Bearking Bass Slicker 80 Jerkbait – 80mm Magnet Minnow Crankbait for Bass, Pike and Zander

Why This Lure Works

The Bearking Bass Slicker 80 jerkbait might look like a simple little hardbait at first glance, but the closer you look, the more it makes sense. It is an 80mm minnow crankbait weighing about 8.5g, built on a hard ABS body with a magnet-based weight system that shifts to the tail on the cast and snaps forward on the retrieve. That “magnet minnow” style design is used on a lot of proven 80mm 8.5g long-cast minnows on the big tackle sites, so you are working with a battle-tested platform rather than some random experiment.

The slim minnow body and small diving lip give the Bearking Bass Slicker 80 jerkbait a tight, high-frequency wobble on a straight retrieve – the same sort of frantic shimmy you see on premium slashbaits like the Rapala X-Rap XR08. Those baits are famous for looking like panicked baitfish that have just realised they are on the menu, and the Slicker 80 lands squarely in that same lane.

The magnet weight system is the clever bit. On the cast, the internal weight slides back and locks near the tail, so the lure flies straight instead of helicoptering. On the retrieve, the weight shifts forward to balance the wobble and keep the lure tracking true, very similar to the cast-assist systems you will see in jerkbait breakdowns on sites like Bassmaster’s jerkbait techniques guide. The end result is simple: you can cast it a mile and then make it behave properly once it is in the strike zone.

Because it is a minnow crankbait at heart, you can just chuck and wind it if you want. But the moment you start tapping the rod tip, the lure dodges, flares and stalls like a wounded baitfish. That “jerk–jerk–pause” style behaviour is exactly what pro anglers talk about in cold-water jerkbait articles on Wired2Fish and in bass jerkbait how-tos like Outdoor Life’s jerkbait tutorial – rod moves the bait, then slack line lets it hang and do its thing.

Finish all that off with sharp trebles, solid split rings and a range of colours from natural baitfish to loud tiger patterns, and you have got a compact jerkbait that casts well, swims right and flat-out looks like food. No gimmicks, just a sensible spec list that has already proven itself for bass, pike, zander and perch around the world.

How To Fish It

The beauty of the Bearking Bass Slicker 80 jerkbait is that you can fish it as basic or as nerdy as you like. If you are new to jerkbaits, treat it like a minnow crankbait with a bit more attitude. If you are a jerkbait junkie, you can lean on all the cadence wizardry the pros rabbit on about in articles and videos.

1. Straight retrieve – search mode
Cast as far as the magnet system will allow (which is surprisingly far for an 80mm lure), point the rod tip down and wind at a steady medium pace. The lure will dive to its working depth and do a tight, busy wobble. This is your “cover water” mode, ideal when you are prospecting banks and points. For a good feel of how deadly a simple straight retrieve can be, have a look at basic jerkbait seminars like this full jerkbait session on YouTube – same idea, just easier to do with a long-cast minnow like the Slicker.

2. Jerk–jerk–pause like a slashbait
To really wake it up, fish the Bearking Bass Slicker 80 jerkbait like a traditional slashbait. Crank a few turns to get it down, then work a “jerk–jerk–pause” rhythm: two sharp snaps of the rod tip, then let it sit and quiver on a semi-slack line. Jerkbait specialists like Randy Blaukat and Hank Cherry are forever banging on about cadence in pieces like Wired2Fish’s winter jerkbait lessons and Bassmaster’s jerkbaits for all seasons – colder water, softer jerks and longer pauses; warmer water, more aggressive snaps and shorter rests. Same game here.

3. Twitching along cover
Around laydowns, riprap, jetties and weed edges, drop the big violent jerks and lean into little twitches. Cast parallel to the cover, wind just enough to keep in touch, then tap the rod tip 5–10cm at a time. The lure will kick, flash and settle, looking exactly like a distracted baitfish that has drifted too close to the wrong neighbourhood. If you want to nerd out on cadence, there is even a whole article on it over at MonsterBass’s jerkbait cadence breakdown, which is pretty much a masterclass in “when to twitch and when to chill”.

4. Burn and kill over grass
When the water is warmer and fish are fired up, try burning the Bass Slicker 80 just over submerged grass. Wind quickly enough that it is ticking over the weed tops, then suddenly kill the retrieve and give it one or two light twitches. That burn-and-kill move – race, stall, twitch – is a classic reaction trigger. You will see the same idea in summer jerkbait articles like Wired2Fish’s “Why You Need to Fish a Jerkbait This Summer”, where they basically describe jerkbaits as “bass candy” all year long.

5. Bank and kayak fan-casting
Because of that magnet system, the Bearking Bass Slicker 80 jerkbait casts more like a 10–12cm plug than an 80mm twitch bait. That makes it spot-on for bank and kayak fishing where you might only get a few good angles on a point or channel swing. Fan-cast the area, vary speed and cadence, and pay attention to follows. There is a good thread on r/bassfishing that sums it up nicely – most anglers simply do not experiment enough with how they move the bait.

When To Use It

The Bearking Bass Slicker 80 jerkbait is a proper “chuck it most of the year” lure. Any time predators are feeding on small to medium baitfish in that shallow to mid-depth band, this thing belongs on one of your rods.

