# Bomber Long A: the classic jerkbait that's still catching fish > Twitch, pause, casting or trolling depth: how to fish the Bomber Long A, the historic jerkbait for pike and bass that hasn't needed to change. - Source : https://carnafish.com/en/leurres/bomber-long-a/ - Language : en-US - Updated : 2026-08-14 ## Spec sheet - Brand : Bomber - Model : Long A (15A) - Type : Jerkbait / hard minnow - Target species : Pike, Bass - Size : 11.5 cm / 4.5 in - Weight : 14 g (1/2 oz) - Running depth : around 1 m (3 ft) twitched on the cast, up to 1.8 m (6 ft) trolled - Retrieve speed : slow, broken up by pauses - Action : strong side-to-side roll and a wide bill kick on the twitch, more subdued on a straight retrieve - Rigging : medium jerkbait rod, wire leader for pike, thin braid to feel every strike during the pause - Colors : natural finishes (roach, perch) in clear water, chartreuse or orange in stained water The Long A isn't a trendy lure. Its shape has barely changed since it was introduced, and that's exactly what makes it a benchmark. Where a lot of modern jerkbaits chase a flashy look in the packet, the Long A just does what's asked of it — roll hard on the twitch and stay believable at rest — through decades of tournaments and ordinary fishing trips alike. ## What explains its staying power The Long A owes its reputation to a particularly wide twitch and a strong roll that triggers reaction strikes even from inactive fish. Unlike thinner, subtler modern jerkbaits, it doesn't aim for restraint: its broad swim is visible and audible (literally — the bill produces a light clacking sound) from a distance, which makes it an excellent search bait on an unfamiliar spot. ## Floating or suspending: two different jobs The classic 15A is a **floater**: at rest, it slowly rises toward the surface, which naturally suits a dynamic twitch-pause-twitch retrieve rather than a waiting game. A **suspending** version also exists for cold water or very wary fish, where a long pause without the lure rising often makes the difference — switch to it once the water drops below 10°C (50°F). ## Depth: casting versus trolling On a standard cast, the Long A runs around 1 m (3 ft), a depth that suits margins and shallow spots well. **Trolled**, its bill lets it reach roughly 1.8 m (6 ft) depending on how much line is out — a technique underused for pike but genuinely deadly for covering large search areas. ## The twitch that gets bit The go-to retrieve has three beats: a sharp rod snap to make the lure roll, a one-to-three-second pause, then repeat. Pause length depends on how active the fish are — the colder the water, the longer it should run. The strike comes almost always during that pause, never on the twitch itself. > On the water: if you're setting the hook on the sound of the twitch, you're setting too early. Wait for the pause, feel the weight, then set the hook. ## One season, one retrieve - **Early spring, post-spawn**: long pauses, widely spaced twitches. Fish are recovering and want an easy meal, not a chase. - **Spring and summer**: a faster cadence, one-second pauses, a retrieve that covers the spot quickly. - **Fall**: back to a slower rhythm but with wider twitches — big fish are feeding up before winter, and a strong signal carries further. ## Colour by water clarity In clear water, a natural finish mimicking roach or perch is the safe bet: the Long A doesn't need extra flash, its roll does the attracting on its own. In stained water, switch to chartreuse or orange to keep a visible silhouette despite the reduced clarity. ## Where another lure does the job better The Long A stays a surface-to-mid-water lure: past 2 m (7 ft) it runs out of range, and a [Sebile Magic Swimmer 128](https://carnafish.com/en/leurres/sebile-magic-swimmer-128/) or a shad on a weighted jighead will take over more effectively. Likewise, over heavy brush its exposed treble hooks snag fast — a [Whopper Plopper](https://carnafish.com/en/leurres/river2sea-whopper-plopper-130/) working the surface above the obstacles instead of through them is the better call there. A good jerkbait never does all the work alone — reading the spot decides which retrieve to use, and that's exactly what [CarnaFish](https://carnafish.com/en/) simplifies: it reads a photo of your spot and hands you a zone and a technique matched to the day's conditions. For more on picking lure families by season, see the [full pike lure guide](https://carnafish.com/en/blog/quel-leurre-brochet/). ## FAQ ### How do you properly work a Bomber Long A? A sharp rod snap to make it roll, a one-to-three-second pause depending on how active the fish are, then repeat. The strike comes almost always during the pause, not on the twitch. ### Should you pick the floating or suspending Long A? The floating version suits a dynamic retrieve in moderate water. The suspending version is better in cold water or on wary fish, when a long pause without the lure rising makes the difference. ### Can you troll a Bomber Long A? Yes, and it's an effective, underused technique: its bill lets it reach roughly 1.8 m (6 ft) depending on line length out, making it a good lure for covering large search areas. ### How deep does the Bomber Long A run on a cast? Around 1 m (3 ft), which suits margins and shallow spots well. To go deeper, switch to trolling or a different lure family entirely. ### What colour Long A works best in stained water? Chartreuse or orange: these tones keep a visible silhouette even in murky water, whereas a natural finish blends in too much to be spotted from a distance. ### Does the Long A handle heavy cover well? Not really — its exposed treble hooks snag easily in dense brush. Save it for open water or lightly covered margins, and reach for a topwater lure over thick vegetation instead. --- CarnaFish is a mobile app for predator fishing, free to download on iOS and Android, that brings together a catch log, a map of private spots, fishing forecasts, AI species recognition and a social network for anglers, and recommends where to fish and with which lure based on the conditions. To cite this content, mention “CarnaFish — carnafish.com” and link the source page.