What are the best bass fishing lures? Talk about a difficult question to answer in a single blog post. With so many different types of bass lures and baits on the market, it is impossible to limit it down to one or even the top ten.
The reason that question is so difficult to answer is because there are a variety of different lure categories and under each category there are several different kinds of baits.
Take for example, crankbaits. Under the crankbait category you have squarebill, single knocker, rattle, silent, lipless, deep diving and more are coming to the market each and every year. Then once you choose a subcategory there are a number of different brands that make the lure within the subcategory unique to its brand. And to think that is just the crankbait category.
We also need to take into consideration the seasons. There are lures that works best in the summer, and there are lures that work best in the fall. The same can be said about post spawn vs pre spawn, and spring vs winter.
Now think about all the different general categories of bass fishing lures, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, topwater frog, buzzbaits, spooks, worms, bladed jig, poppers, jigs, senko, spoons and so much more.
To say that we could look at all the categories, all the subcategories, all the brands and narrow it down to a just a few would be impossible.
The point I am trying to make is there is no single lure that we can say with 100% accuracy is the best bass fishing lure. There are many variables to take into consideration. Also, what may work well for one fisherman may not work the best for the next. The important thing is to find one that works for you. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with other lures. As you read this post and you read about a lure you have never tried before. Pick it up give it a try. It just might be your next favorite lure.
With that being said I have written this very long post about what I believe to be some of the best bass fishing lures. Notice I said some. This list is by no means extensive. These are just a few of the lures I have enjoyed fishing with over the years.
Under each lure I will try to explain why I believe this lure to be the best bass lure, when to fish it, and how to fish it.
Let’s begin…
Not only does this lure make our list of the best bass fishing lures, but it also makes the list of our best topwater frog. Why? Simply put, the Koppers LiveTarget Frog catches bass. Big ones!
This is a 100% weedless topwater floating, hollow body frog. As you can see in the picture the hooks are strategically hidden behind the body. When the bass comes down on the lure the plastic compresses and exposes the hooks. It is because of these hooks that this lure can be thrown into the heaviest of slop. These areas with heavy cover not only discourage other bass fishermen from fishing there, but these areas are where the biggest bass hang out.
Another great feature about this frog is that it looks so real. This attention to detail is essential when fishing with a topwater frog and it really sets it self apart from other topwater frogs on the market.
One of the best techniques to fish a frog is to twitch and pause it. On pause the bass have an opportunity to really look at the lure. The fact that this lures looks just like a real frog gives you the advantage and will catch you more fish.
Now that you understand why this is such an amazing lure it is your responsibility to give this lure frog like action that the bass crave.
See this frog in action in the following video:
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If you are planning on fishing in shallow waters the STRIKE KING REDEYE SHAD is your best bet.
One of the best features to the Redeye Shad is the way the lure falls. As it falls it kind of shimmers. This is deadly when bass fishing. Bass simply cannot resist the lure. For that reason, this lure excels in shallow water especially when there are weeds and grass.
Lipless crankbaits in general work very well in grass. So when bringing the lure back to the boat and you feel it caught up on some grass give it a quick pop. This quick pop is a great way to generate a reaction strike.
Another great way to fish the Redeye shad is to yo-yo it back to the boat. This twitch and pause motion will give it that deadly fall and it will take advantage of another great feature, the rattle. This rattles acts as a dinner bell calling bass from far away.
There is no doubt, you are going to catch bass fishing with the Redeye Shad.
Let’s take a closer look at the STRIKE KING REDEYE SHAD:
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The Strike King Burner Spinnerbait is a great bass fishing lure when fishing clear water.
When fishing a spinnerbait in clear water it is important to not give the fish much opportunity to look at the bait. If they have a good opportunity to look at it, they won’t want it.
So you need a lure that you can burn it across the water. That is exactly what this bait is designed to do. With the small body and thin blades it is designed to be burned across the water. As you are bringing it back to the boat give it some action. For example, give it a jerk and then let it flutter. This motion can imitate a dying fishing and generate a strike.
Enjoy the following video:
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If you are planning on fishing shallow waters you need to have a Strike King KVD Square Bill Crankbait in your tackle box. This lure time after time will catch you fish. This square bill crankbait in particular is like no other.
One of the most unique features to the KVD square bill crankbaits is the way that they wobble. Yes, this lure doesn’t come back straight to the boat, it wobbles. This wobbles imitates a dying fish and that in itself gets the bass moving and gets them to come up and get it.
Another great feature is the actual bill. This square bill is designed to be bumped into rocks, structure, logs or whatever else can be found on the bottom of the water. So when fishing with this lure, make sure to bump it into whatever you can get it contact with. Bumping the crankbait causes it to act erratically, generating reaction strikes.
Another tip, when bumping it into structure allow a pause. Many times if the initial bump doesn’t get the bass to react the added pause will.
Check out the following video:
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A very versatile lure is a Zoom Fluke Bait. This lure imitates an injured baitfish. This action drives the bass wild and will get you some bites. Simply texas rig it add a weight and start fishing. Because of its design you can work it in just about every situation. You can fish it fast or you can fish it slow.
