The 10 Best Bass Lures
This wiki has been updated 22 times since it was first published in February of 2018. From spinners and crankbaits to jigs and artificial worms, every angler has a favorite method for going after that elusive trophy bass. Depending on the time of year, the body of water, the weather conditions, and whether or not you’re focusing on largemouth or smallmouth, one of these lures will serve as the ideal bait for hooking and landing your next big one. Just don't forget your camera. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Heddon Zara Spook
2. Yamamoto Senko
3. Storm WildEye
Editor's Notes
August 13, 2020:
Adjusted the listing for the Tbuymax Spinner, as some users are disappointed in the lure’s action, complaining that the blade doesn’t spin fast enough, or that it takes too long to start spinning once the retrieval begins. Modified the listing for the Berkley Havoc Pit Boss to indicate that it’s no longer available in multiple colors. Plenty of anglers have success with the Yongzhi Snakehead, but we note in the listing that others are disappointed with their small size.
Added the Booyah Pond Magic, a bright, colorful spinner that has proven successful with bass, catfish and panfish. Even if some of the paint chips off due to excessive use, that shouldn’t hinder its effectiveness. It’s offered in a huge range of designs.
The Grandebass Rattlesnake — previously listed in the Special Honors section — had to be removed due to a lack of availability. We replaced it with Pierson Plugs, a line of handmade prop lures that can be used to target a variety of species in addition to bass. They’re useful for multiple fishing methods, as you can cast and retrieve them, use them as stick baits, or even troll them.
June 12, 2019:
We got rid of the FreeFisher T11 due to a lack of availability and the Rose Kuli Swimbait because of a number of issues, including an uneven retrieval, an inability to dive deep (despite advertising claiming that very ability), and instances in which it pops out of the water while the angler is reeling in.
We opted to add two stalwarts from proven brands: the Berkley Havoc Pit Boss and Heddon Zara Spook. The former is useful for different types of rigs, as it has produced great results while attached to swim bait hooks, as a jig tail, and even as a topwater. The latter acts exclusively as a topwater, and users rave about its special “walk the dog” action, which includes twitching the rod tip back and forth while you have a bit of slack on the line to create an enticing back-and-forth movement.
When selecting the three Special Honors lures, we made sure to diversify the offerings a bit, providing a ribbed rubber worm, a tube bait impregnated with salt, and a crank bait that can be used for casting or jigging.
Special Honors
Jann’s Netcraft Vibe The Vibe series from Jann’s Netcraft gives you some flexibility, especially if you like to change up your approach based on the conditions on the water. This bait is available in several colors and sizes, and it will perform admirably whether you’re jigging in choppy water or retrieving it on a calm morning. jannsnetcraft.com
Secret Lures Stupid Tube Despite its less-than-appealing name, the Stupid Tube is quite effective at enticing big bass out of heavy cover with its wounded baitfish action. It’s made with a tough, soft plastic to endure bites from sharp teeth and scratches from errant fins. You can pick this up as a pack of seven or 25. secretlures.com
Pierson Plugs These handsome handmade prop lures make a nice gift for a passionate fisherman. In addition to both large and smallmouth bass, they’ll net you muskie, pike, striped bass and plenty of other species. They offer standard propellers as well as “pig poppers,” which effectively imitate small, injured water animals — and ideally entice big fish. piersonplugs.com
4. Berkley Havoc Pit Boss
5. Booyah Pond Magic
6. Cubby Mini Mite
7. Rapala Rattlin
8. Tbuymax Spinner
9. Sougayilang Worm Bait
10. Yongzhi Snakehead
In addition to his corporate career as a marketing and communications professional in Chicago, Sam runs a popular blog that focuses on the city’s flourishing craft beer and brewery scene. He received his degree in journalism from DePaul University (which spurred his interest in freelance writing) and has since spent years developing expertise in copywriting, digital marketing and public relations. A lifetime of fishing, hiking and camping trips has left him well-versed in just about any outdoors-related topic, and over several years spent working in the trades during his youth, he accumulated a wealth of knowledge about tools and machinery. He’s a travel junkie, a health and fitness enthusiast, and an avid biker.