From crankbaits and spinnerbaits to the simple yet effective soft plastic worm, there are countless different lures available for the discerning bass fisherman.
Choosing the best bass fishing lures for you is a subjective task that depends on a number of different factors. These include the clarity of the water you’re fishing in, the season and the amount of cover, and what the baitfish around at the time are.
In this article, we take a look at different types of the best bass fishing lures and then select our personal favorites for each category.
How To Choose The Right Lure
Which lure is best isn’t just about the quality of the design of that lure, but also understanding when to use a certain type.
There are so many different lures out there and they all are to serve a specific need for the conditions at the time.
Here are some pointers on how to pick the right lure.
When It’s Cold
Use slow moving baits and slow moving presentation when fishing in the winter or the cold. With lower temperatures, bass will not expend much effort and will only bite when your lure is immediately within their strike zone.
Know When They Spawn
Break Spring into 4 segments called pre-spawn, spawn, post-spawn, and late spring. Pre-spawn means that bass will be around the 8–15 feet (2.4–4.6 m) depth, spawn means they will move up to their spawning beds, post-spawn means they will move back down to 8-15 feet, and the late spring has bass moving towards the shore early in the morning and out towards structures later.
Pre-spawn occurs when waters climb to around the 45 degree mark. Spawn occurs when water is between 55 and 65 degrees. Post spawn occurs at different times and doesn’t happen to an entire lake due to differences in water temperatures. Late Spring is basically the beginning of summer when temperatures climb upwards of 80 and 90 degrees.
Know The Bait Present
Knowing when they spawn is important but also knowing what bait there is at the time that you decide to fish is just as important. You want to “match the hatch” by presenting lures to the fish that will look and act like whatever bait they are feeding on at the time.
The best bass fishing lakes are teeming with baitfish so make sure you research what is there before heading out.
How Deep Will You Fish
Use lipless crankbaits if you’re fishing in 1 foot of water or if you’re fishing as deep as 50 feet. You will have to reel faster (while using the best bass fishing reels) or use a lighter lure in shallow water, whereas you will reel slower or use heavier best bass fishing reels when fishing deeper water.
Use a specific lipped crankbait depending on the depth of the water because they are classified as shallow, medium or deep diving based on a 10 pound nylon monofilament or fluorocarbon line.
Use square bill crankbaits or crankbaits with round, stubby lips and sharp angled off noses when fishing for bass in shallow water, around wood or rock.
Deploy medium-diving crankbaits when fishing in a 5-10 foot range best bass fishing lakes. If you’re bass fishing 12 feet or deeper, use deep-diving crankbaits.
The best bass fishing lakes will have varying depths with fish staging in every area so be prepared with different best bass fishing lures.
The Best Bass Lures | Our Picks
Now that you have an understanding of how to choose the right lure, let’s get into which ones actually perform best for their class.
Strike King Red Eye Shad Bait Lipless Crankbait
Lipless crankbaits use a thin cross-section and an angled head to carve rapidly through the water. This results in a violent side-to-side action that sends out vibrations to attract bass through their lateral line.
The Strike King Red Eye Shad also comes with loud rattles that make it impossible for bass to ignore. It is uniquely designed to run nose down through the water. This allows it to be reeled using the best bass fishing reels through thick cover without hooking up — a bonus considering that it’s an expensive lure to cut loose.
In fact, it’s lauded as the most weedless lipless crankbait on the market.
Best Bass Jig – Terminator Pro’s Jig
For impressive versatility, choose the Terminator Pro’s Jig. The brand’s flagship lure features a stand-up design perfect for skipping, flipping or fishing as a swim jig. It starts at ¾ ounce going up to a full ounce and has an environmentally safe lead-free head.
The head’s flattened shape allows the jig to skip well on the surface, and to stand upright on the lake floor for more lifelike jig-and-trailer presentations. It’s also slightly tapered so that it can glide easily through vegetation when used as a swim jig.
Best Plastic Worm – Yamamoto Senko Bait
Considered by many to be the best bass lure of all, soft plastic stick baits are an essential addition to every angler’s tackle box. They’re inexpensive, incredibly versatile and irresistible to bass.
Designed by Gary Yamamoto in the early ’90s, the Yamamoto Senko Bait is a classic, tried-and-tested option that’s effective for both small and largemouth bass in an astounding array of different fishing conditions. Whether you’re fishing clear, stained, shallow, deep or open water, the lure’s simple design and subtle natural action delivers amazing results.
Using this on the best bass fishing lakes and ponds where there are lots of worms will be your best bet.
Best Spinnerbait – BOOYAH Pond Magic
Another popular option for bass fishermen, spinnerbaits resemble a conventional jig attached via a bent wire to a free-spinning blade.
The blade flashes in the water to attract bass and also creates vibrations that can be picked up by the fish’s lateral line. Spinnerbaits can be used in a variety of conditions, including areas with heavy cover.
One of the most popular options is the inexpensive but effective BOOYAH Pond Magic Spinnerbait. As the name suggests, this 3/16-ounce lure is intended for smaller bodies of water.
Its color and blade combinations are hand-selected to match the forage base of ponds, creeks and small lakes. Despite the lure’s small size, its construction matches the high quality of the brand’s larger spinnerbaits. It boasts a premium 2/0 Mustad hook, durable components, and a 60-strand ultra-fine silicone skirt. Tandem blades allow for optimal water displacement, making the lure irresistible to predatory bass.
Best Topwater Lure – SteelShad Topwater Popper Bass Fishing
Large internal rattles create the brand’s signature “Walk-the-Dog” action. This rhythmic side-to-side motion looks and sounds like a wounded bait-fish, while realistic 3D holographic eyes help to complete the illusion.
Choose from a selection of painted or chrome-finish color patterns, ranging from true-to-life options like gold mullet and speckled trout to eye-catching shades like hot pink or red head.
The lure is fitted with two VMC black nickel treble hooks, weighs 7/16 ounces and measures 3-1/8 inches in length.
Best Jerkbait – Yo-Zuri 3DB Jerkbait Suspending Lure
Jerkbaits are made to mimic the death throes of an injured bait-fish by the angler, who jerks the tip of the rod while reeling in using the best bass fishing reels. The Yo-Zuri 3DB Jerkbait is praised for its durability. And for its ability to catch fish in a variety of different conditions. It is a suspending jerkbait, using neutral buoyancy to hang in the water column at mid-depth. This gives it a natural appearance while also allowing interested bass enough time to strike.
You can control the precise depth by raising or lowering the tip of your rod as you jerk it.
Summary
Once you are out on the best bass fishing lake make sure you bring along one of these best bass fishing lures to make sure you come home with a catch or some great pictures!
If you fill your tackle box with a variety of best bass fishing lures then you’re prepared for any conditions you might be facing while there.
If you have any questions about these best bass fishing lures or how to use them then drop a line in the box below and I will get back to you!