Article 1 Article 2 Article 3 Article 4 Article 5 Article 6
Method One of Six:
Assessing Fishing Conditions
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Fish along the shore early in the morning during the Summer and off of
structures during the day. When fishing in the Summer, bass will be closer to
the shore early in the morning to feed then move into open water around creek
channels and structures.
They will school together and feed on shad near the top of the water so it's
best to use topwater, plastics, jigs, and even lipless crankbaits.
4. Fish the first cool night of the Fall. As the temperature drops in the Fall,
bass will be feeding closer to shore but will show more erratic behavior. The
first cool night of Fall is a good time to look for a feeding frenzy as bass
prepare for the upcoming cold months.
5. Analyze the terrain. Depending on the weather and which phase of their mating
cycle they are in, bass may like to stay close to certain areas or hide within
debris. Vegetation, rocky bottoms, shallow flats, fallen trees, structures,
bushes and grass can all provide ample places to cast. Research the swimming
habits that may correspond to the time and place that you are fishing.
Method Two of Six:
Fishing with Crankbaits
1. Utilize crankbaits when you want to cover a lot of water. These lures are
quite versatile. You can use them in light vegetation, rocky bottoms, shallow
flats, and through bushes and grass.
Many crankbaits include rattles that helps bass find the bait. Another good
feature to look for on a crankbait is very visible eyes. Glowing eyes seem to
work best as predatory fish target the eyes when striking.
Crankbaits come either lipless or with a lip and
each is effective dependant on depth and the speed at which you reel.
2. Examine how deep you will be fishing. 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 or use a lighter lure in shallow water, whereas you will
reel slower or use a heavier lure 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.
If you’re fishing 12 feet or deeper, use deep-diving crankbaits.
3. Examine the water conditions. Lipless crankbaits can easily be ripped out of
grass or bumped along a clean bottom whereas a lipped crankbait will hit
something and kick outwards because the lip acts as a deflector.
Use lipped crankbaits when fishing through wood cover like tree limbs or stumps.
4. Choose the shape of your crankbait. The shape of your crankbait determines
how much movement you will get, which is important depending on the temperature
of the water as bass are less active in colder temperatures.
With a more rounded-bodied crankbait you’ll get a wide wobble that is attractive
to bass that are aggressive, usually when water is warmer; in contrast, a flat
crankbait with narrow sides will have a tighter wiggle that is more appealing to
bass in cold water who won’t react to large movements.
5. Match your line with the diving depth. Pair the correct size of line with
your crankbait according to how deep you want the bait to run.
For example, use a 10 pound fluorocarbon line to lighten up a deep diving
crankbait or you can use the same 10 pound fluorocarbon line to get a medium
diving cranbait to stay at its deepest range.
6. Limit the colors. Crankbaits come in the full spectrum of colours but stick
to the basics of bass fishing. Choose bright shad patterns, dull shad patterns,
bluegills, crawfish, and contrasting patterns.
Shad patterns work well in bright sunlight with the
more muted patterns becoming more effective in cloudy but clear water.
Crawfish works well in the spring as well as for bass
in shallow water.
Bluegill works well for bass that are feeding on bream
during their post spawn period or if they are around docks.
Method Three of Six:
Fishing with Spinnerbaits
1. Utilize spinnerbaits when covering a lot of water quickly. Thanks to their
unique blade shape, they can dive, retrieve quickly, and even weave through
thick cover.
Choose spinnerbaits in standard or weedless. A weedless spinnerbait is a good
option if you are fishing in a lot of cover, but are also harder to set the hook
on. Add a cheater hook to catch short striking fish.
2. Choose the right blades. There are 3 major blade types: leaf, Colorado, and
Indiana. Each blade type is effective for different conditions.
The leaf blade is most effective when fishing through grass and in clear water
when you want a fast retrieval. It is a long slender blade with rounded points
on either end to allow a faster spin and less water resistance. Deploy the
Colorado blade when fishing at night or in muddy and murky water. The rounded
shape allows it to spin slower giving the bass more opportunity to bite. Utilize
the Indiana blade as a compromise to the slower Colorado blade and faster leaf
blade.
