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Bass lure tips
consider for a moment the number of different lures available to the bass angler. It quickly becomes overwhelming, with dozens of styles in various colors and sizes.
You cannot buy every bass lure in the tackle shop. So we’ve provided a breakdown of the most popular styles, including when and where they are best used, along with what it takes to fish them effectively.
For this article, we’ve categorized the lures into two main sections: soft and hard baits.
Hard Baits
Hard baits represent a technical group of bass fishing lures made from a combination of plastics and metals. Bright, noisy, and often incredibly lifelike, these lures are as attractive to bass fishermen as they are to bass.
Hard baits are less adaptable than soft baits but, when fished correctly, are second to none in terms of the results they can produce. Every angler who has spent even a few seasons fishing for bass will have a lure that they swear by. More often than not, this miracle lure will be a hard bait, and for good reason.
Understanding the various hard bait types and when to use them will help you make the right choice on the day.
Spinnerbaits wield metal blades that produce a distinctive flash and vibration when pulled through the water. Spinnerbaits are composed of four main parts – the head, the arm/wire form, the blades, and the skirt.
The spinnerbait’s head is the attachment point for the hook and also holds the skirt in place. The skirt is made from rubber and can be easily swapped out for another with a different size or color, depending on the water conditions.
The arm/wire form refers to the metal wire that connects the head to the blades and holds these metal blades above and away from the skirt. The arm is also where the line is attached to the lure.
A diagram highlighting the main components of a spinnerbait
When & Where to Use Spinnerbaits
Spinnerbaits can be modified to perform better in different water conditions by using different blade styles. In clear water, a flashier willow leaf blade is preferable. Whereas in murky conditions, Colorado blades will be more effective, as the extra vibration allows bass to hone in on the spinner.
While spinnerbaits can be fished in open water, they excel when fishing weedlines. The wire arm of the spinnerbait acts as a weed guard, keeping the lure snag free in most types of cover. Throwing a spinnerbait around stumps and docks is another excellent way to harness their snag-free ability.
Swimbaits can be either soft bodied or hard bodied (hard bodied swimbaits are also known as glide baits). Hard bodied swimbaits are segmented lures, usually fished in the middle of the water column to target cruising bass.
Soft swimbaits are similar to fish-shaped creature baits (covered later) but are pre-rigged. These lures resemble baitfish and require no additional weight or hooks.
When & Where to Use Swimbaits
Swimbaits are highly realistic bass lures, making them ideal for clear water conditions when matching the natural forage is vital to encourage bites. Summer and early fall make for fantastic times to use large swimbaits that require bass to chase them down. Fish them around cover, such as undercut banks or sunken timber.
Matching the hatch often comes down to color selection. Take a look at our guide on how to pick the right lure color.
Notice the two segments that make up this hard bodied swimbait
How to Use Swimbaits
Swimbaits are great for locating fish and can be used in open water where you may not understand the makeup of the bottom. Retrieve them with a steady, medium speed.
If you suspect bass are following the bait but not biting, adding a quick stop and start to your retrieve can trigger that all-important strike.
Jerkbaits are hard bodied baits comprised of a single, minnow-shaped body. When pulled through the water, jerkbaits have an erratic motion that mimics a wounded or dying fish. This “dying” motion triggers bass to strike, hoping for an easy meal.
A brightly colored jerkbait wielding three sharp treble hooks
When & Where to Use Jerkbaits
Jerkbaits are a mid-water lure. As such, the best time of year to use them is during early spring and late fall, when bass are found suspended in the middle of the water column. Clear water conditions are optimal for jerkbaits, as the bass can easily spot the “dying” action.
Jerkbaits are not weedless, and their treble hooks will snag easily, so fish them away from trees and weeds. This fact further cements spring and fall as prime jerkbait time because cover and weed levels are reduced in these periods.
