front deck.
This Berkley Stunna features a natural slow sink that’s perfect for enticing lethargic bass. This bait comes stock with three Fusion 19 treble hooks and premium components. The Stunna also features a weight transfer system allowing for accurate casts even in windy conditions. The main selling point of the Berkley Stunna however is its action. This bait excels when fished using a sweep-and-pause cadence. This gives the bait a natural darting action that perfectly imitates a fleeing baitfish. This bait has all the necessary components for catching cold water bass while still maintaining a competitive price point.
Read our full Berkley Stunna 112 review here
BEST BUDGET JERKBAIT: YO-ZURI 3DB JERKBAIT SP 110
Yo-Zuri has created a quality jearkbait for a reasonable price in their 3DB Series Jerkbait SP 110. The 110 represents the length of the bait, at approximately 110mm long (or 4 3/2 inches) and the SP indicates that this is a suspending jerkbait. Along with this baits competitive price point, its packed with fish catching features that make this a must-have bait for any die hard jerkbait fisherman.
The 3DB Jerkbait features an average-length bill, diving down to depths around 3 to 5 feet. This is a suspending jerkbait, so once it reaches this depth it will remain here for the duration of the cast. This bait also features flat sides. This creatures a flash in the water, perfect for reflecting light on sunny days. Furthermore, this bait features a multi-level weight transfer system resulting in increased casting distance and accuracy. Finished off with sticky sharp treble hooks, this bait has everything you need to catch your next trophy bass without breaking the bank.
Read the full Yo-Zuri 3DB Jerkbait SP 110 review here.
BEST WARM WEATHER JERKBAIT: RAPALA PXR MAVRIK 110
The Rapala PXR Mavrik 110 Jerkbait is a high performance jerkbait that deliver an erratic fish catching action. This is Rapala’s latest and greatest jerkabit that boats a pronounced side to side action perfect for warm water temperatures. This is a head down suspending jerkbait that dives to depths of 5-6 feet. The PXR Mavrik has a wealth of unique features that give this bait its enhanced action.
To start, the baits thin bill and streamline profile provide a sharp darting action. This bait is made out of a durable hard plastic and features molded external scales, gill plates, and large 3D eyes giving this bait a natural look. Topped off with three VMC RedLine Series treble hooks, this bait has all the premium components you would come to expect in a top of the line jerkbait. If your looking for your next spring and summertime jerkbait, I recommend checking out the PXR Mavrik 110 from Rapala.
BEST BIG FISH JERKBAIT: BILL LEWIS SCOPE-STIK
The Bill Lewis Scope-Stik features a wide profile and premium components perfect for targeting trophy sized bass. The Scope-Stik was designed with flattened sides, creating an enhanced sonar ping when used with forward facing sonar. The specialized bill imparts a side to side motion that not only creates an enticing action, but ensures your baits side spends more time facing your sonar. The thick body and enhanced profile of this bait imitates larger forage, perfect for targeting oversized largemouth.
The Scope-Stik features oversized eyes and raised gill plates to give a truly natural look. This bait also features a variety of natural color schemes to match whatever bait is in your fishery. The weight transfer system increases your casting distance while the Mustad Triple Grip UltraPoint hooks ensure a consistent hookup ratio. If your looking to catch some trophy bass on a jerkbait this year, I recommend checking out the Bill Lewis Scope-Stik.