3. Examine the water conditions. Check for debris or water clarity to ensure
that you’re using the most effective blades. The larger the blade means that it
is easier to maneuver around stumps, rocks, and other debris, while narrow
blades move quickly through sparse grass. Spinner baits work best when it’s
windy and cloudy because they are meant to cause a reaction from the bass. Use
faster spinner baits in clearer water and slower ones in muddier water.
4. Match your line with the diving depth. Choose lighter spinnerbaits for
shallow water while heavier lures should be used for deeper depths. The weight
will range from ⅛ ounce to 2 ounces. Remember that the slower you reel, the
deeper your lure will swim while reeling fast keeps your lure shallow. Blade
size also affects how deep your lure will go but you can also add a trailer to
your hook for buoyancy and movement.
Method Four of Six:
Fishing with Topwater
1. Employ topwaters when fishing in very shallow water, or in areas that are
covered in surface vegetation such as lily pads. These lures are meant to ripple
the water surface with popping and splashing as you retrieve it. In the spring,
bright colors work best. In the fall and winter, black, white or gray work well.
Choose topwaters that produce a lot of noise and splash to get the bass'
attention.
2. Choose the right topwater lure for your water conditions. Topwater lures come
in walkers, poppers, wakebaits, minnows/twitch baits, prop baits, buzzbaits, and
frogs. Each different type of topwater lure is most effective in different
conditions.
Walkers are most effective when covering a lot of top
water quickly because it keeps the bait in striking distance for the bass.
Poppers should be deployed when fishing around stumps,
docks, bushes, rocks, and small areas that are covered because these lures will
aggravate bass into biting.
Wakebaits work best in clear water when fish are
attracted to the V shaped wake.
Minnows/twitch baits excel in clear lakes or small
areas where bass may spook at aggressive lures. They are great during spawning
when bass are guarding their nests.
Prop baits should be used in places with a lot of
grass, especially during spawning season. They create a lot of movement even
without moving a great distance, which keeps them in a bass’ striking range
longer.
Buzzbaits should be used in sparse grass and places
where you feel your lure might get snagged but you still want a topwater
presentation. These are most effective after spawning during the late
summer.
Frogs are meant to mimic real frogs so use them
effectively around heavy grass. They can also be used around cover as they are
one of the toughest lures to snag.
3. Employ the right technique. Topwater lures are meant to simultaneously
activate the feeding and agitation response from bass but require you to mimic
fleeing or helpless prey with erratic movements.
Create a back-and-forth or zig zag pattern on the
surface of the water when you employ a walker lure. Snap your wrist and rod tip
downward at a sharp angle and then point the rod tip back to the lure
quickly so it glides.
Give a series of fast snaps to make the bait move from left to right.
Snap your rod tip downward to activate a poppers
concave mouth and narrow tail.
Steadily retrieve your wakebait to utilize its sharp
angled lip to cause it to shimmy back and forth.
Twitch and float minnows/twitch baits back to the
surface to attract bass guarding their nests during spawning.
Use a series of short jerks on your rod to spray water
with prop baits.
Steadily retrieve your buzzbait to employ its blade to
curl the water, spitting and spraying during quick jerks.
Twitch frogs along the top of grass and water to get
bass to explode onto your lure.
4. Keep the colors simple. While there are a variety of colours for each of
these baits, it's best to go with black, white, green and yellow.
Method Five of Six:
Fishing with Jigs
1. Employ a short-range flipping and pitching techniques instead of casting out
into the distance when using jigs. These lures give you a very accurate feel on
the line, and are one of the most effective lures. The common plastic skirting
attracts bass all year round. Bass will usually hit a bait while it is falling,
so after it has sat on the bottom for a bit give the rod tip a small twitch to
see if anything has picked up your bait.
