1 Bait, 5 Reasons: Brent Ehrler’s “Finesse” Jerkbait Will Get You More Bites

MLF pro Brent Ehrler says that you can never go wrong with the Lucky Craft Pointer 78DD. Photo by Phoenix Moore

August 4, 2020 • Mason Prince • Major League Lessons

When it comes to choosing the right jerkbait, MLF pro Brent Ehrler is of the opinion that you can never go wrong with the Lucky Craft Pointer 78DD. This 78 mm suspending jerkbait has multiple redeeming qualities according to Ehrler, but here are his top five reasons why the Pointer 78DD is a go-to for the California pro.

1. Small but Effective

Ehrler is a firm believer that you don’t always need big baits to produce big bites.

“Say you’re sitting there with a few M&Ms and a big Hershey’s bar in front of you,” Ehrler explained. “Would you rather just pop in a couple of M&Ms or try to devour an entire candy bar? Those little baits look a lot easier to eat to the fish, so they are more inclined to go after that than a bigger bait.”

The 78-milimeter jerkbait is the perfect size, according to the California pro.

“This is not a very big bait, and that’s one of the reasons that I like it,” Ehrler mentioned. “It’s kind of a finesse-type bait, meaning that if the fish aren’t really active they still seem to bite it. If they are active, they bite it even more. That jerkbait is about 20 percent smaller than other jerkbaits on the market and I think that makes a big difference.”

2. Quiet is Key

While may jerkbaits include a rattle to attract bass, the Pointer 78DD operates more in silence. Ehrler says that the bait’s erratic action sans rattle makes all the difference when fishing on calmer waters.

“You get all the action of a hard jerkbait and the depth you need without any of the rattling,” he says. “That’s why when it’s calmer on the water and the situation calls for a little more finesse, this bait is perfect for that.”

3. Year-Round Results

Jerkbaits can shine in the heat of the summer, but according to Ehrler, the Pointer 78DD is a year-around bait that works as effectively in cold water as it does in warmer temperatures.

“This is not just for the spring or the summer,” Ehrler says. “It really shines in early cold weather like prespawn and in the fall. That finesse-type of sound and action makes it perfect for those times of the year, but also in the typical times you would use a jerkbait. It’s never a bad idea to have this on your boat.”

Ehrler relies on the Lucky Craft Pointer 78DD all year round. Photo by Phoenix Moore

4. Ready to Go Out of the Package

Out-of-the-box reliability is something that’s very important to Ehrler, and the Pointer 78DD fits the bill as a usable fish-catcher from the minute you take it out of the package and start fishing it.

“Lucky Craft tests all their baits before they ship them out and that’s really important to me,” Ehrler mentioned. “I’ve never had one that was cracked or sank on me when I got it out of the package. You can trust that if you’re buying this bait, it’s going to be ready to go immediately out of the box.”

5. The Deeper, the Better

Hitting the right depth is important to Ehrler when he’s using a jerkbait, and the “DD” in the bait’s name translates into a slightly deeper diving/suspending depth than other jerkbaits in this size category.

“With light line and a good cast, I can get this thing to around 6 to 8 feet deep,” Ehrler analyzed. “Those extra couple of feet can be all the difference with a jerkbait. I think the combination of the extra depth paired with the smaller presentation makes it that much more appealing to the fish.”