What is the best soft plastic? If I had to pick one soft plastic to fish with for the rest of my life, it would be a jerkshad. Hands down. No hesitation.

They just work.

Whether I’m chasing snapper offshore, flathead in the estuary, or anything that eats baitfish, the jerkshad profile has delivered over and over again. But here’s the thing: most people tie one on, throw it out, and wonder why it doesn’t get hit.

So let me break down why jerkshads are so effective, how to use jerkshads properly, and how to choose the best jerkshad.

I’ve tried all sorts of colours, but its the profile of the lure that gets the job done.

Download my free lure colour cheat sheet here to help you decide what colours to try!

What’s a Jerkshad, Anyway?

A jerkshad is a slim, baitfish-style soft plastic with a straight tail. No paddles, no curl, just a clean profile. That might seem boring compared to lures with built-in action, but don’t let that fool you.

The magic is in the way it moves when you fish it right. Jerkshads dart, flick, and glide. They imitate a wounded baitfish better than just about anything else.

That makes them deadly.

Why Jerkshads Work So Well

Jerkshads give you full control over the action. You can twitch them, rip them, hop them, or slow-roll them along the bottom. They’re one of the most versatile lures for soft plastic fishing and they get bites in all kinds of conditions.

The slim profile is perfect for:

• • Clear water where fish are picky

• • Fast-moving pelagics chasing baitfish

• • Bottom dwellers like flathead or snapper that respond to a sharp hop-and-drop

They also rig well on a variety of jigheads and work in estuaries, bays, and offshore alike. Think – swiss army knife of lures!

Mulloway are a sucker for a well presented Jerkshad! The best mulloway/jew lure.

How to Use Jerkshad lures

This is where most people go wrong, especially beginners – they simply don’t know how to properly use a jerkshad. They cast it out, wind it in, and wait. But jerkshads don’t do the work for you like a paddle tail would.

You have to make it look alive. But that’s also the beauty of it and what makes jerkshads so versatile. Here are some tips for how to use a jerkshad. 

When fishing with jerkshads, you have to work your rod tip: twitch it hard, give it a short, sharp flick, let it glide, then pause. That pause is when the bite often comes because the lure suddenly looks like it’s injured or vulnerable.

If your retrieve is too slow and steady, it just looks like a stick. Give it some movement (and some pauses) and you’ll see the difference fast.

How to choose the Right Jighead for your Jerkshad

Your jerkshad needs a jighead – and the jighead matters just as much as the plastic. If you choose a jighead that’s too heavy, it dives like a rock. If your jighead is too light, it won’t get into the strike zone. Here’s how to choose the jighead for your jerkshad:

• • In shallow water (1–3m), try a 1/12 to 1/8 oz head

• • In areas between 3-7m step up to 1/6 or 1/4 oz

• • If deeper than 7m look at jigheads from ⅜ up to 1oz

The hook size you choose for your jerkshad depends on the lure length – your hook should protrude about ⅓ to ½  of the way along the lure.

Make sure it’s rigged straight! A twisted plastic kills the action.

Big Snapper love to grab a Jerkshad as it sinks down the water column, rigging the lure straight is key here.

Best Jerkshad Colours

Even with a great profile and action, the wrong colour can kill your chances at snagging a fish. Water clarity, light levels, and bait species all play a part in determining the best colour jerkshad to use.

As a general guide:

• • Clear water: stick to natural baitfish colours like pearl, silver, or smokey hues

• • Dirty or tannin-stained water: try chartreuse, pink, baby bass or motor oil

• • Low light: darker colours or high contrast can help (blacks, purple and reds)

Give Jerkshads a try!

The jerkshad is my go-to for a reason. It’s simple. It’s effective. And when you learn how to fish it properly, it can out-fish just about everything else in your tackle box.

So if you’ve been struggling with soft plastics or you’re just getting into lure fishing, give the jerkshad a proper run. Learn how to work it, tweak your jighead weight, and fish with confidence.

My go to lure in almost all conditions. I make sure to have one rigged on at least one rod when heading out.