2. Employ proper technique. To fish a jig cast out and give the line plenty of
time to hit the bottom. Jigs and plastics are fished differently than other
types of lures. Instead of reeling in to produce the "action", the bait is
retrieved by moving the rod tip. After the bait has hit the bottom and you have
given it a twitch, slowly lift the rod tip until it points straight up in the 12
o'clock position. Let it sit there for a moment and then drop it down to the 9 -
10 o'clock position and reel in the slack. Repeat these steps until your line is
in. You'll have to have a good feel for your line to tell when a fish is biting
so most people hold their finger against the line while lifting the rod tip.
Look for sudden resistance or bumping on the line, a line that goes slack
suddenly or veers sideways. To set the hook, drop the rod tip very quickly to
the 3 o'clock position, and pull back hard to 12 o'clock.
3. Examine the water conditions. Jigs are most effective when employed in cover
or closed to cover so be aware of the risk of getting snagged. Jigs are meant to
imitate crawfish so try to make them scoot along the bottom.
Both jigs and plastic worms are best used slowly.
Use jigs around fallen trees where bass are hiding.
Brush piles on a rocky bottom, standing timber, thick
grass, and flats are all prime locations to employ a jig.
Pitch or flip a jig around the angles where limbs
connect to the trunks of fallen trees. Let the jig fall to the bottom with a
semi-tight line.
Drag or hop your jig down ledges or drops to mimic the
movements of a crawfish.
Use a ¾ ounce jig when fishing through thick grass.
Jigs are also effective when fishing on docks and piers
because they provide protection from predators.
4. Keep the colors simple. Jigs are meant to imitate crawfish so they should be
light in clear water and dark in murky water.
Method Six of Six:
Fishing Plastic and Rubber Lures
1. Imitate worms or lizards with Plastic/rubber lures. These lures are the most
versatile and the most effective because they are so lifelike. They can also be
fished weighted or weightless.
Floating plastics can be used just like a topwater, and any type of plastic can
be fished weedless to allow fishing in extremely heavy vegetation.
2. Employ proper technique. Don’t reel the lure in, but rather retrieve it with
purpose by lifting and dropping the rod as you take up the slack of the line. To
fish a plastic/rubber lure, use the same technique as you would when using a
jig. Cast out and give the line plenty of time to hit the bottom. After the bait
has hit the bottom and you have given it a twitch, slowly lift the rod tip until
it points straight up in the 12 o'clock position. Let it sit there for a moment
and then drop it down to the 9 - 10 o'clock position and reel in the slack.
Repeat these steps until your line is in. You'll have to have a good feel for
your line to tell when a fish is biting so most people hold their finger against
the line while lifting the rod tip. Look for sudden resistance or bumping on the
line, a line that goes slack suddenly or veers sideways. To set the hook, drop
the rod tip very quickly to the 3 o'clock position, and pull back hard to 12
o'clock.Use a floating plastic/rubber lure, around 7 inches, with a light wire
hook using a split-shot rig or a Carolina rig.
3. Fish based on the patterns of bass during the 4 seasons. Fish with
plastic/rubber lures in the Winter when bass are not very active. These lures
can still be effective in warmer weather if you employ slightly more movement
but the only time these lures are ineffective are when bass are very active.
4. Examine the water conditions. Plastic/rubber lures work best when water is
over 55 degrees. Use large lures that are 7-10 inches when the water is murky
but shorter lures that are 4-5 inches when the water is clear and the bass are
lethargic. Both rigs and plastic/rubber lures are best used slowly.
5. Keep the colors simple. Choose from black, blue or purple when using
plastic/rubber worms when fishing in murky water. Red hues may also work well
when using plastic worms.
Tips
If you are not catching fish try changing retrieval speeds and patterns before
switching lures or colors.
When using crank baits, cast your line out and begin retrieving it at a medium
speed. Every 3 turns, stop and count to ten, then jerk it right and continue
pulling it in. Alternate between jerking it right and left.
