Hard baits: Floating jerkbaits

Built with positive buoyancy so that when you stop the rod, the bait floats upward instead of hanging or sinking. Floating jerkbaits split into two distinct sub-classes—High-Floating (F) and Slow-Floating (SF)—and they are the undisputed champions over shallow emergent grass, submerged wood, boulder flats, and spawning beds (0.3–1.5 m / 1–5 ft) where a suspending or sinking jerkbait would snag on every cast.

Sub-ClassBuoyancy RateDive & Pause MechanicsPrime Tactical Window
High-Floating (F, e.g., Rapala Original Floater, Vision 110 Hi-Float)Fast, buoyant rise (balsa or high-volume air chamber)Dives 0.3–1.2 m (1–4 ft) on the twitch; backs up and floats quickly out of grass or rocks on the pause; can also be waked on the surfaceShallow grass tops, laydowns, boulder shallows, deadsticking over beds, warm summer mornings
Slow-Floating (SF, e.g., Vision 110 SF / FX, Balisong 130SF, X-Rap)Controlled slow rise (~3–8 cm/s)Dives 1–2 m (3–6.5 ft) on the snap, then ghosts slowly upward toward the surface like a stunned shiner rising toward lightPost-spawn, summer, and early fall when bass feed upward and follow a rising target
Setup ParameterFloating & Slow-Floating Jerkbait Formula
70–95 mm (5–9 g) Light Balsa / Minnow Floater6'6"–6'10" ML Spinning + 2000–2500 reel + 8–10 lb PE Braid to a 1.5 m 8 lb Monofilament / Copolymer leader (or 6–8 lb straight mono)
100–120 mm (10–16 g) Standard / Slow-Float (SF)6'8"–7'0" M Fast Casting or Spinning + 10–12 lb Monofilament / Copolymer (for high surface rise) OR 8–10 lb Fluorocarbon (to convert a High-Floater into a Slow-Floater)
Retrieve CadenceTwitch-Twitch-Float: Snap down to tick the top of grass or rock, then pause 2–5 s and let the bait float free — 80% of strikes happen as the bait begins to rise
Representative ModelsRapala Original Floater (F07/F09/F11), Rapala Floater Elite 85/120, Megabass Vision 110 FX / 110 Hi-Float, Bomber Long A, Smithwick Floating Rattlin' Rogue, DUO Realis Jerkbait 85F/100F, Deps Balisong 130SF

Line choice controls rise speed: Monofilament or Copolymer floats and lets a floating jerkbait rise cleanly over shallow weeds and wood; Fluorocarbon sinks and slows the rise down into a stealthy Slow-Float (SF).

Top 10 in four markets

United States

  1. Bill Lewis Scope-Stik 100mm Floating-3 — $3.00 - $12.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Jerkbaits (Ripbaits)' > Shallow Diving (0-6') section (223 items) sorted by Popularity: #6; 1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m), 3.8 in (100 mm), 1/4 oz (7 g), floating; floating model of the Scope-Stik; slowly rises on the pause; 2.5/5 avg (4 reviews)
  2. Smithwick Floating Rattlin Rogue Jerkbait — $7.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Jerkbaits (Ripbaits)' > Shallow Diving (0-6') section (223 items) sorted by Popularity: #35; 0-2 ft (0-0.6 m), 4-1/2 in (114 mm), 1/3 oz (9.5 g), floating; the classic floating Rogue: twitch-and-rise minnow
  3. Rapala Floater Elite 120 Jerkbait — $17.49. Tackle Warehouse 'Jerkbaits (Ripbaits)' > Shallow Diving (0-6') section (223 items) sorted by Popularity: #80; 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m), 4-3/4 in (120 mm), 3/8 oz (10.6 g), floating; balsa Original Floater upgraded with wire-through construction and heavier weighting
  4. Yo-Zuri Pro Series Jerkbait SF 110mm — $14.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Jerkbaits (Ripbaits)' > Shallow Diving (0-6') section (223 items) sorted by Popularity: #94; 5-7 ft (1.5-2.1 m), 4-3/8 in (110 mm), 1/2 oz (14 g), slow-floating; slow-floating 110 with a high-pitch roll and hologram finish
  5. Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow Floating 130mm — $13.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Jerkbaits (Ripbaits)' > Shallow Diving (0-6') section (223 items) sorted by Popularity: #97; 3.5 ft (1.1 m), 5-1/4 in (130 mm), 5/8 oz (17.7 g), floating; flat-sided floating minnow with the prism finish; multi-species
  6. Rapala Original Floater 11 Jerkbait — $11.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Jerkbaits (Ripbaits)' > Shallow Diving (0-6') section (223 items) sorted by Popularity: #107; 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m), 4-3/8 in (110 mm), 3/16 oz (5.3 g), floating; the balsa Original Floater: twitch it on top or crank it as a shallow runner; 5.0/5 avg (2 reviews)
  7. Yo-Zuri Pins Minnow Floating 70mm — $8.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Jerkbaits (Ripbaits)' > Shallow Diving (0-6') section (223 items) sorted by Popularity: #120; 1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m), 2-3/4 in (70 mm), 1/8 oz (3.5 g), floating; tiny floating minnow with a tight wiggle; cast or trolled; 1.0/5 avg (1 reviews)
  8. Rapala Original Floater 7 Jerkbait — $9.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Jerkbaits (Ripbaits)' > Shallow Diving (0-6') section (223 items) sorted by Popularity: #121; 3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m), 2-3/4 in (70 mm), 1/8 oz (3.5 g), floating; the 7 cm balsa Original Floater
  9. Rapala Original Floater 9 Jerkbait — $10.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Jerkbaits (Ripbaits)' > Shallow Diving (0-6') section (223 items) sorted by Popularity: #135; 3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m), 3-1/2 in (90 mm), 3/16 oz (5.3 g), floating; the 9 cm balsa Original Floater
  10. LIVETARGET Yellow Perch Floating Jerkbait 73M — $13.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Jerkbaits (Ripbaits)' > Shallow Diving (0-6') section (223 items) sorted by Popularity: #138; 3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m), 2-7/8 in (73 mm), 3/8 oz (10.6 g), floating; perch-imitating floating jerkbait

