While bait fishing has always been popular, the use of lures has been gaining traction. So much simpler to use and no clean up required- it’s easy to understand why.
Generally, the most used item for fish baits are insects, nightcrawlers, and smaller fish.
You can also use other things in the absence of these, as long as it is something that the fishes will be attracted to. Recently, plastic baits have also been initiated, and it is known to be as effective as natural baits.
When it comes to bass fishing, crankbaits and jerkbaits are quickly regarded as the most popular lures.
But while both of them are considered the best options, some fishermen often prefer one to the other for various reasons. In this article, you will find the difference between crankbait and jerkbait.
Difference Between Jerkbait and Crankbait
Bass fishing is traditionally a North American fishing activity that involves catching a fish known as the black bass.
This activity is often carried out for game purposes, and other fish species that have been linked to bass fishing in the past, among others, include:
– Largemouth bass
– Smallmouth bass
– Spotted bass
– Guadalupe bass
Bass fishing was introduced late in the 19th century. Back then, fishermen involved in this game had to make do with spears and sticks as their fishing equipment.
However, bass fishing has evolved a lot since then, and sophisticated equipment is now being used. While kayaks are arguably one of the most noteworthy developments, the use of crankbaits and jerkbaits has undoubtedly made significant changes as well.
Jerkbaits
While other tools like jigs, plastics, and spinnerbaits are great for bass fishing, the jerkbait is quite exceptional in this category.
A jerkbait is a fishing lure with typical bait features such as a lip and a hook.
However, they are unique because they use quick jerks and rods to mimic fishlike movements.
And unlike other fish baits that are controlled using reels, the jerkbait depend on the rods for most of its action.
There are two types of jerkbaits, and they are:
– Hard jerkbaits
– Soft jerkbaits
The hard jerkbaits are a slim-shaped fish lure that has a lip and several hooks around its body. They are generally designed to have a one-piece body that supports floating and surface fishing.
In comparison, the soft jerkbaits are a modified version of jerkbaits introduced to cover for the flaw in hard jerkbaits that makes it easy to lose a fish caught in the hook.
Crankbaits
A crankbait is a form of fish lure used especially in bass fishing.
It comes either in plastic form or woodcraft, and it is made to resemble bait fish.
The crankbait moves in a fishlike manner known as wobbling, and this movement attracts other predator fishes to the bait.
There are two types of crankbaits, the lipped crankbait and the lipless crankbait.
The lipped crankbait is the most common type. Hence, they are mostly just referred to as crankbait.
It is designed to carry a plastic or metal bill at the front, often transparent in a spoon’s scoop shape.
The crankbait’s nose helps it dive freely underwater as it creates resistance and drags the entire bait underwater. The lipped crankbait is classified into three, according to the depth they reach. They are:
- Shallow-diving crankbait
- Medium-diving crankbait
- Deep-diving crankbait
Lipless crankbaits are similar to the lipped one, but they are not built to have any lip at the front, as the name implies. Hence, the makeup for their inability to dive by adapting a sinking strategy helps them get underwater.
Bottom Line
In summary, crankbaits and jerkbaits are the most prolific bass fishing baits, but they are unique and possess pretty different features. The most clear-cut differences between these two baits include:
- Their design: Both baits are commonly made of plastic and come in different shapes and sizes, but crankbaits are shorter and fatter with only two hooks, while jerk baits are more extended and slimmer with three hooks.
- Maximum depth: When it comes to water depth, both baits can reach intense water levels. But jerkbaits have smaller lips and higher buoyancy, making them more suitable for shallow fishing, while crankbaits are more efficient in medium and deep waters of 4-25 feet.
- Casting methods: Crankbaits use reels to control the bait, while jerkbaits use rods to hold the bait after it has been cast into the water.
Irrespective of the differences between crankbait and jerkbait, they are both very effective as long as you know how to use them.
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