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 work 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, senkos, 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 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.
What are the best bass lures?
Koppers LiveTarget Frog
Not only does this lure make our list, 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 itself apart from other topwater frogs on the market.
One of the best techniques to fish a frog is to twitch and pause it. On the 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 craves.
See this frog in action in the following video:
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Strike King Redeye Shad
If you are planning on fishing in shallow waters the STRIKE KING REDEYE SHAD is your best bet.
One of the best features of 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 rattle acts like 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 Red Eye Shad :
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Strike King Burner Spinnerbait
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 fish and generate a strike.
Enjoy the following video:
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Strike King KVD Square Bill Crankbait
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 wobble 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 to contact with. Bumping the crankbait causes it to act erratically, generating reaction strikes.
Another tip, when bumping it into structure allow for a pause. Many times if the initial bump doesn’t get the bass to react the added pause will.
Check out the following video:
Enjoy reading the following links:
Best Crankbait Reel
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Zoom Fluke Bait
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 slowly twitch it’s way back to the boat.
Every time you twitch your rod it will give that action that bass crave.
Learn how to fish a fluke from the flukemaster himself:
Z-Man Chatterbait
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 can be effective in catching a number of 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.
Learn more about the chatterbait:
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Deps Buzzjet
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 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 retrieved 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:
JackAll Gantarel Swimbait
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 varieties of the bluegill 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 protruding fins, one on each side. These two fins are designed to 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 hesitate to take the bait.
Enjoy the following video:
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Lucky Craft Pointer
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 that it imitates a dying or injured baitfish.
However, the action of this bait depends on you. This is not a lure you can simply cast and retrieve. This is a 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 drive 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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Big Bite Baits Squirrel Tail Worm
A very unique worm that is bound to get the fish’s attention is the Big Bite Baits Squirrel Tail Worm.
You may be 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 create 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:
Strike King 6XD
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.
One 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 guaranteed to catch another one.
Learn more about the features of the Strike King 6XD:
Enjoy reading: The Best Lures For Bass Fishing At Night
Strike King Football Jig
If bass are holding up 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 shaped 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 the 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 a 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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Yamamoto Senko
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.
Heddon Super Spook Jr.
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 anglers 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 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.
Watch the Heddon Spool in action:
River2Sea Whopper Plopper
Another good bass fishing lure is without a doubt a must-have in any fisherman’s tackle box, (especially if you like to do a lot of topwater fishing) it is the River2Sea Whopper Plopper.
It is available in a number of different sizes and colors. The sizes are as follows, the 90 is 3.5 inches long, 1/2 ounces, the 110: 4 3/8 inches long, 3/4 ounces, the 130: 5 inches long, 1 3/8 ounces and lastly the 190: 7.5 inches long, 2 3/4 ounces.
So, which size should I choose?
You will have success with each one of these sizes, yes, even the 190.
In fact, it is interesting to note that initially the 190 size was intended as a musky lure, but that was until a bunch of anglers starting hauling in giants!
With that being said, if you are targeting larger fish, I would recommend fishing with the 130 or 190. Keep in mind the larger profile could scare away some bites and thus your bites will be limited.
On the other hand, a larger profile is going to give off more commotion and generate more vibration in the water. This can prove to work in your advantage when trying to draw fish in or when fishing dark dirty waters.
Personally, I like to fish with the 130 size. It is a bigger profile so it is going to launch further, but it isn’t so bigger that it is going to scare away some bites.
What makes the whopper plopper so unique?
As you can see from the picture, it has a hard body with a rubber tail. On the retrieve, as the water is brought over the tail, it spins giving it a very unique plop sound that draws fish.
One of the best features of this lure is that there are a number of different ways to fish it.
For example, a simple cast and retrieve approach can prove to be successful. If that doesn’t work you can vary your speed or give it a few jerks of the rod.
One of my favorite ways to fish it is to cast it out, bring it back to the boat like you normally would.
Then give it a slight pause and a quick retrieve and rod jerk. This will look like a baitfish that is fleeing from a larger fish and a sure way to generate a reaction strike.
Yum Yumbrella Flash Mob
The next one on our list, might look like something you would find in your wife’s jewelry box, but let me assure you, this lure will catch fish.
It is called an Alabama rig, a-rig or some people call it an umbrella rig. This particular one is the Yum Yumbrella Flash Mob.
As you can see from the picture it is shaped like an umbrella and it allows you to attach several smaller baits to the end in order to imitate a small school of fish.
The one pictured above has room for 5 different lures and 4 willow blades, but you can use colorado blades as well.
One important thing to keep in mind is that each state has laws governing how many hooks you can use when fishing.
When throwing an a-rig always make sure you are fishing within the guidelines of your state. If you have to remove some of the lures you can always add more blades to generate more flash.
This model is also available in a smaller version; the Yum Yumbrella Flash Mob 3-Wire.
I would recommend this smaller option to those fishing with an a-rig for the first time. The reason I say this is because larger ones call for larger lures, heavier line and overall can be more difficult to manage.
The bottom line is that if we have difficulty fishing a lure, chances are we aren’t going to fish it for very long. With that being said, start off with the smaller option and work your way up.
How to fish it? This is a cast and retrieve type lure.