Canada

  1. Rapala Jointed Floating — C$16.49–C$20.99. anglingsports.ca 'Rapala Fishing Lures & Tackle' collection, best-selling sort #1 of 110; runs 0.9–1.5 m (3–5 ft); 2" to 5-1/4"; floating jointed balsa minnow
  2. Storm Original Thunderstick — C$9.99. fishingworld.ca 'CRANKBAIT' collection, best-selling sort #4 of 50; anglingsports.ca 'Crankbaits' collection, best-selling sort #12 of 97; runs 0.6–1.5 m (2–5 ft); 4-3/8" / 3/8 oz; floating minnow, loud rattles
  3. Rapala Ultra Light Minnow — C$12.49. anglingsports.ca 'Top Water' collection, best-selling sort #14 of 136; runs 0.6–1.2 m (2–4 ft); 2-1/2" / 1/8 oz; floating minnow (store lists it under Top Water)
  4. Rapala Original Floating F07 — C$15.49. anglingsports.ca 'Rapala Fishing Lures & Tackle' collection, best-selling sort #28 of 110; runs 0.9–1.5 m (3–5 ft); 2-3/4" / 1/8 oz; the original balsa floater
  5. Rapala Original Floating F09 — C$16.99. anglingsports.ca 'Rapala Fishing Lures & Tackle' collection, best-selling sort #29 of 110; runs 0.9–1.5 m (3–5 ft); 3-1/2" / 3/16 oz; the original balsa floater
  6. Rapala Original Floating F11 — C$18.49. anglingsports.ca 'Rapala Fishing Lures & Tackle' collection, best-selling sort #33 of 110; runs 1.2–1.8 m (4–6 ft); 4-3/8" / 3/16 oz; the original balsa floater
  7. Bomber Long A — C$10.99. anglingsports.ca 'Hard Jerkbaits' collection, best-selling sort #23 of 54; runs 0.6–1.2 m (2–4 ft); 4-1/2" / 1/2 oz; floating minnow
  8. Berkley Hit Stick — C$6.99. fishingworld.ca 'JERKBAIT' collection, best-selling sort #18 of 37; runs 0.6–1.5 m (2–5 ft); 3-1/2" to 5"; floating, balsa-style rolling action
  9. Smithwick Rattlin' Rogue — C$6.00. anglingsports.ca 'Hard Jerkbaits' collection, best-selling sort #31 of 54; runs 0.6–1.2 m (2–4 ft); 4-1/2"; floating rattling minnow
  10. Rapala Floater Elite — C$22.99–C$23.99. fishingworld.ca 'JERKBAIT' collection, best-selling sort #24 of 37; runs 0.9–1.5 m (3–5 ft); 85 mm / 1/4 oz; floating minnow with weight transfer

