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The growing use of forward-facing sonar has taken jerkbait fishing to a whole new level. Once normally reserved for cold-water scenarios, jerkbaits are now year-round lures used to target bass suspended in the water column. Some jerkbaits are even designed to be more easily detected on sonar, giving anglers a clearer picture of what their bait is doing underwater. But that doesn’t mean you can’t crush largemouth and smallmouth on jerkbaits without fancy sonar. These moving baits are still a great way to find fish and cover water without relying on graphs to tell you where the bass are.
This spring, I reached out to different lure manufacturers asking them to send me their best jerkbaits. I also dug through my tackle boxes and picked out a few of my favorites. I ended up with over 20 different jerkbaits to test head-to-head. What I found was that some baits are more durable, some show up better on forward-facing sonar, and they all have different actions. After fishing with these baits on a friend’s stocked pond and referencing my jerkbait experience, I narrowed down my list of the best jerkbaits for bass fishing to these seven models.
best overall
Megabass Ito Vision 110
The Vision 110 is the industry standard for jerkbaits. More companies have borrowed from the Vision 110 than any other jerkbait, attempting to copy its profile, colors, and components. The 110 has a tungsten weight distribution system to help the bait cast farther, eliminating one of the challenges many jerkbaits present. The color schemes of the Vision 110 are practically endless, with an astonishing 73 options that mimic anything that swims.
There are a couple of drawbacks to this bait. The bodies are prone to cracking if you smack them on the water or bang them against something hard, and the hooks are made of a really light wire that, while extremely sticky and sharp, can bend easily. The baits also cost $25, which is expensive. But when money is on the line, you’ll see more of Vision 110s in the hands of professionals and weekend warriors than any other jerkbait.
best value
Yo-Zuri 3DB Series SP 110
At $10, you can get five Yo-Zuri 3d Series SP 110 jerkbaits for the price of two of the Megabass baits. And you still get a quality bait with an effective weight transfer system, something that is traditionally only available in the high-end baits. At 4 ⅜ inches and ½ ounce, the 3D Series SP 110 is a standard jerkbait that dives 3 to 5 feet. It’s also a suspending jerkbait, meaning it floats nicely in the water column. It comes in 28 colors and has a great erratic action in the water.
Smithwick Suspending Rattlin Rogue
The Smithwick Rattlin Rogue has been fooling big bass for over half a century. While you won’t find a fancy weight-transfer system in this bait, it has a foil flash and a scaled finish with classic colors like chrome black, chrome blue, and gold. It can be a little difficult to cast, especially in windy conditions, but short, snappy jerks give this bait an excellent action in the water. You can find both suspending and floating versions, and the bodies are very durable. The Rattlin Rogue retails for $9.
Strike King KVD 200 Jerkbait
The KVD 200 Jerkbait is a little undersized and has only two hooks. But the shorter profile still shows up really well on forward-facing sonar compared to many longer baits. The KVD 200 is slightly taller from belly to back and has a wide action. This yields a better return, as the sonar ping has a larger surface area to hit more regularly. With 23 colors to choose from and solid components, the KVD 200 is a great jerkbait for a reasonable $13 price tag.
Berkley Stunna 112+2
The Berkley Stunna 112+2 impressed me as much or more than any of the other deep diving jerkbaits I tested. It can reach depths up to 14 feet and has a slow sink rate. You’ll need light line and a long cast to get the bait down that far, but it’s pretty easy to get it to 10 feet and keep it there. The Stuna comes in 10 colors, and it’s reasonably priced at $17.
6th Sense Provoke 106
The Provoke 106 is a tried and true workhorse. I caught fish on both the silent and the rattling versions of this bait during testing. Like the KVD 200, the Provoke 106 also shows up really well on LIVE sonar. It is slightly heavier (⅝ ounce) than many other jerkbaits that are the same size, which makes it a little easier to cast. Rated as another slow sinker, it takes a couple of seconds for it to fall a foot. The Provoke 106 doesn’t come in many colors, but it’s still a great standard-size jerkbait with a predictable and consistent action.
Bassmooch HC 95
The Bassmooch HC 95 was designed with two-time Bassmaster Classic champ and jerkbait guru, Hank Cherry. This bait is a little smaller than a typical jerkbait, measuring only 3 ¾ inches and weighing ⅜ ounces. It also has a thinner profile from belly to back than many other jerkbaits. But it still casts well and gets down to 5 feet easily. This combination makes the HC 95 one of the best finesse jerkbaits on the market. It’s an undersized bait that performs well on high-pressure days and still packs a lot of punch with three trebles.
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