Spinnerbait vs Crankbait vs Jerkbait: When to Use Each Lure

Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and jerkbaits are three of the most versatile and effective bass lures ever designed. But knowing when to use which one can be the difference between a good day and a great day.

Spinnerbaits

Best For: Covering Water in Wind, Stained Water, Shallow Cover

Spinnerbaits consist of a bent wire frame with one or more spinning blades and a lead head skirted with silicone or rubber. They're designed to move through water with minimal snagging.

When to Use a Spinnerbait:

• Windy conditions — Spinnerbaits excel in wind because the vibration and flash attract bass even in rough water.
• Stained or murky water — The vibration and flash make spinnerbaits highly visible in low-visibility conditions.
• Shallow cover — The wire frame prevents snagging on weeds, docks, and laydowns.
• Searching water — Spinnerbaits are excellent for covering lots of water quickly to find active fish.
• Spring and fall — Ideal for pre-spawn and fall feeding periods.

Retrieve Tips:

Burn it fast just below the surface, or slow-roll it near the bottom. Vary your retrieve until you find what triggers strikes.

Crankbaits

Best For: Covering Depths, Deflecting Off Structure, Triggering Reaction Strikes

Crankbaits are hard-bodied lures with a lip (bill) that makes them dive. They come in shallow, medium, and deep-diving models.

When to Use a Crankbait:

• Defining depth — Crankbaits are the best lures for fishing a specific depth range. Choose a crankbait that dives to the depth where bass are holding.
• Deflecting off structure — The bill deflects off rocks, stumps, and other structure, triggering reaction strikes from nearby bass.
• Covering water — Like spinnerbaits, crankbaits are excellent search baits for finding active fish.
• Matching the hatch — Crankbaits imitate crawfish, shad, bluegill, and other forage. Choose a colour and profile that matches local baitfish.
• Summer and fall — Deep-diving crankbaits are essential for reaching bass in deeper summer haunts.

Retrieve Tips:

Steady retrieve at the depth of the diving bill. Vary speed and add pauses. Crankbaits work best when they're making contact with the bottom or structure.

Jerkbaits

Best For: Clear Water, Cold Water, Suspended Bass

Jerkbaits are long, slender minnow-imitating lures that are worked with a twitch-and-pause retrieve. They suspend (suspend at rest) or float.

When to Use a Jerkbait:

• Clear water — Jerkbaits excel in clear water where bass can see the lure's realistic action.
• Cold water (spring and winter) — Jerkbaits are at their best when water temperatures are below 60°F. The slow, twitching retrieve triggers strikes from sluggish fish.
• Suspended bass — When bass are suspended in open water, a suspending jerkbait can be deadly.
• Post-spawn — After spawning, bass are often in transition areas and jerkbaits work well.
• Smallmouth bass — Jerkbaits are particularly effective for smallmouth in clear, rocky lakes.

Retrieve Tips:

Cast, let it settle, then twitch the rod tip sharply 2-3 times, pause, and repeat. The pause is crucial — many strikes come when the bait is sitting still. Experiment with the length of your pause.

Which One Should You Use?

• Windy or murky? → Spinnerbait
• Fishing deep? → Crankbait
• Cold water? → Jerkbait
• Need to cover water? → Spinnerbait or crankbait
• Finicky, clear-water bass? → Jerkbait
• Fishing heavy cover? → Spinnerbait
• Fishing rocks or wood? → Crankbait (deflect off it)

Track Your Results

The CatchTales app helps you log which lures produce best in different conditions. Track lure type, water clarity, depth, and weather to learn what works where you fish.

Published July 2026 by the CatchTales team.