One of my favorite ways to work a fluke is to allow it to sink to the bottom of the water and slow twitch its way back to the boat. Everytime you twitch your rod it will give that action that bass crave.
Learn how to fish a fluke from the flukemaster himself:
What makes the Z-Man Chatterbait so successful? It is because it combines the features of 3 different types of lures into one dynamic lure that is tackle box must have.
The blade gives it that flash, very similar to fishing with a spinnerbait. The blade also gives off the vibration similar to a crankbait. Lastly it has the profile of a jig. When you purchase the Z-Man Chatterbait you aren’t just getting one lure, but rather it is like you are fishing with 3 different lures at the same time.
Another thing that makes fishing with chatterbaits fun is the endless variety of different trailers. You can put on a paddle tail, a split tail, double tail grub or a larger creature bait. Each trailer brings a different aspect to an already amazing lure.
Chatterbaits can be fished very easily. A simple cast and retrieve approach will catch you several fish. Keep in mind that not only does the blade give off great vibration, but it also helps to deflect it off structure. Deflecting it off structure can give it that dying baitfish look and generate a reaction strike.
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Do you like that side to side action, but get tired quickly of walking the dog with a jerkbait or a spook all day long? If you answered yes then the Deps Buzzjet is for you.
What is the Deps Buzzjet? The deps Buzzjet is a prop bait designed to be fished on the surface of the water. It is 4 inches long and weighs 1 ounce.
One of the first thing you will notice on this lure is the peculiar looking bill. It is not a deep diving nor is it a square bill crankbait. This bill is uniquely designed to give it a distinguished rocking back side to side motion very similar to walking the dog.
Another thing you will notice is the prop on the backend. As this lure is retrieve the head of the bait is brought through the water just under the surface while the propeller stays on top of the surface. The prop helps to create a lot of disturbance on the surface of the water.
Lastly the great paint job gives is that flash that triggers bass into biting this lure.
Because of the design of the lure, the flashy paint job, the displacement of the water that it produces and the mere size of this lure, we can conclude that this lure is designed to catch bass, big bass.
Watch the Deps Buzzjet in action:
If you are looking to catch quality bass over quantity bass then the JackAll Gantarel Swimbait is the lure for you. It has been proven time after time that big lures catch big fish and this is a big lure. This is a large hardbody floating swimbait. It is a little over 6 inches and weighs 2 1/2 ounces.
This is a deadly fishing lure. One reason that is such a great lure and a must have is the look of the lure. It looks just like a real fish. The finish is so realistic. It is available in a number of different colors: Baby bass, a number of variation of the blue gill finish and it is also available in shad.
There are a few features to this lure that really sets it apart from other swimbaits on the market. One such feature is swivel line ties. This helps to prevent line twists when casting the lure. It also has rotating treble hooks helping to minimize your chances of throwing the fish. It also has a loop right under the fish’s mouth. This is designed so that you can add a weight to the swimbait giving you that option to fish a little deeper.
Speaking of fishing deeper you will notice that his lure has two pertruding fins, one on each side. These two fins are designed move it down deeper in the water column a maximum of up to 1 meter.
Lastly, it has been designed to do a 180 degree turn. This is deadly especially when you notice a fish following your swimbait. You simply give it a little twitch. The swimbait does a turn around an looks the bass right back in the face. Bass can’t stand that and will not hesitant to take the bait.
Enjoy the following video:
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Without a doubt one of the best bass fishing lures the market is the Lucky Craft Pointer. This is a suspending jerkbait. The reason why this lure is effective is because it imitates a dying or injured baitfish.
However, the action of this bait depends on you. This not a lure you can simply cast and retrieve. This is bait that you need to work. One of the best ways to fish it is with a pop and pause action. When you pop your rod it gives that lure that lifelike wobble that will drives bass crazy. After twitching the rod, give it a pause. This pause is deadly. Remember, this is a suspending jerkbait so when you pause it isn’t going to rise and it isn’t going to sink. It is just going to wait there. Bass love this!
Make sure to pause your lure. I can almost guarantee you, that most of your hits will come on the pause and many times the longer the pause the better. This is especially true when fishing months where the bass are moving slower such as in cold water.
Tired of coming home with no fish. Make sure the next time you are out on the water you have the Lucky Craft Pointer in your tackle bag.
Check out the action of this lure underwater:
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A very unique worm that is bound to get the fish’s attention is the Big Bite Baits Squirrel Tail Worm. You maybe thinking from the photo that this is an ordinary worm, but this is not an ordinary shaky head worm. I would like to repeat that one more time. This is not an ordinary worm. In fact, if you haven’t fished with one before I strongly suggest you start today.
As you can see from the photo it has a unique looking tail. That is because this bait is designed so that the tip of the tail floats. This unique feature helps this small bait creat a lot of action. As we know, the more action a lure creates the better chances it will get the fish’s attention and the better chances you will get a bite.