Japan

  1. Megabass Vision Oneten 110SR — ¥1,670 (naturum list price). naturum 'ミノー' (Minnows) category, best-selling sort #10; 1.0 m max (spec); 110.5 mm / 1/2 oz; slow-floating shallow runner
  2. Megabass X-Nanahan — ¥1,566 (naturum list price). naturum 'ミノー' (Minnows) category, best-selling sort #13 (also keyword 'ジャークベイト' #2); 1.8 m max (spec); 75 mm / 1/4 oz; slow floating; cross-check: also in amazon.co.jp default search top 10 for the type keyword (X-NANAHAN)
  3. Megabass X-Nanahan+1 — ¥1,566 (naturum list price). naturum 'ミノー' (Minnows) category, best-selling sort #26 (also keyword 'ジャークベイト' #5); 2.4 m max (spec); 75 mm / 1/4 oz; slow floating, longer bill
  4. Grass Roots Rodeo Back 115F — ¥2,585 (naturum list price). naturum 'ミノー' (Minnows) category, best-selling sort #27 (also keyword 'ジャークベイト' #6); 1.5 m (spec); 115 mm / 14 g; floating
  5. Megabass Oneten R — ¥1,670 (naturum list price). naturum 'ミノー' (Minnows) category, best-selling sort #35 (also keyword 'ジャークベイト' #9); 1.7 m max (spec); 110 mm / 1/2 oz; slow floating
  6. Megabass Oneten R+1 — ¥1,931 (naturum list price). naturum 'ミノー' (Minnows) category, best-selling sort #39 (also keyword 'ジャークベイト' #11); 2.2 m max (spec); 110 mm / 1/2 oz; slow floating
  7. DUO Realis Jerkbait 85F — ¥1,415 (naturum list price). naturum keyword search 'フラットサイド' (flat side) in bass hard lures, best-selling sort #18 (not in the genre top 50); 85 mm / 7.3 g; floating; cross-check: also in amazon.co.jp default search top 10 for the type keyword (レアリス ジャークベイト85F)
  8. DUO Realis Jerkbait 120F — ¥1,683 (naturum list price). naturum keyword search 'ジャークベイト' (jerkbait) in bass hard lures, best-selling sort #23 (not in the genre top 50); 0.8-1.6 m (spec); 120 mm / 17.1 g; floating
  9. Evergreen X-Over — ¥1,733 (naturum list price). naturum keyword search 'ジャークベイト' (jerkbait) in bass hard lures, best-selling sort #26 (not in the genre top 50); 1.0-2.0 m (spec); 90 mm / 18.5 g; slow floating
  10. Evergreen Faith 87 — ¥1,733 (naturum list price). naturum keyword search 'ジャークベイト' (jerkbait) in bass hard lures, best-selling sort #27 (not in the genre top 50); 1.0-1.5 m (spec); 87 mm / 8.5 g; slow floating

China

  1. U米路亚 (shop) 暴军二代 死飞浮水米诺 巨鳡 13.5 / 20 g — ¥18.8 / item. Taobao list page 'floating minnow' sorted by sales (fetched 2026-09-28): position 3 of 20; shop U米路亚. Large floating minnow for yellowcheek; cropped to the two lures.
  2. 缘也运动户外 (shop) 远投型米诺 浮水/缓沉 12–39 g — ¥4.9 / item. Taobao list page 'floating minnow' sorted by sales (fetched 2026-09-28): position 4 of 20; shop 缘也运动户外. Long-cast floating minnow in many sizes; cropped to the row of lures.
  3. 玄鸿户外 (shop) 微物浮水小米诺 (浮水/悬浮/沉水 套装) — ¥6.2 / item. Taobao list page 'floating minnow' sorted by sales (fetched 2026-09-28): position 16 of 20; shop 玄鸿户外旗舰店. Micro floating minnow set; listing photo used as is.
  4. 蓝旗鱼 Bluefish 邪道 远投浮水米诺 (浅湾 / 深湾 6 m) — ¥38 / item. Taobao list page 'floating minnow' sorted by sales (fetched 2026-09-28): position 19 of 20; shop 千岛路亚. Floating big-water minnow with tungsten weight transfer; cropped to the lures, captions removed.

← Jerkbait treble hook sizes and feathered tails · Slow-sinking jerkbaits →

Hard baits

Sub-surface hard baits by what makes them move: crankbaits with a lip (squarebill, medium, deep, flat-sided), lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits (suspending, floating, deep), hard swimbaits (glide baits with one joint, multi-jointed swimbaits), spybaits, and the topwater hard baits: poppers, walking baits, prop baits, wake baits.

  1. Crankbaits
  2. Deep-diving crankbaits
  3. Medium-diving crankbaits
  4. Squarebill crankbaits
  5. Flat-sided crankbaits
  6. Topwater hard baits
  7. Poppers
  8. Prop baits
  9. Walking baits (walk-the-dog)
  10. Wake baits
  11. Jerkbaits
  12. Suspending jerkbaits
  13. Water temperature and buoyancy tuning
  14. Nose split ring and loop knot
  15. Jump the slack and rod work
  16. Jerkbait colour and rattle selection
  17. Jerkbait rod, reel and line formula
  18. Jerkbait treble hook sizes and feathered tails
  19. Floating jerkbaits
  20. Slow-sinking jerkbaits
  21. Sinking jerkbaits
  22. Deep-diving jerkbaits
  23. Hard swimbaits
  24. Glide baits (single joint)
  25. Multi-jointed swimbaits
  26. Lipless crankbaits (VIB)
  27. Spybaits
  28. Choosing a hard bait: mechanism, depth, season

Hard baits