Try to match your crank baits to the colors of the bait fish in the water that
you are fishing.
When fishing
with plastics, especially worms and lizards you should retrieve the line at any
speed you want and then let it sink for 30 seconds and than raise the rod to the
12 o'clock position.
Live shiners are a good alternative to lures if you find them too difficult to
use.
Add a medium spinning reel with 10 lb.-20 lb. line, and a bait casting reel on a
stiff rod with 14-20 lb. line for any body of water with smallmouth or
largemouth bass.
Bass are sight feeders so use plastic worms with some action in their tail to
attract them in clear water.
How to Pick Freshwater Fishing Lures
Freshwater fishing lures come in a number of types, sizes,
shapes, and colors. Although most freshwater lures are produced for the bass
fishing market, artificial lures can be used to catch other species of fish,
such as crappie, perch, walleye, northern pike, and muskellunge. While some
lures go through cycles of being "hot" or "new" and then are quickly forgotten,
many others have enjoyed years or even decades of popularity among all anglers.
Although you can fill a large tackle box with many different types of lures,
understanding which lures to use in which situations will make you a more
effective fisherman. Following are steps on how to pick freshwater fishing lures
based on the conditions you are fishing in and the species of fish you're
fishing for.
Matching Lure Types to Fish
1. Use plastic worms when fishing for largemouth bass.
Invented in 1949 by Nick and Cosma Crème and first marketed in 1951, plastic
worms are probably the best-known largemouth bass lures. Available in a host of
colors and lengths from 4 to 10 inches (10 to 25 cm), plastic worms have spawned
a number of other soft plastic artificial lures: grubs, crayfish, and
salamanders among them. Occasionally fished on the surface, plastic worms are
most commonly fished in timber, brush, weeds, and along rocky drop-offs, and
they are usually rigged by threading the hook through the worm so that its body
covers the hook point and makes a self-weedless rig. (This rig is called a Texas
rig when fished with a bullet-shaped slip sinker and a Carolina rig when fished
with a leader, swivel, and egg-shaped slip sinker.)
2. Use crankbaits in a variety of situations. Also known as
plugs, crankbaits are artificial lures made of hard plastic. They are so named
because they are designed to be cast out and retrieved, with some versions
intended to be retrieved rapidly to trigger fish to strike them aggressively.
Although some are weedless, they are usually not intended to be fished around
weeds, brush, or timber. Crankbaits come in several varieties, as described
below: •Topwater lures are designed to be fished on the surface. These include
poppers, which feature a vertical concave surface that makes a popping noise
when jerked with the rod tip; wobblers, which feature plates that cause the lure
to move from side to side when retrieved; and stick baits, which are thin lures
without any special attachments that are given their action solely by the
fisherman.
• Thin minnow lures are shaped and usually colored like
minnows. They feature a small lip at the front, differentiating them from stick
baits; otherwise, they may be fished on the surface or underwater, usually with
a twitching motion. Normark's Rapala is the best known lure of this type.
• Swimming crankbaits, or swim baits, are artificial lures
designed to move from side to side as they are pulled through the water. One
style of this type of lure is curved with a flat or concave surface at the head,
which functions similarly to the lip on a thin minnow in causing the lure to
swim. The Lazy Ike and Helin Flatfish are 2 examples of this type of lure.
• Diving lures feature a larger lip than thin minnows,
enabling them to dive deeper when retrieved or trolled; the larger the lip, the
deeper it dives. These lures may have either long, thin bodies, or short, stocky
bodies. The faster the lure is retrieved, the deeper it will dive; if the
retrieve is stopped, the lure, being hollow, will usually rise to the surface,
although some crankbaits will remain suspended at the depth they reached.