Spring and autumn
Prespawn and autumn are jerkbait royalty seasons. As fish slide up to feed on banks, points and creek mouths, an 8cm minnow that dives just under the surface is money. Articles like Outdoor Life’s pre-spawn jerkbait primer explain how short-lipped minnows and slow-sinking or suspending jerkbaits shine in that 4–7 ft range, where you want a bait you can work all day without wrecking your shoulders. The Slicker 80 is perfectly sized for that job.

Wind-blown banks and funnels
If the wind has been hammering one bank all day, or there is a choke point where current and bait get squeezed, the Bass Slicker 80 should be somewhere in the mix. The long-cast system lets you stay back and still hit the juice, and the tight wobble plus subtle knock help the lure stand out from the real baitfish being pushed around. Cast across the wind or current so the lure tracks along the seam rather than just straight back at you.

Clear to lightly stained water
Jerkbaits are mostly visual lures, which is why so many pros keep banging the drum for them in clear-water situations on Major League Fishing and similar sites. The Bass Slicker’s finishes – reflective flanks, dark backs and high-contrast patterns – really come alive when fish can get a proper look. In clear water, lean on natural silvers, blues and perch styles; in lightly stained water, step over to Fire Tiger and Red Tiger style colours so the profile pops a bit harder.

All-season confidence bait
Old-school thinking was “jerkbaits are just for prespawn,” but modern tournament guys keep them in the rotation virtually year-round. If you look at pieces like Bassmaster’s jerkbait for all seasons article, the message is clear: with the right retrieve, jerkbaits catch fish in winter, spring, summer and autumn. The Slicker 80’s size and running depth make it a perfect “keep it tied on and see what happens” choice whenever baitfish are around.

Does It Actually Catch Fish?

On paper, the Bearking Bass Slicker 80 jerkbait is built around a spec that already works: 80mm minnow body, roughly 8.5g weight, magnet weight-transfer system, tight wobble, slashbait-style action and sharp trebles. That is the same basic formula you see in a lot of premium jerkbaits reviewed on big platforms, just without the premium price tag.

If you watch jerkbait breakdowns like this full jerkbait seminar on YouTube or read KVD’s jerkbait articles on his site and on Bassmaster, the themes are always the same: get a bait that casts well, runs true, looks like a baitfish and lets you control the action with the rod. The Slicker 80 ticks every one of those boxes.

It is not some miracle lure that will out-fish everything, every single day – nothing is – but if you match the colour to your water, set it up on sensible tackle and actually play with your cadence, it will absolutely catch its share of bass, pike, zander and perch. Think of it as your “budget X-Rap-style slashbait” that you are not scared to throw right into rock, timber and nasty ambush spots.

Gear Pairing

To really get the best out of the Bearking Bass Slicker 80 jerkbait, set it up on gear that lets you work the bait rather than fight it. If you read jerkbait rod and reel breakdowns – for example Kevin VanDam’s tips in his own jerkbait articles and the various MLF and Bassmaster rod-choice pieces – you will see the same pattern over and over: medium or medium-light rod, fast tip, and a reel that can pick up slack quickly without being silly-fast.

• Rod: A 6’6″–7′ medium or medium-light rod with a fast tip is ideal. You want enough tip to snap the lure without moving it metres at a time, and enough backbone to drive those trebles home.
• Reel: On casting gear, a 6.3:1–7.2:1 baitcaster feels just right: quick enough to pick up slack between jerks, not so fast that you constantly overwork the bait. On spinning, a 2500–3000 size reel with a smooth drag is perfect.
• Line: For bass and zander, 8–12lb fluorocarbon or 15–20lb braid with a fluoro leader works brilliantly. If pike or heavier cover are in play, bump the leader strength or add a short wire trace – jerkbait pros often mention that they would rather slightly over-tackle than donate their favourite lure to a toothy hit.
• Sister baits: Use the Bass Slicker 80 as your shallow to mid-depth option, then pair it with the deeper-running Bearking Deep Diving Jerkbait when you want to probe drop-offs and channels, and the bigger Bearking Big Jerkbait when you want a larger profile in front of better-class fish.

Specs

• Product name: Bearking Bass Slicker 80 Jerkbait
• Brand: Bearking
• Category: Minnow crankbait / jerkbait hard lure
• Length: 80mm / 3.15in
• Weight: Approx. 8.5g / 0.3oz
• Body material: ABS plastic with internal magnet weight-transfer system
• Action: Tight wobble on steady retrieve; darting jerkbait / slashbait action on twitches
• Hooks: Fitted with strong, sharp treble hooks
• Rings: Strong flat split rings suitable for freshwater and light inshore use (rinse after salt)
• Colours: Assorted baitfish and tiger patterns (natural silvers and perch for clear water, Fire Tiger / Red Tiger style colours for stained water)
• Target species: Bass, pike, zander, walleye, perch and other baitfish-eating predators
• Pack quantity: 1 lure

FAQ

Final Verdict

If you want a compact minnow hardbait that plays in the same space as the big-name 8cm jerkbaits without the premium price tag, the Bearking Bass Slicker 80 jerkbait is a no-brainer. It is built on a proven 80mm magnet minnow platform, it casts like a rocket, and it does double duty as both a search crank and a twitchy jerkbait.

Match your colours to the water, nick a few cadence tricks from the pros on Bassmaster, Wired2Fish and Outdoor Life, and then throw it at points, weedlines, channel swings and wind-blown banks. It is exactly the sort of lure that quietly gets bites all day and has a nasty habit of finding the better fish in the shoal.

Give the Slicker 80 a long cast, throw in a couple of cheeky twitches and be ready – the next thump might be the story fish of the session.