Jerkbait Modifications to Catch More Bass, Pike & Walleye

How to Modify a Jerkbait to Catch More Bass, Pike & Walleye
If you're targeting bass, pike, walleye, or trout, a jerkbait should be in your tackle box. Its erratic action and reaction bite trigger make it a go-to for cold water fishing, spring bass fishing, and predator fish. However, to maximize bites, you need to modify your jerkbait based on conditions.
Modification 1: Make Your Jerkbait Rise
A slow-rising jerkbait works exceptionally well when fishing over submerged vegetation like hydrilla, coontail, and milfoil. When paused, the bait floats upward, mimicking wounded baitfish—a killer move for pre-spawn bass.
How to Do It:
•    Use Monofilament Instead of Fluorocarbon – Mono naturally floats, helping your bait rise rather than sink. 12-14 lb Berkley Trilene Sensation is an ideal option.
•    Best Time to Use It – Spring bass fishing, when fish move toward shallow water and react aggressively to suspending jerkbaits with rising action.
Modification 2: Keep Your Jerkbait Suspended
A true suspending jerkbait is excellent for walleye fishing and smallmouth bass in clear water. The lure stays perfectly still in the strike zone, giving fish extra time to commit.
How to Do It:
•    Use fluorocarbon line, which sinks slightly, keeping your bait level.
•    Try Berkley Stunna 112 or 112+1, two of the best suspending jerkbaits out of the package.
•    Best for stable water temperatures, where fish aren’t aggressively feeding but still react to well-placed lures.
Modification 3: Get Your Jerkbait to Sink
This trick is deadly for cold-front fishing, deep water bass, and pike fishing in fall. A sinking jerkbait mimics injured prey trying to escape, forcing fish into an aggressive response.
How to Do It:
•    Swap Out the Front Treble Hook – Replace the stock #6 treble with a heavier #4 for nose-down sinking action.
•    Apply Lead Tape or Suspend Strips – Add weight under the bait’s throat and lip to control sink rate.
•    Ideal for late fall bass fishing, deep water walleye, and targeting suspended fish on forward-facing sonar.
Final Thoughts
If you're fishing bass, pike, walleye, or other predator species, modifying your jerkbait can make all the difference. Whether it's rising, suspending, or sinking, dialing in the action based on conditions improves hook-up ratios and triggers more bites.
For anglers using forward-facing sonar, these techniques help precisely target deep fish, ensuring you can adjust your presentation in real time.

Try these jerkbait modifications on your next fishing trip—you’ll catch more fish, guaranteed!