Jerkbait Retrieves

These jerkbait retrieves are my favorites and what I use to catch lots of bass all year long!
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I was born and raised in Chicago, but after working 12 years in the financial Industry regulating the futures and options markets at the CME/CBOT I decided to pursue my passion fishing professional tournaments and left my full time corporate job. At that point, I moved to Junction City, WI with my wife Sara and two boys Hank and Duke. I've been fishing professionally since 2011 and full-time since 2015. I've qualified for six MLF Championships and won roughly a half million in tournament winnings at the professional level.

[@razorbak6783]

Good tips....I need to experiment with a different cadence....I stuck lead weight strips to the belly so on the pause they sit perfectly still, they don't rise or fall and they sit perfectly level...now I just need to find where the bass are...lol....curious to your thoughts on jerk baits sitting perfectly still on the pause? If seen other guys say if the bait rises, falls or is not level on the pause it's not going to get bit.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Ill put it on my list!

[@edgarmelton8091]

What about hook upgrades do you like your jerk bait to sit head up or head down in the water column or just too sit flat I’ve seen switching out hooks can really make a difference I know Hank Cherry does but I can’t remember which hook he changes and what angle he likes it to sit in the water column

[@MattStefanFishing]

Ive got a video coming out soon on this topic!

[@2222fishing]

hey matt what about a rapala or yo-zuri twitch bait or slash bait .what is your thoughts on those baits from yo-zuri and rapala .even salt water baits with the hooks changed.

[@MattStefanFishing]

I like the rapala x-rap. I havent tried many yo zuri's.

[@McGrambo2]

Best fishing channel on KZbin by far! Thank you!

[@MattStefanFishing]

wow! thanks!

[@xiaoyangzhang]

Great tips on up popping action at 3:19! I was fishing a jerkbait this morning. Right after an up popping, a 3 pound smallmouth finally decided to commit to it.

[@MattStefanFishing]

That is awesome!

[@nathangutierrez7750]

Could I throw a jerkbait on like 15lb braid on a spin reel ?

[@MattStefanFishing]

You can but Id recommend against it. Braid floats and prevents the jerkbait from getting deeper.

[@Allyourbase1990]

Just started using one , this video helped me out .

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad to help!

[@law1831]

Matt, is your technique different if you're throwing finesse jerkbaits like the lucky craft pointer 78, small x rap, megabass trick darter, etc....

[@MattStefanFishing]

Not really.

[@law1831]

@@MattStefanFishing some days they just don't touch the 100mm sized baits no matter what brand, color, or body style I throw at em. Those seem to be with those finesse baits are the juice

[@wilmerpruitt6324]

Excellent information. Especially in regards to fishing jerkbaits in warmer water. Alot of action. Rapala Shadow Rap Shad and Jackall Rerange are great warm water baits worked this way.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching!

[@nickmcdaniel5676]

Great tips... Thanks. I'll also jerk a crankbait up after a pause in the fall. Works sometimes. Cheers.

[@erniesanders3724]

Thanks for sharing this with us Matt. I’m going to try a spinning rod next for my jerkbaits. Thanks again from Western Kentucky.

[@MattStefanFishing]

I really like a spinning rod setup for this presentation

[@bkw664]

The Lilly pads in my area are dying back. I fished them for a few hours this morning with a swim jig and a frog and even got a topnwater walking bait in some areas. I didn't have any luck. Question is am I wasting time fishing the Lilly pads as they die off for winter?????

[@MattStefanFishing]

No, but they generally dont hold up as the fall progresses unless you get a warm day.

[@RIPPNLPS]

Depressing time of year. Cold weather and frozen lakes right around the corner. Thanks for the tips, Matt 👍🏼

[@MattStefanFishing]

Make the most of it before we freeze over

[@othacker2908]

i did your drop shot tip and caught my first ever drop shot fish not a big one yet a fish. it was on that flat worm you mailed me.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome!

[@bigmikefishingchonicles9950]

thank you so much what is a good shallow diving jerkbait no more then 3ft

[@MattStefanFishing]

Probably need to weight a floater if you don’t want it to go deeper than three feet. Rattlin rogue and hi-float megabass vision 110 are good for not diving deep

[@bigmikefishingchonicles9950]

@@MattStefanFishing thank you

[@bigbug59]

Great video, I wish I had a dollar for every time I caught a fish and asked myself what was I doing as that fish hit. I sure seem to waste a lot of time because I don’t pay enough attention same applies for all baits, worms, lipless, spinner baits, poppers, I rarely use a steady retrieve on anything.

