What is the difference between a hard jerkbait and a crankbait?

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/features.html#lures

depth, size, running depth

Is it correct that a hard jerkbait is a slender minnow-type crankbait?

Is it correct that a hard jerkbait is a slender minnow-type crankbait?

pretty much

and also, most jerks suspend were as most cranks float

Basically, how it's fished.  A jerk bait is meant to be worked with jerks and pauses.  It's true that MOST jerkbaits are "minnow type" lures.

Cranks are USUALLY fished at a constant speed and do not give you that "slashing" movement that a jerkbait gives.

A jerkbait is a lure that is made for a twitch and pause presentation. Fish normally elevate in the water column to strike them. In other words, they hit them from the bottom. They aren't made for deflecting off cover but to be fish around cover or over cover.

A crankbait is made to be fished on or towards the bottom with the exception of some suspending and lipless crankbaits. Many of them are made for the sole purpose of deflecting off of cover such as stumps and brush. For the most part a steady retrieve is exceptible but occasional pauses work great especially after deflecting.

A crankbait would be more versitile with presentations. The more you use them the more techniques you can learn that may stray away from it's standard technique of running the bottom.

Hope this helps.

CJ

Is it true if fish are really active, think you could fish a shallow runner jerkbait like a crankbait?

                    -searoach