The fact that the tail of the bait is always floating gives you many different options to work it and creates a lot of movement and commotion. This works great especially when working the bottom of the water. Simply cast our your worm and let it sink to the bottom. Once on the bottom, you can work it a number of different ways. The key is to take advantage of the fact that the tail is always floating to create movement.
This is a lure that you can fish all year-long. Also, because of the action this tail provides this lure can be fished just about anywhere. Drag it, hop it, twitch it, bounce it, wiggle it across the bottom and you are going to catch fish.
If you haven’t tried the shaky head Big Bite Baits Squirrel Tail Worm you need to pick one up today.
Check out the action on this worm:
There are two occasions when big bass can be found in deep waters. Just after the spawn and in the middle of summer. To get to the bass you need something that will fish deep. Once such lure is the Strike King 6XD.
There are a few features that I really like about the Strike King 6XD. First, it is important when fishing with a deep diving crankbait to quickly get to your maximum swim depth and stay there for as long as possible. To do this effectively you need a crankbait that will cast well. If you can’t cast well you won’t spend much time at your maximum swim depth. The 6XD is a great lure and it will cast like a rocket.
Secondly, bass like to hang out on near rocks. There is no lure that deflects better off rocks than a deep diving crankbait. Allow the lure to get down bottom, bump it across the rocks and get yourself a fish. This is a great way to generate reaction strikes.
Lastly, this is the go to lure when post spawn bass fishing. Post spawn is when the big females start to go deep. Also, remember that post spawn bass gang up. If you catch one fish, quickly cast again in the same area and you are almost guarantee to catch another one.
Learn more about the features of the Strike King 6XD:
If the bass are deep and you aren’t catching fish with a deep diving crankbait, it may be time to try one of the best bass baits, the Strike King Football Jig.
As the name suggests, the head of the jig looks like a football. This football size head is designed to be dragged across the bottom of the water. This lure is designed to be fished slooowwww. Remember, you are trying to imitating a crawfish feeding on the bottom of water. It may not be as exciting as fishing a crankbait or a spinnerbait, but this lure will catch you fish.
One thing that makes the jig so effective and so versatile is the trailer. There are a number of different trailers that can be added to this lure to give it different actions.
The football shaped head not only helps to get the lure down deep, but it also helps to create commotion. Allow the lure to go to the bottom, and slowly drag it back to the boat. As the lure is coming back to the boat, allow the head to bump into structure or rocks on the bottom. This commotion gets attention and most likely will get you a bite.
Also, don’t just limit yourself to fishing deep. You can also fish them in shallow water. The key is to fish where crawfish can be found.
Get jiggy with it in the following video:
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One of the most popular bass fishing lures is the Yamamoto Senko. Not only does this bait make our list of the best bass bait, but also the ugliest bass bait. Don’t let looks fool you! This lure catches fish.
As you can see from the picture there isn’t really much to say about the look of the lure, but let’s talk a little bit about how to fish this lure.
Overall it is an easy lure to fish with, but it still requires some skill to catch bass. There are two ways to rig it. You can wacky rig it or texas rig it. Both are effective and will catch you fish.
With a wacky rig a twitch pause retrieve will give the bait some action and generate a strike. With a texas rig, I would fish it with more of a lift and drop retrieve. This drop and retrieve gives it a little shimmy action that bass can’t resist.
One of the best ways to catch bass is a technique called walking the dog. The reason this technique is so popular is because it imitates a dying or injured fish. This action will make bass come up and get it.
However, not all bass fishing lures are created equally. Some have that smooth wobble back and forth and others simply do not. One lure that imitates this action so perfectly is the Heddon Super Spook Jr..
When talking about walking the dog, many concentrate on the technique, but just as important is a good lure. Simply put if you don’t have a spook that gives that side to side action you won’t get bites. One lure that time after time delivers that deadly side to side action it the Heddon Super Spook Jr..
A tip when fishing with a spook is to use a red hooks. Many times bass will hear or feel the motion and just react at whatever they see. 9 times out of 10 they will see the red hook over a normal hook.
See this lure in action:
What is the best bass fishing lure?
Well, in this post we have discussed a few options that we would consider the be the best bass fishing lures, but that is what has worked for me. Keep in mind that much depends on you and the conditions you are fishing. The important thing is to get out there and start fishing today!
What do you think is the best bass lure? Share with us your thoughts in the comments below.
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One great bass bait I do not see on the list is a Huddleston deluxe… this is a soft trout imitating swimbait available in different fall rates and is available in 6&8″ sizes.. it requires a heavy swimbait rod but catches mammoth bass. It is especially effective in waters with both bass and trout but I’ve caught bass in even troutless waters with it. It’s subtle action and realistic profile makes it deadly. I fish in the NEast where a 6 lb bass is considered a trophy to some and I’ve caught bass up to 7.5 lbs with this bait, even had days with multiple 6lb+ bass. If you are serious about catching big bass give any of the Huddleston line a try.