Contents
Fishing for pike is one of the exciting activities of a spinner. With each season, jerkbait fishing – the so-called “jerking” – is gaining more and more popularity among fishing enthusiasts.
What is a jerkbait?
Jerkbait is a voluminous weighted bait that imitates a live, moreover, injured, small fish. Great for catching predatory fish. This is similar to a wobbler, but having a characteristic difference – the absence of blades, which does not allow the bait to play independently in the water. Vital actions, the so-called animation, are given to it by the angler with the help of light or sharp jerks with the rod.
Pike caught on a jerkbait
Features of catching pike on a jerkbait
Jerk fishing involves catching a trophy predator at a depth of 0,5 to 4 meters, cutting off small fish. It is very popular with experienced fishermen who have a skill with a wobbler or lure.
The game of the jerk depends not only on the shape of the body, but also on the level of drag. The geometry of the frontal part of the bait can work for immersion during wiring, and for pushing to the surface of the water. More often they use the dive option, when jerking, the floating bait dives to the depth.
When choosing a jerkbait for pike, the color can be any, taking into account the characteristics of the reservoir. The shape of the body and the frontal part, the style of wiring are the main factors for a good lure game.
On constructive features jerkbaits are:
- whole – in the form of a monolithic fish;
- composite – the body of the fish consists of several elements.
Video: fishing for pike on jerkbaits in early spring from the shore
The main elements of tackle
Rod – this is the main part of the tackle, special rods with a “trigger” trigger are designed for jerking. They are single-part, characterized as reliable, but they have one minus in transportation. Compounds are quite transportable, but with heavy loads in trophy fishing, the rod knee can become a weak spot.
The casting distance, the weight of the selected jerking, the quality of the wiring itself depend on the characteristics of the spinning rod.
The rod action is fast. The length of the form is from 1,8 to 2,3 m. in accordance with the conditions of fishing, the main thing is impeccably comfortable. Test from 50 to 120g.
Coil – for a jerkbait, a model with a multiplier is suitable, which has an adjustable functional brake. This type perfectly muffles dynamic loads when conducting a jerk. The reel handle is stationary and cannot be swapped. When choosing, you should pay attention to this, you need to specifically know the working hand, which is more convenient to wind the cord. The spool size is not less than 2500.
main line – for this type of fishing, they usually use braid. It is quite durable and has the necessary rigidity. Cross section from 0,3 to 0,45 mm. Length at least 100m.
Leave – it is recommended to be durable, made of titanium wire, weighing 2g. This type contributes to the correct bait bait without twists.
Pike caught on a jerkbait
An important role is also played by the bait itself. It should easily slide over the surface or go into depth, turning left or right, turning up to 180 ° from the trajectory, lying on its side. It has different degrees of buoyancy.
Types of jerk lures
Gliders – are considered universal jerkbaits, voluminous with a thickened body, make smoothly floating, zigzag movements, regardless of the force with which the jerk was made. Excellent buoyancy. There are the following types:
- sinking quickly;
- slowly;
- floating.
Pullbaits – making active jerks with a spinning rod, the bait perfectly goes to the depth set by the manufacturer. Wiring is performed with pulling up and winding up the fishing line.
divers – a lure of a larger size, with the feature of fast immersion, the movement is exclusively vertical. The tail section can be equipped with a propeller. Loading on the front. Quiet wiring is not recommended. Classified into:
- lungs – rising quickly to the surface, for an active predator;
- heavy – perfectly withstand a pause when the fish is less active.
The main difference is in the ability to float.
Twitchbait — some models have deepening blades. The wiring characteristic of the jerkbait is accompanied by the game moving chaotically.
Compiled – the type of such bait consists of several fastened elements, often equipped with a front blade. The number of elements can be up to six, which gives a soft sinuous game to the whole body. Quiet wiring is recommended. It imitates not a weakened fish, but a confidently swimming fry.
Technique and tactics of pike fishing
The main fishing technique is a constant and energetic jerk with pauses of up to 4 seconds. Between the twitching of the reel, we select a weakened fishing line, thus controlling the bait.
Jerk fishing is not as easy as it seems at first glance. You should first familiarize yourself with the area for fishing. Casting is done in a pendulum way, it is important to throw the bait and not wind the “beards” at the same time, for this you need to stop the fishing line coming off in time by slowing down the drum reel. We do the wiring with the loosening of the cord, making spinning movements from the level of the belt to the knee line, meanwhile we wind the cord on the coils. It should be hooked at the slightest blow, felt by the gear, with a clear and sweeping jerk.
Wiring can be done with frequent sharp broaches with pull-ups or wide ones with pauses, depending on the amplitude of the swing.
Fishing terrain conditions can be different: bays in grass thickets; pits; snags; coastal strip of the river, etc. Jerk fishing is carried out both from the coastline and from a boat.
Best Pike Jerks: Top 5 Rating
Top 5 best jerkbaits:
Salmo Slider
Jerkbait Salmo Slider
Salmo Slader – small jerkbaits for pike 10-12 cm long. It twitches easily with a pause, the movements are smooth and sinuous, suitable for monotonous wiring. The price is from 200 to 1000 rubles per piece.
Strike Pro Big Bandit
Jerkbait Strike Pro Big Bandit
The lure measuring 19,6 cm requires the selection of the correct animation. It has proven itself with experienced spinningists. The longer length of the Strike Pro Big Bandit affects retirements by increasing their frequency. Price 750 – 1000 rubles.
Strike Pro Buster Jerk
Jerkbait Strike Pro Buster Jerk
A common type of bait 15 cm or 12 cm with a wide body, balls inside the fish that create noise, to additionally attract pike. Convenient and easy to wire. You can buy an average of 600 – 1000 rubles.
Hard Baits Jolly Dancer Standart
Jerkbait Hard Baits Jolly Dancer Standart
Wooden model 16,5 cm. Easy wiring. Easy to animate, plays well in the water. The cost is 1500 rubles.
Salmo Fatso
Salmo Fatso
An interesting type of lure with a length of 10 and 14 cm. The Salmo Fatso line includes floating and sinking models. They attract a predator with various types of wiring in a jerk, and with a uniform one, they roll over from side to side on their own. Price from 300 to 750 rubles.
Video: Do-it-yourself jerky for pike
Features of the manufacture of jerkbaits-gliders. Homemade jerks for pike from Peter Mikhailov.
Jerk fishing is fascinating and breathtaking, despite some difficulty in understanding this type of fishing. And the excitement of beautiful and aggressive pike bites allows you to look at fishing in a completely different way!