Best Lures to Catch Bass: A Comprehensive Guide for 2024

Bass fishing is a beloved pastime for anglers across the globe. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, having the right lures in your tackle box can make all the difference. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best bass fishing lures for 2024, breaking down their uses, advantages, and tips for maximizing your catch.

best lures to catch bass a comprehensive guide for 2024 (2)

1. Spinnerbaits

Spinnerbaits are a staple in bass fishing due to their versatility and ease of use. These lures consist of a lead head, wireframe, and one or more blades that spin to create vibration and flash, attracting bass from a distance.

Best For: Beginners and covering large areas quickly.
How to Use: Cast out and reel back steadily. Spinnerbaits are effective around structures like weeds, logs, and rocks.
Top Picks: Zorro Agitator Spinnerbait, available at Tackle Warehouse.

2. Plastic Worms

Plastic worms are incredibly versatile and can be used in various fishing techniques. They come in different shapes and sizes, including lizards, creatures, and craws.

Best For: All skill levels, especially effective for slow presentations.
How to Use: Rig them Texas or Carolina style, or use them on a drop shot setup. Fish them slowly along the bottom.
Top Picks: Yamamoto Senko, available at Bass Pro.

3. Swimbaits

Swimbaits are designed to mimic the movement of baitfish, making them irresistible to bass. They come in soft and hard-bodied versions, with paddle tails being the most popular.

Best For: Targeting larger bass in both shallow and deep waters.
How to Use: Cast and retrieve slowly, allowing the swimbait to swim naturally.
Top Picks: Basstrix Paddle Tail, available at Tackle Warehouse.

4. Crankbaits

Crankbaits are another essential lure for bass fishing, known for their ability to cover different depths quickly. They come in various styles, including squarebill and lipless crankbaits.

Best For: Searching for bass in different water columns.
How to Use: Vary your retrieve speed and use a stop-and-go motion to mimic injured baitfish.
Top Picks: Norman DD 22 for deep diving, Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap for lipless, both available at Bass Pro.

5. Jerkbaits

Jerkbaits are designed to mimic the erratic movement of a fleeing baitfish, making them particularly effective in colder water when bass are less active.

Best For: Fall and winter fishing, or when bass are suspended.
How to Use: Use short, sharp jerks of the rod to create an erratic action.
Top Picks: Smithwick Rattlin’ Rogue, available at Bass Pro.

6. Topwater Lures

Topwater lures are perfect for exciting, surface-level strikes. They include poppers, buzzbaits, and frogs, each offering a unique presentation.

Best For: Early morning or late evening fishing, especially in shallow waters.
How to Use: Keep your rod tip high and retrieve quickly to keep the lure on the surface.
Top Picks: Heddon Zara Spook for walking topwater, Snagproof Frog for hollow body, both available at Bass Pro.

7. Spoons

Spoons are simple yet effective lures that wobble and reflect light, mimicking injured baitfish. They are great for covering large areas and attracting bass from a distance.

Best For: Fishing in open waters and around structures.
How to Use: Cast and retrieve with a steady motion, or let it flutter down through the water column.
Top Picks: Johnson Silver Minnow, available at Bass Pro.

8. Buzzbaits

Buzzbaits are topwater lures that create a lot of noise and commotion, making them ideal for attracting aggressive bass.

Best For: Fishing over lily pads, along weed edges, and in open water.
How to Use: Retrieve quickly to keep the lure on the surface, creating a buzzing sound.
Top Picks: Lunker Lure Buzzer, available at Bass Pro.

9. Frogs

Frog lures are designed to be fished in heavy cover where other lures might get snagged. Their lifelike appearance and movement make them irresistible to bass hiding in thick vegetation.

Best For: Fishing in dense weed canopies and heavy cover.
How to Use: Cast into thick cover and retrieve slowly, mimicking the movement of a real frog.
Top Picks: Snagproof Frog, available at Amazon.

10. Soft Stickbaits

Soft stickbaits, like the Yamamoto Senko, are incredibly effective due to their simple yet versatile design. They can be rigged in multiple ways, including wacky and Texas rigs.

