What is a jerkbait (also known as a twitchbait)? That’s not a term you’ll find at dictionary.com. In fact, I’m not sure there is any standard definition. But here’s mine: Any lure that an angler retrieves with repeated jerks and pauses is a de facto jerkbait.
Some lures work better for this purpose than others. Which those might be, as well as the fine points of wickedly effective twitch-and-pause retrieves and what makes such retrieves so productive, is all part of the focus of this feature.
For the sake of full disclosure, I’ll say up front that I love this kind of fishing. It keeps me on edge: With every stop or start of a lure, I’m watching for that smashing strike, and I genuinely believe that not much gets a predator fired up like the sudden flash of a hard-twitched crankbait (and while soft jerkbaits abound, in this feature, we’re focusing on crankbaits — hard lures).
As you read through this gallery all about “the wicked twitch,” you’ll benefit from the insight of experts around the world, long practiced in the art of twitch-baiting. When you’ve finished, be sure to see our gallery of 15 Top Twitchbait Lures also.
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/01_spf1215_f-jbb_18-1024x663.jpg)
FOOLING SNOOK IN CLEAR WATER
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/02_ssjerk_2-1024x679.jpg)
MAKE YOUR LURE FLASH, JINK, SHIMMY AND DANCE
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/03_jason_arnold_seatrout_after_yo-z_edge_fin_1138-1024x666.jpg)
WHY TWITCHING IS SO EFFECTIVE
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/04_spf1215_f-jbb_20-1024x768.jpg)
ERRATIC RETRIEVES SIGNAL AN EASY MEAL
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/05_adrian_gray_barracuda_flats_lure_img_5744-1024x683.jpg)
TRIGGERED: RESPONSE ATTACK
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/06_bomber_long_as_-_ssjerk_5-1024x683.jpg)
WHICH LURES TO TWITCH?
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/07_dave_lewis_photo_dsc_0294-870x1024.jpg)
DEPTH CONTROL
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/08_jsprengeljerkbaitbass16-856x1024.jpg)
JERK-AND-PAUSE SUCCESS WITH ANY LURE
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/09_163495819_ja_7646_4db25be4f84f7c978ae2b7640a56f161-1024x650.jpg)
TWITCHING AROUND STRUCTURE
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/10_adrian_gray_0-1024x770.jpg)
INTERESTING THE DISINTERESTED
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/11_nick_honachefsky_photo-1024x627.jpg)
THE SLOW TWITCH
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/12_g0020422-1024x689.jpg)
TAKING UP THE SLACK
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/13_spf1215_f-jbb_22-1024x778.jpg)
TIMES TO TWITCH HARD, TWITCH FAST
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/14_um8a1768_0-1024x760.jpg)
HOOK SWAP
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/15_sea_trout_015-680x1024.jpg)
TOP TWITCH
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/16_brian_grossenbacher_dsc_9758.jpg)
TAILOR YOUR TWITCH TO YOUR TARGET
![](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/17_g0316333-1024x1015.jpg)