Gear

Randy Howell’s jerkbait tacklebox

Jerkbaits have gone from seasonal to year-round lures. Check out Randy Howell’s lineup that covers all depths and seasons.

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Photography by
Craig Lamb
Once upon a time, jerkbaits were considered seasonal lures, but now the slender, lipped lures are productive year-round. That is due to lure brands applying design technologies to create jerkbaits that are productive in specific scenarios. Jerkbait fanatics like Bassmaster Elite Series pro Randy Howell are discovering even more applications for jerkbaits.
“Jerkbaits are no longer reserved for cold water conditions from late winter into the postspawn,” Howell said. “Now, jerkbait designs allow us to extend their productivity into deeper water and warmer water conditions.”
Like just about anything else in the lure sphere there is a jerkbait for any situation. Part of that reasoning is the new discovery of how they align with forward-facing sonar technology. “It’s allowed us to learn about fish behavior, and we’ve found that largemouth suspend around baitfish in deeper water, something we never before understood,” Howell said. “That’s why jerkbaits are available in so many shapes and sizes.” 
Howell’s long-standing affinity for jerkbaits led him to collaborate with Livingston Lures to design these four jerkbaits, all featuring EBS (Electronic Baitfish Sounds) based on natural and instinctive feeding enticements of bass. The EBS Smart Chip emits realistic sounds specific to the bait type and color, including shad sounds favored for a jerkbait. “The added density of the electronic sound chamber increases the density of feedback to the forward-facing sonar screen, so you can see the bait from farther away,” Howell said. 
Instead of a neutral buoyancy jerkkbait, Howell wanted a slow sinker so the baits can penetrate into deeper strike zones throughout the water column favored by suspended bass. “The body design allows them to fall naturally deeper, instead of having to use the lip to achieve the same thing,” he said. Howell’s favored lineup features the Livingston Jerkmaster 121C, JerkMaster Jr., 121 Deep and 121 Deep Plus. 
Livingston 121C
Designed to run in four- to six-foot strike zones or deeper, Howell likes to let the bait slow fall to choose desired running depths. “It also runs in the designed running depth when cast out and immediately jerking and retrieving it back,” Howell said. 
The benefit of the Smart Chip technology allows the bait to impart the sound of a shad when stationary on the fall, without needing to jerk the lure. A weight transfer system provides longer casts to cover more water, which is essential when fishing in open water. 
Livingston JerkMaster Jr. 
Howell favors this downsized version of the Livingston 121C when finesse conditions require a more subtle presentation, and especially in clear water for spotted bass and smallmouth. Designed running depth is also from four- to six-feet with deeper ranges achievable when the bait is allowed to fall. The Junior has the same weight transfer system for longer casts and the EBS technology for attracting strikes, even when the bait is stationary. 
Livingston 121 D
The Deep version of the lineup penetrates the 10-foot strike zone, with its bigger lip providing even more action. “it’s more of a delayed response bait with a wider action,” Howell said. The weight transfer system adds casting distance, while the sound chamber allows the lure to appear with more density on a sonar screen.
Livingston 121 Deep Plus
The 121 Deep Plus is the latest entry into the lineup specifically for forward-facing sonar applications when bass are suspended in deeper water. 
With a designed running depth of 10- to 12-feet, the bait will penetrate much deeper depths when allowed to sink into those strike zones.
The added density of the sound chamber provides stronger returns to the screen, an added benefit for this lure when in ultra-deep water for a jerkbait. 

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