After an 8-week evaluation period that conveniently coincided with the pre-spawn at our local lakes, it became evident that the Berkley Krej performs as advertised – defining a new category of hard baits, and delivering a one-of-a-kind action along with crisp, clean returns on live sonar. On the surface, the Krej looks fairly similar to a jerkbait, but reviewers found that the cadence and action are much different. The most notable difference being the path of movement. While most jerkbaits rely on a forward lunge-and-pause to trigger bites, the Krej moves with an upward dart and falls backwards with a subtle "dying baitfish" shimmy. The Berkley Krej is a sinking bait that's strategically weighted to make the lure shimmy on the fall and sink away from the angler—a key feature when targeting bass using your forward-facing sonar as it allows anglers to move the bait towards following fish, and forces them to make a decision - feed or don't. Most reviewers noted the best action coming from less aggressive sweeps and snaps of the rod tip.

As a jerkbait, the Berkley Krej needs to be able to hold up to a high volume of casts and fish - something that industry-leading jerkbaits deliver with ease. During the evaluation period, reviewers noticed that the Krej showcased little to no hook rash and commented how the Fusion 19 hooks remained sticky sharp during long fishing sessions, even after fishing around rocks and other types of hard cover. Thanks to the ABS plastic material of the body, the Krej earned a solid durability rating, and clearly comes ready to throw into big bass territory directly out of the package.

When it comes to value in bass fishing lures, the Berkley Krej holds its own against jerkbaits priced in that mid-tier range of around $15. Branded as a forward-facing sonar bait, the Krej's full potential is unlocked when paired with forward-facing sonar making it less accessible to anglers who aren't using the technology. As a result, the question arises that if you don’t have live sonar, should you purchase the Krej? While the resounding impression among our testers is that the best use-case is with forward-facing sonar, we were able to identify certain scenarios where we think the Krej would excel on its own. For instance, when you’re marking big balls of bait and seeing bass feed near the bottom of the school, the Berkley Krej would be an effective tool for targeting that section underneath the bait.

Does the Berkley Krej put fish in the boat? Absolutely. Again, for those unequipped with live sonar, it’s hard to position this as a versatile lure as it would only really come into play in certain scenarios: targeting bass laid up beneath undercut banks, docks, and even brush piles are all fair game as the bait descends away from the angler. However, given the Krej was designed for forward-facing sonar, it excels in getting down to the strike zone quickly and offering a one-of-a-kind action on the fall that no other hardbait achieves, allowing anglers to position the lure back into the face of the following fish. Jerkbaits only have action moving forward and on the pause, yet the Berkley Krej’s ability to get bites on the backslide narrows its utility, but improves performance in specific situations.

Through our testing trials, we've experienced firsthand the advantages and limitations of this forward-facing sonar-specific lure. While the Berkley Krej may not replace traditional jerkbaits or spybaits for every angler, its unique capabilities make it a valuable addition to the arsenal of those who leverage forward-facing sonar and seek innovative approaches to catching finicky bass. The Krej's performance received high marks from our review team, particularly in its ability to shimmy and sink away from the angler, effectively reaching the strike zone quickly and enticing strikes in scenarios where other baits may struggle. Despite initial skepticism, the Krej proved itself as a category-creating lure, demonstrating consistency and effectiveness in triggering strikes, especially when targeted towards individual fish or pods.

Additionally, its utility shines brightest when used with forward-facing sonar technology, which may limit its appeal to anglers who don’t have the luxury of such equipment. Ultimately, the Berkley Krej emerges as a purpose-built lure with a specific niche in bass fishing. As with any specialized tool, understanding its strengths and limitations is key to maximizing its effectiveness on the water.