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Twitch, twitch, pause. I have done countless articles with pro bass anglers describing the cadence they employ for twitching baits and they all mention the same sequence of twitching their bait twice and then pausing it. Whether they are using topwater poppers, walking surface plugs, Flukes or suspending stickbaits, the pros favor the twitch, twitch, pause cadence for triggering strikes. I have also employed the same cadence for working Whopper Ploppers around cover and twitching wacky-rigged Senkos or floating worms for spawning bass. There is just something about the action created by the double twitch and pause presentation that is too tempting for bass to resist.

Although the cadence remains the same for twitching all of these baits, the intensity of the twitch and length of pause varies with each lure depending on water and weather conditions and the mood of the fish. Here’s a look at the various twitch, twitch, pause presentations you can use for the following lures.

Subtle Twitching Topwater Poppers

These lures are usually employed during warmer weather so you can use more aggressive twitches to draw strikes. If the water is choppy, you need to make some commotion with the lure to draw a bass’ attention in the rough water so jerk the lure twice and then let it sit for about a second. Repeat the same cadence if a bass fails to hit the lure on the pause. Try the same hard twitching and pause presentation whenever you encounter bass busting shad on the surface. In calm conditions, softly twitch the popper a couple of times and pause it until the rings created by the movement of the surface plug disappear on the water. This presentation is especially effective when working the lure around visible cover.

Twitch Tips: Topwater Walking Baits

Most of the time I just steadily walk this lure all the way to the boat, but sometimes I employ a couple of quick twitches and a lengthy pause when the lure runs next to a dock or flooded bush. I also use the double twitch and pause after a bass takes a swipe at the lure but misses it.

Twitchin’ Flukes

Soft twitches and a longer pause (2 to 4 seconds) works best for me when presenting a Fluke to bass cruising the shallows. Jerking the lure will cause the Fluke to dart too much so I use short, soft twitches to make a more natural-looking presentation. I vary the length of my pause depending on how deep I want the lure to fall.

Jerkin’ Jerkbaits

I mainly use these lures when the water is cold so the mood of the fish determines how hard I twitch these lures and how long I pause the stickbaits.

In the dead of winter, I might softly twitch the bait twice and let it sit for as long as a 20- to 25-count waiting for a bass to slowly swim up to the lure. When the water warms in early spring, I snap the lure twice and shorten my pause to about two to five seconds.