[@MattStefanFishing]

being able to replicate how you got bit is key

[@mikegardiner3934]

great tips Matt! It is definitely getting that time. I do the same thing you do when it comes to setting my drag on spinning reel. Thanks!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good stuff!

[@josephhrnciar9376]

Great stuff Matt…..very informative!! Nice actually see the retrieves you do on the water!! Awesome video!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@alcav54]

I’ve also seen the sweep technique with suspending cranks for smallies in pre spawn

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yep! Me Too!

[@juleswinnfield826]

Hi, my name is Jules and i have a jerkbait problem..... Good info as always. The last retrieve is my go to for fall steelhead in rivers. Amazing how fast and tight of a circle they can swim around a jerkbait when they dont fully commit to it. Thanks for the vid.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Anytime!

[@stoneysdead689]

If I hit say a 110 as hard as you're hitting this bait- the front hook fouls my line. I'm running 15 lb braid to a 7-10 lb fluoro leader that's about 7-8 feet long. If I change to straight fluoro do you think it would help?

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes

[@jamescaspersamanthalintner4767]

Oh yeah it's jerk bait time I walked on them last night at my home lake on jerkbaits and crankbaits I got one five and a quarter pounder in the boat and I lost another one that was almost as big she was probably in the high fours I love fishing a jerk bait. Megabass vision 110 Jr + 1

[@MattStefanFishing]

Nice fish!

[@crowe1974]

Ill give them ago. I don't have luck on jerk baits so hopefully this will help me. Thanks for the info

[@MattStefanFishing]

Great!

[@robertchadwick1552]

Thank you for breaking that down. This should really help. I appreciate you.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@robertstone3417]

Really good specific stuff, Matt. I learned something today about Jerkbait retrieves. Thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good to hear!

[@mattquinlan4629]

Taking the new stunna jerks out for a swim today! Thanks for the info Matt:-) Love the intro music kudos to the Bridgeford music person (love to know who). I also write

[@MattStefanFishing]

Have fun!

[@davidweston1031]

Thanks Matt good advice will be fishing jerkbait now from Ohio

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet

[@johnrayner5599]

Your giving out the good stuff here Matt! Question, Im wanting to build a couple jerkbait rods, what MHX blank do you recommend and Im guessing the length at 6-6”? any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much.

[@MattStefanFishing]

I did this video with a st. croix premier blank 6'6" ML . the mudhole blank i like is the SJ871. Its a 6'9" ML

[@kentbrown5369]

Great video again. As the water cools do you back off on how hard you jerk your rod or do you always keep it the same. Thanks again for all your knowledge

[@MattStefanFishing]

I will go to the sweep in super cold water

[@jeffdubinok7312]

Matt - very informative. I was taught that the key to success on the jerk bait was focused on the length of the pauses vice the number of jerks. Very similar to your explanation, but from a different perspective.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Length of pause as well is important

[@jasoncramer83]

Awesome video Matt! I have struggled getting a good cadence down…will definitely be using the retrieves you demonstrated.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@0017Bulldog]

Great vid as usual. Any thoughts on suspending vs. floating jerks?

[@MattStefanFishing]

Coming soon!

[@andys1170]

Bladed treble on the front hair trebles on the back. Fish a jerbait all year on the pond I fish. I use a glass rod

[@MattStefanFishing]

Cool tips!

[@joshuajadolon3591]

Thank you for sharing these techniques. I am definitely going to try this and really analyze why I am getting bites.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Best of luck!

[@edpelkey7798]

Great video Matt! Thanks for sharing your Jerkbait retrieves, this can be a mystery for many of us! I think I’ll take my Ito 110 for a swim 🤫

[@MattStefanFishing]

Give it a try!

[@suel1634]

Thank you for the demonstration! Do you do anything different for soft jerk baits (jerk plastics, if you will)? Last night got my first bite on a plastic jerk, but lost both because they had the bait but not the hook (where I live the water is shallow and weedy so I don't use exposed hooks very often like the one's on hard jerk baits. )

[@HBeretta]

great indepth vid. i would change cadences, but really didn't pay that close attention when i did get a bite as to how i was working the bait. also throwing on a spinning reel is something i don't do. i typically run on a 6'10" jerkbait casting rod with a 70-100 size baitcasting reel. i'm also curious as to you covering spinning setups...when you're running braid and why...what braid and fluoro you prefer for dropshot...varying finesse/spinning reel techniques etc... it seems braid to leader is predominant on the spinning reel scene in other words.

[@MattStefanFishing]

good questions and Ill put them on my video list.