3. Use spinnerbaits in situations where other lures would
get hung up. Sometimes called safety-pin spinners for their resemblance to an
open safety pin, spinnerbaits feature a weighted end with a single hook and
skirt and an end with 1 or more spinners. Spinnerbaits can be fished by being
rapidly retrieved across the surface so that the blades flash and splash, bumped
off standing timber, or let fall to the bottom around drop-offs and other
vertical structures. •Spinnerbaits come equipped with either propeller- or
teardrop-shaped blades. Teardrop-shaped blades are further divided into 3 types:
the willow-leaf, which is narrow and pointed on both ends; the Indiana, which is
a rounded-end version of the willow-leaf; and the Colorado, which is broad and
rounded at 1 end and comes to a rounded point at the other.
• Related to the spinner bait is the inline, or French,
spinner, which features a tubular metal body with a willow-leaf or Indiana blade
spinner ahead of it and a treble hook with a feather skirt behind it. French
spinners are usually fished around rocky areas or in streams and attract trout,
smallmouth bass, and walleye more than largemouth bass
4. Use jigs any time during the year. Jigs consist of a hook
with a weighted head and either feature a hair or feather skirt or a plastic
grub. Most jigs have round heads, but some jigs feature flat or triangular heads
that either impart a swimming motion or keep the hook upright and out of rocks
and weeds. Jigs are normally retrieved in an up-and-down motion and can be
fished in warm or cold water situations, usually by slowing the retrieve as the
water gets colder. Some jigs feature stiff brush or wire guards to keep them
weedless, while most feature only a bare hook. Nonetheless, the best places to
fish jigs are usually those places where they can get hung up, near weeds,
brush, or rocks. (Jigs are the cheapest type of artificial lure, however, so the
loss of a few jigs is usually not as consequential as the loss of a crank bait.)
•Some jigs are rigged with removable safety-pin spinners, usually with a small
grub body. The most familiar jig of this type is the Bass Buster Beetle Spin, a
popular lure for a number of fish species.
• Jigs may be fished in several ways. When fishing for bass,
jigs are often flipped or pitched short distances instead of being cast long
distances like most lures. They are usually retrieved with a lift-and-drop
motion, slowly raising and lowering the rod so that the jig falls on a taut
line. They may also be retrieved straight, with the rod kept at a 10 o'clock
position to impart a swimming motion to the lure.
5. Use spoons for a number of different species. One of the
oldest lures, the spoon was developed in 1850 by Julio T. Buel of New York,
supposedly by cutting the handle off a teaspoon and putting a hook on it. The
resemblance to the bowl of a spoon causes spoons to wobble from side to side as
they are retrieved, which is what draws fish to them. Smaller spoons have been
used to fish for trout and panfish, while larger spoons have been used to fish
for bass, pike, walleye, and other large fish. •Most spoons are designed to fish
below the surface; these spoons feature a treble hook attached with a split
ring. Two of the best-known spoons of this type are the Eppinger Dardevle, most
familiar in its red-and-white striped pattern, and the Hofschneider Red-Eye,
noted for 2 plastic eye-beads and hooks at the front and back. Thicker versions
of these spoons may be cast or trolled, with the thickest designed to be fished
like jigs, while the thinnest versions are designed exclusively for trolling.
• Another type of spoon features a single wire-weedless hook
whose shank is attached to the back of the spoon. This type of spoon is designed
to be rapidly retrieved across the surface and is often dressed with a strip of
pork rind or other bait attached to the hook.
Part Two of Two:
Choosing the Right Lure
1. Choose lure colors according to weather and water
conditions. The general rule for lure color is "bright day, light colors; dark
day, dark colors." On bright, sunny days and in clear water conditions, choose
lures that are light in color and mimic natural patterns. On cloudy days and in
dirty water conditions, choose darker lures and those with a non-natural
coloration, preferably types that make noise or vibrate as they move through the
water. •A notable exception to this rule is the use of 2-toned plastic worms
that feature a darker head color and a fluorescent pink or yellow tail color.
Many anglers use plastic worms colored like this when fishing in cloudy water
conditions.
