Using a
jerkbait lure for
pike fishing is a technique that relies on provoking the predatory fish with erratic movements imitating an injured or struggling prey, it's a lure you need to have when you want a
lure for pike and more specifically a
hard lure pike. But be careful, the term "jerkbait" can refer to two very different lures, even if they are both swimming fishes, the common point is that their animation must be jerked to have a very attractive swimming.
A jerkbait refers to a thin lure of the "jerkbait minnow" type, between 9 and 18 cm approximately, fitted with a small bib. This kind of lure is also very used in sea and is not specific to pike fishing, but it is effective especially for fishing against obstacles and towards bathing bushes. The most famous ones are the B freeze from
Lucky Craft, or the original from
Rapala.
The other type of jerkbait refers to a high lure, the "lipless jerkbait" looking "stubby", without a bib and with a tall and thin silhouette. These lures go off at 180 degrees with a tip blow and pikes love them. The most famous lure of this type is the
Buster jerk by Strike Pro, and many brands have made their own jerk, like the
Deviator by Savage Gear, the Swim by
Westin, the
Salmo Slider for example.
The success of jerkbait fishing relies on the animation that the fisherman gives to the lure. Sharp and irregular pulls with varied pauses imitate an injured prey, or at least an object that the pike wants to correct with a bite! You can alternate between fast recoveries with pauses which often trigger the attacks. Be attentive to follow-ups and be ready to adjust your technique. The typical condition for using this kind of jerkbait is a shallow area of the spring, like a bay bottom or a plateau. To facilitate the animation, a short and stiff casting rod is recommended.
