The Top Ten Bass Fishing Lures

Today I wanted to put together a list of the top ten best Bass fishing lures to give you an idea of what you should try using to catch small and large-mouth Bass. This is purely opinion of course, you may have different ideas on what works best for you, but without further ado here they are, starting at number 10....

10. Chatter-Bait

The Chatter-bait is still relatively new but has made a big splash on the bass fishing scene. From tournaments to weekends on the water it is making a name for itself as a consistent bass producer. The Chatter-bait falls somewhere between a buzz-bait and a jig in presentation.

9. Swim-Bait

In recent years Swim-baits have become the best bet for trophy-size large-mouths. There is a wide variety of Swim-baits available to match your location. Their popularity in "Big Bass" waters like those found in California and Texas push them up on to the list at No. 9.

KickTail XL5 Ghost Minnow Single Color 3 Set

8. Creature Bait

There is a wide variety of soft plastics on the market that look like anything and nothing in the water. Creature baits like the Yum Woolly Beavertail have given anglers a new set of plastics to trick pressured bass. Creature baits can also be used as trailers for other baits.

7. Classic Lip Crank Bait

Crank-baits really are tried and true bass catchers. Large or small, these cranks can catch them all. The precision and physical appearance is constantly being updated but even the old classic versions will bring you plenty of fish. Tournament anglers will often be seen running cranks to locate fish on large flats or over deep water structure.

6. Bass Jig

Flip it, pitch it, swim it, either way the Jig is a great way to catch bass. It is a consistent 'go-to' bait for tournament anglers and rightly so. Natural colour football head jigs are great in deep structure or you can try swimming a shad coloured model off of ledges and over structure. The addition of a trailer is always a winner.

Minnow Jig 24 Pack

5. Lip-Less Crank

The Lip-less crank is a more versatile version of the classic crank. It's tight wiggle and multitude of depths and speeds it can be presented at have made it a favourite of professionals and amateurs alike. Kevin Van Dam uses this lure as his 'go-to' bait. Designed by KVD himself, this "sexy shad" is a must have bait!

4. The Senko

The Senko has quickly become a favourite amongst anglers. It can be presented in a great variety of ways and bass really love each and every one of them. One of the best Senko techniques is to use a Wacky Rig.

3. Spinnerbait

Spinnerbaits like the TerminatorT2 spinnerbait are the most reached for bait for locating bass. They can be fished fast or slow in deep water or shallow water. Spinnerbaits are especially effective as the water gets warmer. If you're out this summer and fishing in a new spot, tie on a spinnerbait and do some searching. I’m sure you’ll have a great time and some decent success catching fish with it.

2. The Tube

The Tube bait is one the most versatile bass lures available. It catches large- and small-mouth bass alike and can be used in any waters at almost any temperature to catch fish. Its versatility and ability to mimic so many things give it the No. 2 ranking. The best one I have come across is a Texas-Rig with a tungsten weight. The tungsten weight makes clicking noises as it bounces across objects, the sound of it helps bass look for it in unusual conditions. The tube gets its second place spot due to its incredible success at catching small-mouth bass. It is my favourite 'go-to' bait for small-mouth bass fishing.

1. The Worm

Soft plastic worms come in many shapes and sizes, all of which have a place. They're by far the most versatile fishing lure on the market, and are effective on their own or as trailers. Large versions over 10" have pulled monster bass from Falcon lake while finesse worms on drop shot rigs have been used to fool even the most wary of bass. My personal 'go-to' bait is a Zoom Trick Worm Texas rigged weightless, or with a tungsten weight if needed. You can use it as a top-water, in weeds, over logs, or put a weight on and throw it into rock piles in six metres or more of water. Nothing is better than the classic worm!


Walking Worm 30 Pack - Chartreuse

Quick Fishing Lure Descriptions

There are many types of fishing lures, and the best ones are often designed specifically for a particular species of fish to catch.

Most fishing lures are manufactured to resemble the prey of the fish in some form, usually created to look like dying, injured, or even fast moving fish. However sometimes they are designed to appeal to the fish’s sense of territory, curiosity or anger.

Different fish will have different motives for checking out the lure you’re tempting them with, so it’s important to know what you will need if you want to have a successful day out.

Common Fishing Lures

Here are some of the more common types of fishing lures you will come across, as well as a quick description of what they do and how you can use them:

• A jig is a weighted hook with a lead head opposite the sharp tip. They are often covered with a minnow of crawfish or even a plastic worm to get the fish's attention. The fisher will move the rod to make the jig move.

• Surface lures are also known as top water lures. They float and resemble prey that is on top of the water. They can make a popping sound from a concave-cut head, a burbling sound from "side fins" or scoops or a buzzing commotion from one or several propellers. A few have only whatever motion the fisherman applies through the rod itself, though if skilfully used, they can be very effective.

• Spoon lures are made to resemble the inside of a table spoon. They flash in the light while wobbling or darting due to their shape, and attract nearby fish.

• Plugs, or crankbaits as they are sometimes known, have a fishlike body shape and are run through the water where they can make a variety of different movements caused by instability due to the scoop under the head.

• Artificial flies are designed to resemble all manner of fish prey and are used with a fly rod and reel in fly fishing.

• Soft plastic baits are made of plastic or rubber, and are designed to resemble worms, lizards, frogs, leeches and other creatures that a fish might hunt as food.

• Spinner bait are pieces of wire bent at about a 60 degree angle with a hook on the lower end and a flashy spinner mechanism on the upper end.

• Swim bait is a minnow-like soft plastic bait that is reeled like a plug. Some of these have a swimming tail to resemble a fish’s movements.

• A daisy chain is effectively a ‘chain’ of plastic lures which do not have hooks – their main purpose is to attract a school of fish closer to the lures that do have hooks. In some countries like Australia and New Zealand, daisy chains can sometimes refer to a rig that’s used to catch baitfish in a similar arrangement to a ‘flasher rig’ or a ‘sabiki rig’; a series of hooks with a small piece of colourful material attached to each hook.

What Can You Make Lures Out Of?

Fishing lures can be made with a variety of different materials, like plastic, rubber, wood, metal, and cork, and also things like feathers, animal hair, string, tinsel, or other similar items can be used.

There are advantages to using artificial lures to catch fish, including a reduction in the use of bait. On a larger scale, this will help to resolve one of the marine environment’s most pressing issues, which is the overharvesting of smaller ‘bait’ species at the lower end of the food chain.

Another advantage of the use of fishing lures is it improves the survival of fish during ‘catch and release’ fishing. Fishing lures tend to reduce the occurrence of deep hooking, which can quite often lead to the death of the fish through improper handling and during removal of the hook.