2. Choose lure size according to the tackle you're using and
the species you're fishing for. In general, choose smaller jigs and grubs when
fishing for panfish (bluegill, sunfish, crappie, perch) and larger lures such as
spinnerbaits and crankbaits when fishing for bigger fish (bass, walleye, and
pike). Smaller lures are best suited for light and ultralight spinning and
spincasting tackle (or fly rods in the case of dry and wet flies) with lines of
4 to 10-pound test (2 to 5 kg class), while larger lures are meant to be fished
with medium to heavy action rods, spinning or baitcasting reels, and lines of 12
to 20-pound test (6 to 10 kg class) or better. (Lures used to fish for
muskellunge, the largest member of the pike family, are decidedly larger than
those used for bass, walleye, and northern pike, and often require the use of a
wire leader because of the muskie's sharp teeth.) •Lure size can also be
dictated by weather conditions and how fish react to them. In early spring, or
when cold front conditions clear the skies and cool the water to make fish
lethargic, smaller lures are usually better choices than larger lures. (Lures
used for ice fishing are exceptionally tiny, usually grub jigs or small spoons.)
In high-wind conditions, you may need to use a larger lure simply to have enough
resistance on the end of the line to keep the wind from bowing it so that you
can't detect if fish are hitting the lure. Also try casting out a spinner and
just keep casting and retrieving the lure.
Best Bass Lures
Selecting and collecting bass lures is almost as enjoyable
as fishing them. But which lures catch the most bass? We broke down the top 5
bass lures based on their proven ability to catch bass, their versatility, and
the opinions of many professional bass fishermen. If you’re looking for more
information on the best of a specific type of lure then select one of the
categories from the Top Lures drop down menu above.
1. Rubber Worms
Undoubtedly, number one is the rubber worm. No other bass
lure is as versatile or more attractive to bass than a soft plastic worm. This
is because they are so lifelike, and when engulfed by bass feel like natural
food. They are available in a wide variety of designs and dimensions, so you can
choose the best size, style, and color for the conditions you’re fishing. When
it comes to worm selection, our number one recommendation is the Senko Worm by
Gary Yamamoto. For a color we suggest green pumkin black flake.
There are many ways to effectively rig rubber worms, and how
you choose will be based on the depth of the strike zone. The Texas rig, Wacky
rig, Carolina rig, and the Drop Shot rig are all very popular techniques that
have been proven to be highly effective in worm fishing. But of all the rigs,
the Texas rig is the most common. This rig is completely weedless, making it a
great choice for entering the deep cover where bass like to hide.
2. Spinnerbaits
Spinnerbaits can be one of the best bass lures to use,
especially if you’re looking to cover a lot of water quickly. With their unique
shape and retrieve action, spinnerbaits can dive deep, weave through thick cover
and sink within the underwater structure. They have an odd appearance, with
shiny or colored spinning blades dangling from an opened safety pin design.
Spinnerbaits are usually comprised of a lead head of varying weight, combined
with a sharp hook, a thin wire framework, and spinning blades. A soft rubber
skirt covers the main hook, and a trailer hook is often added to get those bass
that strike short.
The most popular spinnerbait size ranges between 1/4 ounces
and 3/4 ounces, with the most common designs being the Willow blade, Colorodo
blade and the Indaina blade. Based on the speed at which the spinnerbait is
retrieved in the water, the blades spin furiously and flash wildly. This helps
to create commotion in the water that the bass can see, hear, and feel. The
blades also help to keep the hook weedless.
If you’re just starting out, go with a Strike King Mini
King. For color we suggest bleeding chartreuse. Its smaller in size and for that
reason will get more strikes. Don’t think small lures mean small bass. You can
catch just as big a bass on this spinnerbait than a larger one, but catching
more smaller bass as well will build your confidence in spinnerbait fishing.
3. Crankbait
This is another lure that, like spinnerbaits, can also cover
a large area of water in a short amount of time. Crankbaits are a versatile
option and can be effective in a wide variety of environments such as steep,
rocky banks and edges, broad and shallow flats, and along bushes, stumps, and
grasslines.
