Smallmouth Fishing with Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ

Minnow imitating plastics lead the way for us in spring. The weightless fluke is deadly on rivers and flowages especially, and I’ve written lots about them over the years.

Several years ago, I devised a high-contrasting red copper colorway for another brand’s jerk – meant for the brown waters I tend to fish. And then when I joined the Z-Man family in 2021, I saw they had a version of theirs, with gold flakes added for further attraction.

Z-Man’s 5-inch Scented Jerk ShadZ in New Penny took-over as the top-producer on my river smallmouth fisheries.

Soft jerkbaits can be worked with precision and deadly accuracy through cover, current, and across a variety of depths. Rigged weightless with a 3/0 Eagle Claw Trokar MagWorm with plastic barb keeper, which keeps it honest and gives it a slow sink like a glide bait, I make sure to pop the bait with a few upwards jerks and let it hang and glide slowly down a few feet in the water column.

When it’s their time to be used, soft jerkbaits offer a greater hang time in strike zones and will always sink at a slow minimal rate. Additionally, they will offer livelier finesse action which I believe is what tempts conditioned fish and big and old experienced bronzebacks to strike.

Experiment with all shapes and sizes, colors, and rigging methods until a winner is found. The Scented Jerk ShadZ can also be fished effectively on a jig, Carolina Rig, and damiki rig.

Finding and catching smallmouths with the soft jerkbait isn’t only a visual presentation for fish, but it’s also a visual experience for anglers. Because the majority of my bites occur on slack line while the softbait is on the glide downward, I always keep my eyes fixated on the top six inches of my rod throughout the entire retrieve. Regardless of light penetration and weather, it’s important to keep a watch on your line and the rod tip.

Always fish this with spinning gear, 7ft medium heavy action spinning rod with reel spooled with 8 or 10 lb. copolymer or fluorocarbon line. Avoid braid if you can – as it makes this bait float too much.

Product Links

• Z-Man 5-inch Scented Jerk ShadZ