Jerkbaits are a type of fishing lure that can be used to catch various types of fish, including bass, walleye, and pike. While they can be effective right out of the box, customizing them can greatly increase their effectiveness. In this guide, we will discuss the different ways to “trick out” your jerkbaits to improve your chances of catching more fish.
Choosing the Right Jerkbait
Before you start customizing your jerkbaits, it’s important to choose the right one for your fishing needs. Factors to consider include the size and color of the bait, the depth it can dive, and its action in the water. Different types of jerkbaits are better suited for different types of fish and fishing conditions. Take the time to research and experiment with different types of jerkbaits to find the one that works best for you.
Using Weights Tricking Out Jerkbaits
One of the simplest ways to customize your jerkbait is to add weight to it. This can help to increase its diving depth and improve its action in the water. There are several ways to add weight to a jerkbait, using lead tape strips or dots and changing the hooks. Experiment with different types of weight and placement to find the combination that works best for your fishing needs.
Use the weights to achieve a slow rise or fall with a lure. You can make it have neutral buoyancy also. This is when the lure stays at depth without sinking or rising. All three adjustments to the buoyancy work in different conditions.
This takes some experience to figure out. In warmer weather, the slow rise or sink is best. In cold weather, neutral buoyancy tends to be the better option. Yet at times, you may need to try all of them for the conditions.
Adding weight toward the front of the lure creates a nose-down effect. Placing the weight toward the rear makes the tail lower. The weight affects the action also. Weight in the front creates more wiggle. In the rear makes a lure wobble or search more.
The action change needs consideration. In some situations, having a tighter wiggle or the lure searching creates more strikes. In clear water go for the wiggling action. In warm or stained water the wobble or search action tends to perform better.
Using Hooks Tricking Out Jerkbait
Using hooks achieves the same results as weights. You can use a size bigger hook or replace a standard hook with a 3x or 4x strength hook. These hooks use heavier wire and weigh more. This method is limited to lures with less buoyancy. It works well for changing the nose up or down with the lure’s position.
Use hooks on lures that you intend to keep set up with the changes. The hooks can offer better hookups in some instances. A larger or smaller hook can improve the fish getting caught. The stronger hooks will not bend causing lost fish.
Painting Your Jerkbait
Custom painting your jerkbait can also be an effective way to trick it out. This can involve adding stripes, dots, or other patterns to mimic the natural look of the baitfish in the area you are fishing. It’s important to use high-quality paint that will adhere well to the lure and not chip or fade easily. You need to cover the paint with a clear coat also. Using epoxies is a common method.
Conclusions
You adjust a lure’s buoyancy using weights or hooks. Each method works but offers different benefits. The weights can be changed in seconds. Changing hooks requires different hooks and pliers. Look at adjusting lures as learning to use the bait.