One-piece or jointed?
One-piece for twitch-pause and rip, cold water, clear water, pressured fish and micro sizes — it darts clean and suspends truest. Jointed (two or more segments) for slow twitch, straight retrieves, warm active fish, stained water and the 130 mm+ big-fish sizes — the joints turn tiny pulls into body roll and add a segment click. A jointed body folds and fouls its hooks on a hard rip.
The full story
This answer is one piece of a longer lesson — setups, diagrams and the reasoning behind it.
More questions about Jerkbaits (Suspending, Floating & Sinking)
- Why does my jerkbait sink (or float up) on the pause when the package says "suspending"?
- How long should I pause?
- Extra-fast or moderate action — which rod is right?
- How long a rod?
- Fluorocarbon or PE braid — and is nylon ever right?
- Rattling or silent?
- What is "slow twitch" and when do I use it?
- Can I fish a jerkbait in grass at all?
- Do I need a loop knot?
- What size for smallmouth versus largemouth?
- When is the water too warm for a jerkbait?
- Which reel speed?
- How do I get it deeper?
- I get bit but keep losing them — why?
- Colour — natural or bright?