Best For: All-around use in various conditions.
How to Use: Let the bait sink slowly and twitch it gently to mimic a dying baitfish.
Top Picks: Yamamoto Senko, available at Bass Pro.

11. Creature Baits

Creature baits are designed to mimic a variety of prey, from crawfish to small amphibians. They are highly effective when bass are feeding aggressively.

Best For: Fishing in heavy cover and around structures.
How to Use: Rig them Texas style and fish them slowly along the bottom.
Top Picks: Zoom Brush Hog, available at Bass Pro.

12. Ned Rigs

The Ned rig is a finesse technique that involves a small, soft plastic bait on a light jig head. It’s perfect for pressured waters where bass are more cautious.

Best For: Clear water and high-pressure situations.
How to Use: Cast out and let it sink to the bottom, then use small hops to move the bait.
Top Picks: Z-Man TRD, available at Bass Pro.

13. Drop Shot Worms

Drop shot worms are another finesse technique, ideal for targeting bass in deeper waters. The setup allows the bait to hover just above the bottom, enticing bass to strike.

Best For: Deep water and clear conditions.
How to Use: Cast out and let the weight hit the bottom, then gently twitch the rod to move the bait.
Top Picks: Roboworm Straight Worm, available at Bass Pro.

14. Beaver Baits

Beaver baits are designed to mimic crawfish and other bottom-dwelling creatures. They are particularly effective when bass are feeding near the bottom.

Best For: Fishing in heavy cover and along the bottom.
How to Use: Rig them Texas style and fish them slowly along the bottom.
Top Picks: Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver, available at Tackle Warehouse.

15. Coldwater Shad Crankbaits

Coldwater shad crankbaits are designed to mimic shad, a common baitfish. They are particularly effective in colder water when bass are feeding on shad.

Best For: Cold water conditions.
How to Use: Retrieve slowly along the bottom, mimicking the movement of a shad.
Top Picks: Rapala Shad Rap, available at Bass Pro.

16. Scented Plastics

Scented plastics, like the Jelly Worm, add an extra layer of attraction by releasing scent into the water. This can be particularly effective in murky conditions.

Best For: Murky water and low visibility conditions.
How to Use: Fish them slowly along the bottom, allowing the scent to disperse.
Top Picks: Jelly Worm, available at Bass Pro.

17. Vibrating Jigs

Vibrating jigs, like the Z-Man Chatterbait, create a lot of vibration and noise, making them ideal for attracting bass in murky water.

Best For: Murky water and low visibility conditions.
How to Use: Retrieve steadily, allowing the bait to vibrate and create noise.
Top Picks: Z-Man Chatterbait, available at Bass Pro.

18. Topwater Minnows

Topwater minnows, like the Rapala Original Floater, are designed to mimic small fish swimming near the surface. They are perfect for early morning or late evening fishing.

Best For: Shallow waters and low light conditions.
How to Use: Retrieve steadily, allowing the bait to swim naturally on the surface.
Top Picks: Rapala Original Floater, available at Bass Pro.

19. Squarebill Crankbaits

Squarebill crankbaits are designed to deflect off cover, making them ideal for fishing around rocks, logs, and other structures.

Best For: Shallow water and heavy cover.
How to Use: Retrieve steadily, allowing the bait to bounce off cover.
Top Picks: KVD Squarebill, available at Bass Pro.

20. Curl Tail Grubs

Curl tail grubs are simple yet effective lures that can be used in various ways. They are particularly effective for beginners due to their ease of use.

Best For: All-around use in various conditions.
How to Use: Rig them on a jig head and retrieve steadily, allowing the tail to move naturally.
Top Picks: White or brown curl tail grubs, available at most tackle shops.

Which lures are best for beginners starting out with bass fishing

Bass fishing can be an exciting and rewarding hobby, but for beginners, the sheer variety of lures available can be overwhelming. To help you get started, here are some of the best lures for beginners, chosen for their ease of use and effectiveness in catching bass.

