— Submitted photo There are times when river smallmouths like suspending jerkbaits better than almost anything.

Suspending jerkbaits are a style of minnow-imitating baits that have been around for a good number of years, but have really grown in popularity in the past few open water fishing seasons. Many anglers think of suspending jerkbaits as being an outstanding tool for catching largemouth and smallmouth bass early in the open water season, and they certainly are that. But they also work well for a variety of other species of fish. Following are some ideas on using suspending jerkbaits for more fish-catching in the next couple of weeks or months depending on where you’re fishing.

First of all, what is a suspending jerkbait? They’re hard-bodied baits that usually resemble the shape of a minnow or a perch or baitfish that are longer and thinner. They come in a variety of lengths, colors, and running depths. The thing that makes them special is what they do or don’t do when an angler stops retrieving them. To start, cast the bait out. Many of these baits have an internal weighting system that allows them to be cast farther easier. Unlike many baits that rely on a steady retrieve, suspending jerkbaits are twitched or “jerked” by snapping the rod tip down. A few “jerks’ and the bait is at its running depth. Here’s what makes the suspending jerkbait special and effective. After jerking it, it is left motionless for a few or quite a few seconds. Most baits will rise to the surface when they’re left motionless, but a suspending jerkbait, as the name implies, suspends. It stays right at the level it’s running at. Sometimes a fish will attack as it is motionless, other times the fish hits as the bait starts its next forward action. On some days an aggressive action is better, on other days softer twitches will be better. On cold days start with less action, when action is fast go to a more active twitching retrieve.

Anglers cast these baits for largemouth over emerging weed beds and flats, smallmouth chasers fish them over rock piles and also over sand flats.

There are groups of hardcore walleye anglers who have learned of the effectiveness of jerkbaits in the spring when the walleyes are shallow, and in the summer and autumn when walleyes move into night-feeding patterns. Some exceptionally large walleyes are taken every year by anglers who are throwing suspending jerkbaits.

Walleyes and bass are certainly susceptible to suspending jerkbaits, but I learned a long time ago that northern pike are also attracted to them. It was on Rainy Lake on the Minnesota-Ontario border shortly after the walleye opener. A group of us were meeting there for a couple of days of anticipated walleye action. I arrived early and put my boat in the water. Near the boat ramp there were several shallow bays that had rocky points at their mouth. I thought that it looked like a good spot to catch walleyes. I was wrong. Each of these rocky points were the seasonal home to numbers of northern pike that were willing to eat suspending jerkbaits. These were mostly pike in the eight to twelve pound range. Nice ones and lots of fun.

The KVD series of jerkbaits have all that a jerkbait angler needs. The 200 Series is smallest and runs the shallowest, four to seven feet. It is often best in clear water. The 300 Series is larger, almost five inches long, and is very good in stained water or when the fish are more aggressive.

Suspending jerkbaits are another tool that anglers should consider adding to their fishing toolbox. They’re one of those baits that, when the fish want them, will produce better than any other tool in that toolbox.