Soft Baits
Soft baits (often called soft plastics) are characterized by their flexible construction. These baits are commonly made from salt-impregnated polyvinyl, which gives them enough density to sink gently. Soft baits move with the water current or when retrieved, and their material gives them an enticing action in almost every presentation.
Most soft baits require the addition of a hook in order to be rigged. This enables the angler to choose the best presentation for the situation, making them incredibly versatile. This versatility and low cost make soft baits a highly popular category for both novices and seasoned pros.
Within the soft bait category, there are many other different types of fishing lures for bass. For this article, we’ve also grouped frogs and jigs in. Frogs are sometimes pre-hooked or pre-rigged. While jigs are used in tandem with a soft plastic trailer
Plastic Worms & Stickbaits
While this article covers individual lure styles, it makes sense to look at plastic worms and stickbaits together, despite technically being considered two different styles.
Plastic worms are tapered soft baits with a ribbon or diamond tail that flutters when retrieved. Stickbaits have the body of a plastic worm but lack the tail. The stickbait’s subtle wiggle, when retrieved or left to sway in the current, is its claim to fame, but both lures have proven deadly on large bass across North America.
Plastic worms and stickbaits are inexpensive and cost the angler as little as a few dollars for a dozen unrigged lures. Both are very versatile and can be fished throughout the water column, depending on how they have been rigged.
A wacky rigged stickbait
When & Where to Use Plastic Worms/Stickbaits
Plastic worms are best fished in and around cover. In summer, anglers usually fish them over grass beds. Whereas in the colder months, plastic worms are fished close to the bottom, particularly around submerged logs and rock piles.
Imparting movement to your plastic worm is the key to getting the most from it. This is done by either reeling them in or fishing them in an area with strong currents. This focus on movement makes worms great for locating fish and covering a lot of water.
They excel at targeting fish
Stickbaits are effective because of their distinctive wiggle. They can be used in most water conditions, but clear water is optimal, as it ensures fish can take note of this subtle movement. Use them in spring and summer, as bass move into shallow water and select cover for feeding or spawning.
How to Use Plastic Worms/Stickbaits
Without a doubt, worms are best rigged in a weedless fashion. An offset worm hook allows the lure to travel through grass and weedy areas without getting snagged. These zones are where large bass like to hunt.
By Texas rigging a plastic worm with a bullet head weight, you can get your lure deep into cover and fish from the bottom. Work up and down the water column by lifting and reeling in before letting the bait settle again.
When it comes to stickbaits, the wacky rig, which involves hooking the lure through the middle, is the most common rigging approach. It provides plenty of movement and allows weight to be added when fishing in deep water. Alternatively, the wacky rig can also be fished weightless if you are targeting cruising bass.The stickbait is a finesse lure and should be fished slowly to allow the bait to flutter naturally. Stickbaits can work with most gear setups, but the floating nature of fluorocarbon prevents the lure from sinking as intended. Always use mono or braid when fishing stickbaits.
Craws & Creature Baits
Designed to mimic critters that bass naturally feed on, creature baits are one of the most varied types of fishing lures for bass. Instead of generic worm shapes, creature baits resemble other animals like leeches, fish, lizards, and crayfish.
Crayfish-shaped baits, also known as craws, are commonly used as trailers on jigs. The combination closely resembles a frightened crawfish moving across the bottom and can be deadly in the right scenario.
When & Where to Use Craws/Creature Baits
Creature baits work best to locate fish. Fishing weedlines and areas with changes in depth, like sandbars, are ideal locations. Spring and summer are great times to target these locations with craws and creature baits. Go with a slow retrieve if you’re fishing them in colder months.
The movement of a creature bait is hard for big bass to resist
How to Use Craws/Creature Baits
As mentioned, craws are an excellent bass lure when paired with jigs.
Flukes, lizards, and leeches can be fished using Texas or Carolina rigs to target fish higher up in the water column. When using these baits, a slower retrieve works well in moving water, where the current will give the lure additional movement. With that said, if bites are hard to come by, don’t be afraid to experiment with your retrieval speed.