Soft Plastic Jerkbait Gear Guide

A mainstay of serious bass anglers for decades, soft-plastic jerkbaits feature an iconic baitfish shape that provides versatility for anglers who want to catch both size and quantity. Commonly referred to as a “Fluke,” these relatively simple soft plastics create an enticing injured-baitfish imitation that’s become exceedingly popular for use with forward-facing sonar or anglers who need to efficiently search shallow water. In this gear guide, we delve into the world of soft-plastic jerkbaits, explore effective rigging methods, and identify all the essential gear you’ll need to unlock their full fish-catching potential.

Soft-plastic jerkbaits are often rigged weightless, so the ideal rod needs a softer tip section to effectively cast these lightweight baits coupled with enough backbone to properly set an extra-wide-gap hook. Luckily, most light-duty jig and worm rods also excel with soft-plastic jerkbaits, so there's a good chance you already own a rod that will work. When fishing a traditional Texas-rigged soft jerkbait, a medium-heavy rod with a fast-to-extra fast taper will get the job done perfectly. For rod length, most anglers typically prefer rods ranging from around 6'8" to 7'3" for better handling and less fatigue.

In most scenarios, a 70- to 150-size baitcasting reel with a slightly faster 7.0:1 gear ratio or higher is a great choice to help you quickly pick up line in between twitches, when reeling in to make another cast, or while fighting a fish. These smaller and more compact reels are better equipped to handle light baits without hindering casting distance or accuracy and allow your hand to rest comfortably on the reel while you’re working the bait. Keep in mind that a fast gear ratio can make it easier to overwork the bait, so always be mindful of your cadence and try to adjust it based on how the fish are reacting. Spinning tackle also works well for soft jerkbaits, especially with smaller baits. If you’re going the finesse route, any 2500- to 3000-size spinning reel is a great place to start.

Most anglers rely on the stealth of a 10–17lb fluorocarbon line for its ability to remain nearly invisible underwater and to help a soft jerkbait sink beneath the surface for enhanced action and appeal. Fluorocarbon provides excellent abrasion resistance so you can confidently fish around wood, light cover, and vegetation without worrying too much about your line. Whether fishing casting or spinning tackle, a braided mainline in conjunction with a fluorocarbon leader also makes a solid choice for its potent combination of castability, strength, and sensitivity.

Whether you are dealing with heavy cover, finicky fish, or short strikes, you can bet there’s a way to rig a soft jerkbait that will remedy the issue. When anglers talk about fishing a soft jerkbait, they are typically referring to rigging one Texas-style on an EWG hook. However, because of their fishy shape and action, soft jerkbaits can also be paired with various other applications, like Carolina rigs, minnow jigheads, or used as vibrating jig trailers. For simplicity's sake, we’ll focus this section on rigging techniques that rely on the gliding action of the bait in conjunction with input from the angler.

Most soft-plastic jerkbaits fall very slowly, which can be ideal in a lot of scenarios, but when you want to fish slightly deeper or fish are reacting to a quick-falling bait, it can be advantageous to add weight. Luckily, there are several sneaky ways to add weight to your bait without destroying its action.

Hook style is a great way to quickly add some weight to your bait. A thick-gauge hook like the Gamakatsu Superline or a weighted EWG swimbait hook makes it easy to get your bait down faster. Wrapping lead wire or suspend strips around the shank of your hook will also achieve the same effect. You can also add weight directly to the bait by burying a couple of nail weights into the belly of your soft-plastic jerkbait. Adding a large crane swivel 12” to 18” above your bait will also provide some heft to your presentation. For added attraction, use a bright chrome or silver swivel to create the illusion your bait is chasing down a small fish.

The size, shape, and action of soft-plastic jerkbaits make them some of the best baits for imitating baitfish, so start with baitfish-inspired colors that match the hatch and adjust to transparent or darker variations based on the water clarity. If you happen to spot small forage like bluegill or small crappie, start cycling through darker colors, like green pumpkin and junebug. When the fish are feeding heavily on baitfish during the pre-spawn and spawn months, experiment with bright colors like bubblegum or chartreuse to present an enticing alternative or agitate territorial bed fish.

The soft jerkbait's baitfish profile and natural action makes it a bass catcher straight out of the package. However, practicing different cadences and experimenting with modifications and rigging can unlock its full potential. Whether you’re targeting aggressive bass in shallow waters or enticing suspended fish with forward-facing sonar, the versatility and adaptability of soft-plastic jerkbaits is second to none. An indispensable tool for most anglers, soft-plastic jerkbaits have been proven effective for decades and are continuously being adapted for new techniques.