Crankbaits come in various sizes, shapes, weights, and
running depths. The correct selection of specifications depends on conditions,
and the right choice plays an important role in determining fishing success.
While crankbaits are effective in most situations, the skill level of the angler
may be a little more involved compared to other techniques. Also see lipless
crankbaits.
A great place to start out cranking for bass if with the
Strike King Square Bill crankbait. This is your classic mid to shallow diving
crankbait (3 to 6 feet). Its available in 3 sizes and a bunch of different
colors.
4. Jigs
Jigs are most often fished using short-range flipping and
pitching techniques, rather than distance casting. This can be challenging,
especially for inexperienced anglers. Therefore, the more experience and greater
skill you have, the easier jigs are to use. There are a tremendous variety of
different specifications available for jigs, and it is important that anglers
pay special attention to this. Matching the exact color, weight, and size to
fishing conditions will greatly enhance the effectiveness of this lure.
For example, clear water requires lighter weights, usually
combined with light line and spinning tackle. This usually requires jigs between
1/8 ounce and 1/4 ounce. For murky water, heavier jigs are called for, ranging
from 3/8 ounce to 5/8 ounce. In terms of construction, jigs can be as basic as a
hook attached to a small metal ball at the top, often painted with fish eyes.
Usually, jigs will also have a plastic skirt to camouflage the hook. The
undulating skirt helps to entice the bass, and a weedguard can help the lure
slip through heavy cover. Jigs are one of the best bass lures to use all year
round. The jig we most recommend is the BOOYAH Boo Jig. Its perfect in any jig
fishing scenario, just make sure you get one heavier enough to punch through
weeds and get to the bottom, thats where they tend to get the most strikes.
5. Topwater Lures
These lures are designed to ripple the water surface,
causing popping and splashing sounds as the angler retrieves their lure. They
are not only effective but extremely fun to use, a main reason they make the top
5. In bass fishing, little can compare to the enjoyment an angler gets when
seeing a bass leap out of the water in an attempt to engulf your bait.
Topwater lures-known as poppers, spitters, prop baits, ect.-
come in various colors and styles resembling favorite foods of bass, such as
bluegill, frogs, mice, insects, and minnows. Most topwater lures have a cupped
lip, which creates a distinctive popping sound the bass recognize. One of the
key features of this type of lure is the action it displays when traveling along
the surface of the water. Some topwaters even mimic the action of an actual
living creature.
Topwater lures are typically fitted with treble hooks. They
can be cast around grass, stumps, shorelines and in open water. When used in
clear water, topwater lures are able to attract bass from depths of sometimes
more than thirty feet— another major reason they are considered to be one of the
best bass fishing lures around.
Bass Fishing 101
The bass fishing industry has undergone a drastic evolution
since its inception in the late 19th century, with the largemouth bass becoming
the most sought-after game fish in the United States. This has led to amazing
developments of all sorts of fishing gear, many of which have had a special
focus on the advancement of fishing lures.
Since then a long list of lures has
been created, and bass are the number one fish in terms of how much money is
spent on equipment for them. In fact, more tackle is made for bass fishing than
for any other fish. Bass fishing is a multi-billion dollar industry in the
United States, and a recent survey has shown that 77% of bass anglers fish with
artificial lures. With thousands of different bass lures on the market,
determining which are the best can be difficult.
Lure Selection
One of the most important aspects of bass fishing is lure
selection. Walking through a tackle shop or down a fishing isle at a sporting
goods store can be extremely overwhelming. That is the purpose of this website,
to help you wade through the myriad of bass lures out there, and select the ones
that have proven over the years to have the best results. This information is
aimed at the novice, newcomer, occasional bass angler, or those who would just
like to know a little more about the best bass lures. It seems these are the
groups most in need of this information. The bass lures discussed on this
website have had proven success catching bass for decades. The goal is to
provide unbiased information on these bass lures, from experienced bass anglers.