Many anglers have also had success trolling it. Keep in mind that in order for it to run true, it has to be balanced. So before you make that first cast, dip it in the water to make sure it is running the way you like it.
Strike King Coffee Tube
When fishing heavy cover, few lures perform as well as the tube.
The reason being is that there are practically no exterior appendages making them easy to punch into that thick vegetation and get down to where the fish are.
One of my favorite tubes on the market is the Strike King Coffee Tube.
I like this bass bait because it has a natural coffee scent and salt is impregnated into the bait. This not only helps to entice the fish to strike, but it also helps to encourage them to keep it in their mouth.
One of the best things about fishing a tube is that the smaller profile allows it to be fished in a variety of different ways.
One of my favorite ways to fish a tube is when the bass are spawning. Let’s face it, bass hate it when little creatures are hanging around their beds.
Use this to your advantage and tie on a tube. Simply cast it out passed the bed, slowly bringing it back toward the boat.
In the meantime, makes sure to spend some time dancing it across the bed (bass hate that). By doing this it is only a matter of time before hooking up with a big smallmouth.
Another effective way to fish this bait is to dart it across the bottom. As you can see from the picture it does have a smaller profile which allows it to come through the water with ease.
However, don’t let its size fool you. What it doesn’t have in size, it makes up with its tail.
When being brought quickly through the water this tail begins to flutter and really brings this lure to life.
With that being said when retrieving this bait make sure to give the rod a quick sweeping action. This will cause the lure to dart, the tail to flutter and the bass to strike.
PowerBait Power Worm
One of the most difficult times to catch bass is during those hot summer months.
One of the things that makes these months so difficult is first trying to locate the fish and then trying to entice them to bite. Oftentimes during these months, the shallow waters tend not to hold as much oxygen.
When this happens many anglers start fishing oxygen-rich weed lines with a lipless crankbait or those deep waters with a deep-diving crankbait as these waters hold more oxygen and thus more fish. These are great places to start and you will no doubt catch fish.
However, I am going to teach another way to catch bass during those difficult months using what I consider to be one of the best bass fishing lures for summer it is the PowerBait Power Worm.
This is a 10-inch word with a ribbon tail on the end. Let me tell you that this worm gives off a ton of action. It is because of the length and the action of the tail that bass simply can’t resist but to strike.
Another reason this is such a great bait to throw during the summer is because it is relatively easy to use.
Simply cast it out, allow it sink to the bottom. The next step is important, you aren’t going to bring it back with the reel, but rather with the rod itself. To do so, simply reel up the slack and lift up the rod tip.
Next, slowly lower the rod as you reel up the slack and do it all over again. By doing so, you are dragging it across the bottom and allowing the tail to do all the work for you.
Spro BBZ Rat
A rat? You want me to go bass fishing with a rat?
Yes, I know it may come as a surprise, but bass love munching on rats. For that reason, (if you aren’t already) you need to add this bait to your arsenal. Especially if you fish at night.
While there are a number of different options available on the market, I really like the Spro BBZ Rat. It has a lifelike body and gives off a good amount of action.
As you can see from the picture it is equipped with a squarebill in the front and thus one of the most effective ways to fish it is much like a wakebait.
Largemouth and Smallmouth bass love wakebaits. Not only can they see them swimming on the surface of the water, but the wake they leave behind helps them to track down their prey.
This rat is available in a number of different colors.
Booyah Buzz
If you want to land yourself a big largemouth, you need to be throwing a buzzbait. They are easy to fish, they make a lot of commotion on the surface of the water and they simply catch fish.
One such option that I like to throw is the Booyah Buzz.
Sometimes in order to get more hits, you need to throw something the fish haven’t seen or heard before. That is what I like about the Booyah Buzz. Yes, it is a buzzzbait, but it is equipped with an additional clacker.
This means that as it is being brought across the water, that clacker gives off a very unique sound. This is especially effective in areas where buzzbaits are thrown often because it gives them something they haven’t heard before and thus increases your chances of getting bit.
Arbogast Hula Popper
A great way to draw in some largemouth is with a popper. A popper is a topwater floating bait that makes a popping noise as it is being retrieved.
There are few that perform as well as the Hula Popper.
The hula popper is one of the original poppers that first came out on the market. Since its initial day, it has come a long way, in its design, but it still will catch many fish.
To fish a popper, simply cast it out and bring it back by twitching the rod and reeling up the slack. On each twitch, the lure will make a popping noise like a baitfish feeding on the surface.
This is definitely a great way to bring in some giants. It is available in 15 different colors so you will have no problems finding the best color for the given situation.
Final Thoughts…
What is the best bass fishing lure?
Well, in this post we have discussed a few options that we could 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.
In the meantime check out the following links published on this blog:
Best Bass Lures Of All Time – Do the names Bill Lewis, James Heddon, and Lauri Rapala sound familiar? These people have created some of the most popular bass lures that we still use today. In this post, we are going to talk a little bit about that history.
Another great post that I would recommend you check out is the Best Bass Crankbaits. Crankbaits are such a popular category when it comes to bass fishing that I thought it would need its own post. In this article, we take an in-depth look at these types of lures and I even talk about some of my favorite ones on the market today.
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.