The 15 Most Effective Bass Lures to Catch More Fish This Season
The 15 Most Effective Bass Lures to Catch More Fish This Season
Crankbaits – Ideal for targeting bass hiding in cover
As an avid bass angler, having the right lures in your tackle box is critical for success. Of all the bass lures available, crankbaits are one of the most effective for enticing strikes from largemouth and smallmouth bass hiding in cover. When retrieved, crankbaits imitate baitfish with their realistic body profile and erratic action. The lifelike swimming motion triggers reaction strikes from aggressive bass. There are several types of crankbaits, each with their own benefits.
Diving crankbaits are ideal for targeting suspended bass relating to cover. These lures dive down when retrieved, allowing you to fish different depths. Long-billed versions dive deeper, while shorter bills allow for a more subtle presentation higher in the water column. square-billed crankbaits are perfect for bumping off logs, rocks, and other cover. The blunt bill causes them to deflect off objects with an injured baitfish action bass can’t resist.
When bass are active near the surface, nothing beats topwater crankbaits for explosive strikes. These lures float and also dive a bit when retrieved. They are great around grass lines, points, and other shallow structure. Lipless crankbaits are another outstanding option, especially when you need to cover water to find active fish. With a straight retrieve, they vibrate and rattle to mimc distressed bait. To really drive bass crazy, mix up your retrieve speed.
To get the most out of crankbaits, it’s imperative to match their size, running depth, and profile to the given conditions. Always consider water temperature, visibility, baitfish size, cover, and bass location in your lake or river. Natural shad and perch patterns work almost everywhere, but sometimes matching the hatch is key. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different crankbait types until you figure out what’s working on a given day. Pay close attention to where bass are striking your lure to fine-tune your presentation.
When rigging crankbaits, use a rod with a moderate action to allow the bait to work properly on the retrieve. Pair it with 10-20 lb test monofilament or fluorocarbon line depending on the size of your lure and cover in the area. Use a snap or swivel to attach your crankbait when fishing around heavy cover. This prevents line twist and allows the bait to have optimum action. With the right crankbait, you’ll boat your limit of chunky largemouth and smallies in no time!
Spinnerbaits – Excellent for covering water to find active fish

Spinnerbaits are one of the most versatile and effective lures for catching bass year-round. What makes spinnerbaits so productive is their unique design. They have a jig head, a rotating blade, a wire arm, a rubber or vinyl skirt, and sometimes a trailer hook. All these components work together to attract bass through vibration, flash, and water displacement.
The metal blade spins as you retrieve the lure, creating vibration and flash that mimics small baitfish. Larger willow leaf blades produce more vibration, while narrower Colorado blades flash more. The arm wire helps produce a side-to-side swimming action. The skirt adds color and helps camouflage the hook to increase strikes. Trailer hooks improve hookup ratios on short strikes.
When bass are roaming open water and actively feeding, a spinnerbait is the go-to search lure. You can cover water quickly with a steady retrieve, burning it over grass flats or along weed lines to trigger reaction strikes. If fish are more finicky, go with a slow-rolled spinnerbait near wood or rocks. Let it flutter down on a semi-slack line, bringing it to life with subtle twitches.
Spinnerbaits also shine when bass are holding tight to cover. Bump the bait off logs and rocks to trigger vicious strikes from irritated fish. The blade continues spinning even when contacting objects. The weedless design allows fishing around thick vegetation with minimal snags. Just keep that steady retrieve going.
When selecting spinnerbaits, always factor in water clarity and conditions. Go with double willow blades around grass. Colorado blades work better around wood and in dingy water where they flash more. Bright white and chartreuse patterns stand out in stained water. Natural shad imitations excel in clear water. Pay attention to blade size too based on baitfish.
Give spinnerbaits a shot on your next bass outing. Whether the fish are deep, shallow, active or inactive, a spinnerbait will get bit. They catch big bass when other lures fail, making them a must-have lure. With the right retrieve and color, you’ll fill a limit in no time!
Soft Plastic Swimbaits – Mimic wounded baitfish with incredible action

Swimbaits are highly effective at catching big bass, especially when conditions make fish less active. While hard swimbaits offer lots of flash and vibration, soft plastic swimbaits have an incredibly realistic swimming action that mimics wounded baitfish. The softer body and segmented construction allows for amazing tail kicks and rolls on the retrieve.
Swimbaits like paddle tails and flukes excel at getting lethargic bass to strike. The tantalizing action is too much for even inactive fish to resist. Rigging them weedless with an extra wide gap hook allows you to fish around grass and wood with minimal snags. The realistic profile triggers bass to strike even when they aren’t aggressively feeding.
To fish paddle tails, cast past targets like weed clumps and slowly reel with a twitching retrieve. The paddle vibrating back and forth imitates a struggling baitfish. For a fluke, use a steady retrieve with occasional pauses to let it flutter down. Reel in the slack and repeat. This causes the fluke to dart side to side in an injured baitfish pattern. Set the hook on any slight twitch or feel of pressure.
When targeting suspended bass over open water, rig a swimbait on a swim jig or underspin. Let it sink for several seconds before slow rolling it back. Keep your rod tip down and use occasional hops and pauses in the retrieve. Follow contours and target fish just off the bottom with this technique. The swimming action is deadly.
For river smallmouth, rig a paddletail on a jighead and drift with the current, bouncing it along the bottom. Mimic crawfish fleeing for cover. For spotted bass, drag a rigged fluke over deep points and humps, letting it flutter down helplessly. No matter the species, bass can’t resist the wounded baitfish profile of soft plastic swimbaits.
Don’t forget to tailor your bait size and profile to local forage. Match the hatch whenever possible. Impregnated soft plastics that release scent are another fish attracting upgrade. The next time bass get lockjaw, get out the swimbaits. Just be ready, because they attract the biggest bass around!