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HARD BAITS & PLUGS
Suspending Jerkbait
A weighted minnow plug that dives a few feet and then hangs motionless on the pause, which triggers fish that follow but will not commit.
DepthMid-depth (3-6 ft)
ActionDart & hang
WhereMangroves, channels, docks, reservoirs
LevelIntermediate
How to fish it
- 1
Cast and crank 4-6 turns to get it down to depth.
- 2
Give two or three sharp downward jerks with a bit of slack so it darts side to side.
- 3
Pause; it should hang in place. Pauses can be 1 second in warm water and much longer when fish are slow.
- 4
Watch your line during the pause; most bites come right there as a tick or slack.
BigJoe Tips
- Fluorocarbon leader sinks and helps the bait reach and hold depth.
- Experiment with pause length until the fish tell you what they want.
- Keep the rod tip low so each jerk pulls the bait sideways, not up.
Mistakes to avoid
- Cutting the pause short; the pause is what makes a jerkbait work.
- Fishing it on heavy, floating mono that drags it up toward the surface.
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