What looks more real? What imitates a baitfish better? What lure stays in the fish's face longer? What could be a more effective multi-species lure? If these questions appeal to your senses, then don’t suspend your search for this versatile approach to bass fishing.

Soft jerk baits have always been a staple in my area. Fishing rivers on our every chance, the bottom of our boats would often look like graveyards for soft plastics. Even going through over 100 lures in one full days fishing, and at near $3.00 per pack, that became a real expense. Not to mention the constant adjusting and fitting these required to perform "proper". Coupled along with their hook up ratio being less than desirable at times, there had to be better. But somehow, with stretched lines, it all seemed worth it. So, don't get me wrong here, I still, and will always carry soft jerk baits, there are times these can't be beaten, although soon my path was about to expand.

While floating a local river one afternoon, the soft plastic jerk bait bite was "ON"! And I mean ON. Problem was, the fish were doing everything but eating the bait, they were smacking at it, pushing it with their nose, you name it. Our hook up ratio was terrible! That’s when the idea of the treble hook popped into my young partners mind. Without much ado at all, I tied on a Team Daiwa suspending jerk bait that I had purchased several months before. The next 10 casts in a row were solid hook ups, and you know what was hooked the most? Me.

From that great day foreword, I couldn't pass up a peek down the isle of any bait shop in town, just to see the suspending marvels. It made sense to me, a fish imitation-acting like a fish-without falling to the stream floor, or rising to the top like a balloon filled with air. These wondrous baits stayed where you put them: in the fishes face. What could be better?

Over the past few years, these fine suspending critters have really began to take a real stake in today’s market of shiny new lures, and there’s good reason for them doing so: they catch anything that swims and eats baitfish. Suspending Jerk baits are well known for catching everything from huge freshwater Trout to ocean going Striped Bass

Now lets learn how to use one of mans greatest and timeless fish catching creations. There's as many ways to make a suspending jerk bait dance, as there are colors and brands. Your imagination is your only limitation. What works one day, may very well not work the next, but here are a few staples that seem to work on my waters. I’ll start out by casting out far as possible, crank the lure down to my desired depth and begin the action. I usually start with 3 very hard and quick, short snaps of the rod tip while holding the rod tip almost straight down at the waters surface, making the lure jump from side to side 3 times, followed by a pause varying from a few seconds to as long as I can stand it, even up to a full minute or more. If nothing happens, I'll repeat the process again, only this time once the pause is done, I'll "shake" the lure in its place with very little, if any, forward movement, this usually triggers a strike... now read that again, and again. Fish sometimes want it slow, and at other times just the opposite is needed and a quicker pace brings home the bacon. Hits come differently as the days are, with some-and most on my waters-coming during the pause, or the slight beginning of motion (like that shake we talked about). Trial and error each day will soon teach you what works and what doesn't, so pay close attention out there, it will save you much treasured time. Remember exactly what you were doing on that 1st hit of the day, so a repeat is easy. Learning the suspending jerk bait is not a quick process; it’s a journey of learning and time out there.

Time to feel. Jerk baits are as much a "feel" bait as any to me, maybe more. You have to really concentrate on what your bait is doing at all times. Keeping a taught line on the pause of the retrieve is a must. With this, at times you can feel a fish rush your lure before he even hits it as he pushes water to his prey, this is a dead give away to an oncoming bite and it takes time to learn. Bites range from a sideward movement of line all the way up to a bone-crashing, rod ripping, smash pounding loose your rod hit, that no one could ever mistake. Feel is most important to me, it tells me what my lure is doing and what’s around it. If you become in "tune" with your lure (actually being the lure), you can feel the slight weight of a blade of grass resting on your lure, now that’s FEEL! and that’s what your concentration, learning and time will eventually provide you with. The rewards are untold.

Working this bait is work! If you're doing it properly and fishing any length of time, you will be a worn out puppy. It’s not a system for everyone. Some anglers come in tune with the suspending jerk bait very easily; others never get the hang of how well it really works. Its not an easy days fishing, by far.... and if that’s what you're looking for, stay away from jerk baits.

No need to go spend a fortune on high dollar baits until you know for sure, this program is for you.

There’s a lot of suspending jerks out there on the market today, I've fished and tinkered with most. The best performing ones I have found right out of the box are some of the newer, expensive Japanese baits. Lucky Craft Pointers and Flash Minnows, Team Daiwa TD Minnows, Mega Bass, Owner Rip N Minnow, just to name a few. They are high priced lures, but they are high in performance also, and have became my favorite tools of the trade. I do alter a few of these critters, some I upgrade hooks on, with Excalibur Rotating being my favorite. Most I at least sharpen, and then finally there’s the rear treble hook. The rear treble on all suspending jerk baits is most important... from the factory, they are lacking in something that can really improve your catch ratio: marabou feathers and flashaboo.

The rear hook should be removed from the lure and have either, or a combination of marabou and flashaboo added to the rear treble only. This is a simple process that can be done at home, or purchased from many retail outlets. Here's how I do it:

Take some red sewing thread (stolen from your wife!), some white Marabou from the fly shop, some Flashaboo if you like, and some of your wife’s clear fingernail polish, she will love that too!

I tie some hooks with Flashaboo only, and others with Marabou, and some with a combination of both. Depends on what you like...I have found all to work equally well. Pull off the Marabou, align the hair with the tips clearing the hook bends about 1/2", attach 3 semi equal amounts on each side of the treble (3 sides), tie a few rounds of the red thread tight to hold the hair, with the thread being as low as you can on the hook shaft. Take and trim the extra Marabou off that is above the tied part, and close to the treble hook eye, finish tying well and tight until you get the look you want all the way up to the treble hook eye, tie a few 1/2 hitches, trim tag end, add 2 even coats of clear fingernail polish, hang and let dry. Use the flashaboo and marabou sparingly, so it will not bunch up and look like a fro that will not perform properly and breathe in the water upon stopping the lure. Play around in the sink with it until you get the action you like.

This has doubled my catch rates with Suspending Jerks, especially when lethargic fish do not want to co-operate. When the lure stops and suspends, the fine hair of the Marabou keeps moving, kind of like a fishes tail when keeping himself in place and sitting still. Get the idea?

The Flashaboo gives that all important flash, extra flash that is, and shimmers like a diamond calling fish over for dinner, if you will.

It’s a deadly combination.

Now that you have a good quality lure, dressed rear treble, and know how to use them, get out there on the water and make me proud! You know what to do.

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