[@HBeretta]

@@MattStefanFishing look forward to it. seems braid to leader on spinning setups is force-fed/the majority preference...maybe it's just me.

[@natrix19]

Great info! Do you do anything different for your retrieve for smallmouth vs largemouth?

[@MattStefanFishing]

Nope

[@chrisrittenburg1719]

This is a great video! I live in Michigan and Northern Pike are everywhere. Q: Will a short shock leader of 20# fluorocarbon 6" to my main line 8# on spinning gear cripple the action of a jerkbait?

[@MattStefanFishing]

It will hinder the action a little but shouldn’t prevent it from working enough to get bites

[@chrisrittenburg1719]

@@MattStefanFishing Thank you.

[@joelbundgaard769]

Excellent Matt! This is exactly what I needed to see. I'll watch this a few times until it all sinks into my noggin.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome!

[@stephanelavoie2258]

Thank you Matt , like the informations about the retrieval. I use my spinning rod for smaller jerbait but i found a cheap 6’10 shimano casting rod with a soft tip paired with a Curado Dc , just feel good in my hand for jerkbait and some walking bait !

[@jamarturner60]

Maaaaaaaaaatttttttttt 😎🤙🏿🎣🎣

[@MattStefanFishing]

I hope it was helpful

[@oneshoeless]

Thank you! This is a very informative video! I going to try this on Saturday!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Great!

[@jackwilliams8272]

Nice great job thanks again for your time and awesome video

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jelmo1057]

Do you use different line sizes depending on the depth you are targeting or do you go to a different bait? Thanks for sharing your expertise, I always look forward to your videos, it’s humbling to realize how much I have yet to master after 50 years of fishing, many thanks!

[@MattStefanFishing]

I have a video coming out on different jerkbait sizes in a few days!.

[@jelmo1057]

@@MattStefanFishing thanks, looking forward to it.

[@johnbattani8437]

Another great video I use my 6'8" ml for the berkley cutter and rapala shadow rap and shad could I go up to a medium power rod with 8ib for bigger jerkbaits strike king 200 or 300 thanks again

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yes you can!

[@johnbattani8437]

@@MattStefanFishing Thank you

[@alcav54]

Perfect timing. Pick up my first Jerkbait fish of this fall today. 65 degree water. All hail the Vision 110!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Haha! You might not like tomorrows video

[@alcav54]

😱

[@daniellew5780]

Ok fast current casting angles with jerkbaits. Against current, with current, across current?

[@MattStefanFishing]

I like upstream at no more than a 45 bringing it down stream.

[@daniellew5780]

@@MattStefanFishing thanks man

[@Alex-qj7fw]

🥇 first

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yep!

[@Alex-qj7fw]

@@MattStefanFishing great video and great channel thanks 👍

[@DAVE_WHITE]

I like these on the water ones as well we need more of these lol

[@MattStefanFishing]

Cool ill do more!

[@shannonkirby9295]

I love jerkbaits, Matt. Thanks for the tips

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet!

[@craigstevens9734]

Feel like I won getting to see this thanks for your time matt.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Go catch some fish now!

[@rickvann3489]

Matt on reels that have the back reel switch do you back reel when fighting a bass

[@MattStefanFishing]

no i rely on my abu garcia drag systems

[@rickvann3489]

@@MattStefanFishing I am in your camp. I listened to your buddy Randy talk about back reeling, I have done that but I think the high end reels I use don't have drag issues.

[@justtreesiddty6889]

Any tips for fishing waupaca chain of lakes for bass. I have a tournament this weekend and don't know anything about it

[@MattStefanFishing]

Fish the breaklines with weed

[@justtreesiddty6889]

@@MattStefanFishing I thought thw weeds r dead of this time of year

[@MattStefanFishing]

@@justtreesiddty6889 nope

[@brandonelliott5345]

That upward jerk over grass beds is where it’s at!

[@MattStefanFishing]

It’s a really good triggering mechanism

[@cheesemaster1993]

Time for me to go catch some fish now. Thanks!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good luck!

[@kylebrandstattfishing7270]

Do you get a lot of line twist with your drag that loose?

[@MattStefanFishing]

Not really. A jerkbait isnt really a bait that's affected by line twist anyways.

[@kylebrandstattfishing7270]

I’ve never jerked with a spinning Rod. What are some of the advantages over a bait caster?

[@ivanradi4275]

Thanks, that was a good one advice.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stevemyoung]

Great info thank you!

[@MattStefanFishing]

No problem

[@tommywalker741]

Thanks Matt I appreciate it 🙏

[@MattStefanFishing]

Any time!

[@joecontinetti6594]

Excellent video!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thank you very much!