VIVA LA VIDA
jerkbaits
by daVId a. broWn
Story & Photos
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Jerkbaits are the Cold (Day) Play
n theatrical terms, this is art – make that “arti- ficials” – imitating life. Creating a lifelike image is what lures are supposed to do. But when cold water has bass somewhere south of frisky, jerkbaits can be one of the most effective offerings. also called “ripbaits” and “slashbaits,” the jerkbait category excels for two main reasons – access and vulnerability. With proper downward rod work, you can dig into preset depths and then hang there to tease and tempt the bass with an easy target that looks and acts like a cold-stunned baitfish darting and twitching in the chilly water. When dead and dying baitfish offer easy pickings, bass become conditioned to the images of suspending, fluttering forage. Mimic this look and you’re very likely to find someone willing to stretch your string. When winter begins transitioning into spring, a stretch of sunny weather can spark aggressive activity, as the solar warmth reaches into the chilly
depths and encourages prespawners to move up and feed. The fish become more cautious with higher visibility, but a windy day can balance things out by breaking up the surface and lowering that caution level. FlW tour pro and redlands, Calif. resident Brent ehrler makes sure he’s equipped for all likely jerkbait scenarios by keeping a trio of baits handy. First, he carries the lucky Craft Flash Pointer 115, which reaches 3-5 feet and benefits form a weight transfer system that allows for super long casts followed by erratic twitching from a head-down posture. ehrler said he likes how the bait’s internal weights afford him a dual action in the water. “When the bait goes to one side, that weight transfer system in the middle throws the weight to the nose, so (the bait) will move to the side, but it will also dart down,” ehrler said. “When it darts down, it’s completely nose-down, so your next twitch yanks
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