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Z JE A R LD K A B I A N ’ I S TS:
Story
BY PETE ROBBINS
Photos Courtesy of Megabass
more than bite-sized
W
hile jerkbaits are most often associ-
ated with cold water, painfully slow
cadences, and 3- and 4-inch sizes
meant to represent an easy bite for a lethargic bass, increasingly Chris Zaldain finds
himself reaching for the elongated minnow imita-
tions year-round.
On tour he doesn’t want a snack-sized bait,
though – he’s looking for something that’ll pro-
duce a kicker, and that’s why he increasingly
reaches for baits larger than the 110 millimeter gold
standard.
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While a 5-inch jerkbait might seem “oversized,” it’s no bigger than the typical forage found on most bass waters, whether they lie in the north or south. In fact if you’re fishing someplace where they dine on gizzard shad, rainbow trout, hitch or other large prey, it’s right in that wheelhouse, and the shape that tempted fish in the prespawn doesn’t become any less effective later in the year.
“I’m a jerkbait junkie, and over the past two years, the Vision 110 Magnum has probably been my favorite,” said three-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Chris Zaldain.