I have noticed that some guys on the site have responded to fishing baits by twitching and jerking. The terms have been thrown around rather loosely.

What exactly is twitching? Is that lifting the rod tip like with a worm?

What is jerking? Is that like with a fluke?

I know how to fish plastics , but what is the real definition of each?

I would consider a twitch to be a short, quick movement, usually done a few times, while a jerk is a single and much harder movement of the pole.

hehheh, Im not touchin this one..... :-X

My definitions:

twitch= drop the rod tip to create slack   give a quick kind of soft snap to take out the slack and move the bait a few inches (baby jerk)

jerk=  a good relatively hard fast snap of the rod without slack to move the bait over a foot

You move the bait slowly with a "twitch."

You move the bait fast and with a lot of movement with a "jerk."

You can use both applications on the same bait on the same retrieve.

Throw out a Pop-R and give it an easy "twitch" or pop it hard for a "jerk" to make the bait move as you wish.

Give these methods a try.  

for twitching I use a short quick snap of the slack line, twitch is intended more to create action and move short distances.

Jerk is like a jerkbait, a quick fluid motion that creates action and moves the bait greater distances.

I would consider a twitch to be a short, quick movement, usually done a few times, while a jerk is a single and much harder movement of the pole.

Ditto.

I would consider a twitch to be a short, quick movement, usually done a few times, while a jerk is a single and much harder movement of the pole.

Ditto.

I agree. I would add that for me a twitch is done using my wrist, while a jerk is done primarily with arm movement.

A twitch for me is taking my finger and moving the line to "twitch the bait".....A jerk is the whole rod movement..... Please don't tell me I've been doing it wrong all these years...

G

I never gave the two much thought.  I've always called it "fishing."

I would say imagine using a normal sized hula popper. If you twitch it it shouldn't pop. If you jerk it, it should.

good clarity guys. ...

Twitching and Jerking?

Eh, not so much since I cut back on caffeine.

Tom

First time in a long time I have heard "Twitch" and "Jerk" in the same sentence and it not be from my wife.

Twitch