1. Plastic Worms (Soft Stickbaits)

Plastic worms are a must-have for any beginner’s tackle box. They are versatile, easy to use, and highly effective at catching bass. The most popular type is the soft stickbait, often referred to as a Senko.

How to Use: Rig them Texas style, wacky style, or on a drop shot. Cast out and let them sink, then gently twitch the rod to mimic a dying baitfish.
Top Picks: Yamamoto Senko in Green Pumpkin or Cinnamon colors.

2. Spinnerbaits

Spinnerbaits are another excellent choice for beginners. They are easy to cast and retrieve, making them perfect for covering large areas of water quickly.

How to Use: Cast near structures like submerged trees or rocks and retrieve steadily. Experiment with different retrieval speeds and techniques like “slow rolling” to trigger more bites.
Top Picks: 1/4-ounce spinnerbaits in White or Green with a silver blade.

3. Squarebill Crankbaits

Squarebill crankbaits are great for fishing shallow waters and around cover. They are designed to deflect off obstacles, reducing the chances of getting snagged.

How to Use: Cast out and retrieve steadily, allowing the lure to bounce off rocks and logs. This action mimics a fleeing baitfish and attracts bass.
Top Picks: KVD Squarebill in Shad colors.

4. Curl Tail Grubs

Curl tail grubs are simple yet effective lures that can be used in various ways. They are particularly good for beginners due to their versatility and ease of use.

How to Use: Rig them on a jig head and retrieve steadily, allowing the tail to move naturally. They can also be used for drop shotting or Carolina rigging.
Top Picks: 3-inch white or brown curl tail grubs.

5. Buzzbaits

Buzzbaits are topwater lures that create a lot of noise and commotion, making them ideal for attracting aggressive bass. They are easy to use and provide exciting surface strikes.

How to Use: Retrieve quickly to keep the lure on the surface, creating a buzzing sound. Best used in the early morning or late evening.
Top Picks: 1/4-ounce buzzbaits in Black or White.

6. Ned Rigs

The Ned rig is a finesse technique that involves a small, soft plastic bait on a light jig head. It’s perfect for pressured waters where bass are more cautious.

How to Use: Cast out and let it sink to the bottom, then use small hops to move the bait. It’s effective in clear water and high-pressure situations.
Top Picks: Z-Man TRD in Green Pumpkin.

7. Lipless Crankbaits

Lipless crankbaits are versatile lures that can be used to target bass at various depths. They are easy to use and effective in both shallow and deep waters.

How to Use: Cast out and retrieve steadily. Let the bait sink to the desired depth before starting your retrieve.
Top Picks: 1/4-ounce lipless crankbaits in Red or Chrome.

8. Topwater Frogs

Topwater frogs are designed to be fished in heavy cover where other lures might get snagged. They are particularly effective in thick vegetation.

How to Use: Cast into thick cover and retrieve slowly, mimicking the movement of a real frog.
Top Picks: Snagproof Frog in natural colors.

9. Finesse Swimbaits

Finesse swimbaits are small, subtle lures that can be used in various water conditions. They are perfect for beginners due to their simplicity and effectiveness.

How to Use: Rig them on a small jig head and retrieve steadily, allowing the bait to swim naturally.
Top Picks: Missile Baits Shockwave in natural baitfish colors.

10. Rooster Tails

Rooster tails are simple lures that mimic small baitfish. They are easy to use and effective for catching a variety of fish, including bass.

How to Use: Cast out and retrieve steadily. Avoid fishing around heavy cover to prevent snagging.
Top Picks: 1/4-ounce Rooster Tails in White or Chartreuse.

Final Thoughts

Starting out with bass fishing can be daunting, but having the right lures can make all the difference. The lures listed above are proven performers that are easy to use and highly effective. Experiment with different techniques and find what works best for you. Happy fishing!

Final Thoughts

Having the right lures in your tackle box is crucial for successful bass fishing. The lures listed above are proven performers that can help you catch more bass, regardless of your skill level. Experiment with different lures and techniques to find what works best for you in different conditions. Happy fishing!