Stop throwing the wrong lure. After 15 years on the water, I can tell you first-hand that these 7 lures produce when others fail.
Last updated: January 27th, 2025
Strike King Square Bill Crankbait
If I could only choose one crankbait for bass fishing, it would be the Strike King Square Bill.
This tank of a crankbait is built differently from your standard rounded lip cranks.
Its square lip design isn’t just for show – it’s engineered to deflect off cover without snagging, creating erratic movements that trigger aggressive strikes.
While other cranks might give you that predictable wobble, the Square Bill’s random bouncing action mimics a disoriented baitfish that bass can’t resist.
Available in weights from 3/8oz to 5/8oz, its purposefully silent design (no internal rattles) makes it deadly effective in pressured waters.
I found the build quality to be exceptional, with premium hooks and a durable lip that can take a beating.
The only real drawback? In my experience using it over the years, the eyes tend to pop off. However, that rarely affects its fish-catching ability.
Since the Square Bill comes in for under $8, I recommend stocking up on multiple colors and sizes for different conditions.
Rebel Pop R Triple Threat
Want to know why bass anglers have nicknamed one topwater lure the ‘heart attack bait’? After three decades on the market, the Rebel Pop-R Triple Threat still triggers the kind of explosive strikes that make you drop your rod.
The pack includes three deadly color patterns (Foxy Mama, Foxy Shad, and Foxy Lady) that cover every condition you’ll face.
I think the key strength of this bait is that each 2½-inch, ¼-ounce popper creates that perfect “bloop” sound when it is cast. Every time I used it, I feel it is this sound that seemed to draw bass from a distance.
While other topwater lures lock you into one retrieve speed, the Pop-R worked wonders whether I walked it fast like a panicked baitfish or worked it super slow.
The only real downside is the somewhat brittle construction.
However, at this price point (under $15 for three, effectively under $5 each), I’ll say that the Rebel Pop-R offers amazing value. Each bait in the pack serves a specific purpose – from clear water to stained, sunny days to overcast.
Strike King Finesse KVD Spinnerbait
The secret weapon that Kevin VanDam used to win three consecutive tournaments almost never made it to market.
This uniquely shaped Strike King Finesse KVD Spinnerbait creates an action that other pros have spent years trying to replicate.
The bait’s curved base and flat top aren’t just for looks – it creates a perfectly balanced wobble that tracked true in any retrieve speed whenever I used it.
I think what really sets the KVD Spinnerbait apart is its compact profile and lighter wire – they’ve earned strikes from pressured bass that ignored other standard spinnerbaits that I tried earlier.
Available in both Double Willow and Colorado Willow configurations, it comes in 6 color patterns. My go-to is the Super White in stained water.
The KVD Spinnerbait is priced under $8 – in the same range as my top pick, the Strike King Square Bill.
BOOYAH Boo Jig
The BOOYAH Boo Jig isn’t just another finesse jig – it’s the reason some anglers never throw anything else.
Coming in ¼ to ¾ ounce sizes, this jig’s razor-sharp platinum nickel hook and precision-cut weed guard create the perfect balance between snag resistance and hook-setting power.
While other finesse jigs tend to hang up in thick cover, I found the Boo Jig’s streamlined head design to slice through vegetation easily.
Available in five colors, it’s perfectly matched with a compact creature bait for those pressured shoreline bass.
The best part? The Boo Jig’s priced just under $5, making it another low-cost pick alongside the Rebel Pop R.
Rapala X-Rap
This isn’t just another jerkbait – it’s the reason some pros dedicate entire tackle boxes to a single lure pattern.
The Rapala X-Rap’s aggressive darting action mimics a dying baitfish with uncanny realism, suspending perfectly in that critical 3-8 foot strike zone. While other jerkbaits float up or sink during the pause, I found this 0.43-ounce precision tool to hold its depth like it’s frozen in place.
With nearly 25 natural color patterns and internal rattles that call fish from a distance, it’s lethal in clear-to-slightly-stained water.
Its long-casting system lets you cover more water, but here’s my tip: work it slow in cold water, speed it up in warm.
The only limitation? I recommend skipping it on heavily overcast days when visibility is poor. Also, it is priced in the premium segment at $12 – $17, limiting how many you can stock up on.
In the right conditions, though, this is the one bait I won’t leave shore without.
Berkley PowerBait Power Swimmer
Your standard swimbait might look like a baitfish, but tournament pros know there are three hidden triggers in the Berkley PowerBait Power Swimmer that make it absolutely irresistible to bass.
The difference is so dramatic that some anglers have completely stopped throwing traditional soft plastic worms.
The PowerBait swimmer combines a ribbed body that throws off fish-calling vibrations with Berkeley’s proven scent technology.
While other swimbaits rely purely on visual appeal, this bait’s taste-enhanced formula keeps bass holding on longer – crucial for converting those short strikes into solid hookups.
Available in multiple patterns (with Rainbow Shad being a standout), I feel it’s as close to throwing live bait as you can get.
The natural gliding action and scent dispersion work together to draw strikes in any condition. There’s a reason I can’t find a single drawback with these baits – they simply produce when other lures won’t.
The PowerBait is priced under $7, making it another affordable choice in this list.
Yamamoto Senko Bait
The simple trick that Japanese anglers used to revolutionize American bass fishing sits right in your tackle shop, hiding in plain sight.
The Yamamoto Senko might look like just another plastic worm, but there’s a reason it’s been called “the greatest bass lure ever invented.”
Available in 3 to 6-inch lengths, this scent-infused soft plastic creates a hypnotic horizontal fall that has triggered strikes for me when nothing else did.
While other worms required complex retrieves, the Senko’s natural shimmy did all the work. Whether I rigged it weedless, wacky-style, or Texas-rigged – it was equally deadly on both largemouth and smallmouth.
The only trade-off? They’re soft so it means they tear easily. But most pros will tell you that’s actually why they work so well – that subtle, vulnerability in their action is exactly what makes them irresistible to bass.
They are pocket-friendly too – coming in at under $8.
How to Choose the Best Lure for Bass
There are some criteria to keep in mind when shopping around for bass lures.
The Season
The time of year is a huge factor in bass behavior. In Spring, bass move to shallow water to spawn, making them more aggressive and easier to catch.
While they slow down during Fall and Winter months, you can still find active bass during Summer, especially during morning and evening hours when water temperatures are cooler.
These factors matter because they determine the size and color of your lure. It’s not as simple as just picking a type of lure based on what you want to catch, you have to pay attention to how large it is and what color it is.
For example, during the late Spring, you might use a neon green 1/4 ounce spinnerbait and catch smallmouth bass all day long. That same bait wouldn’t perform as well during the fall.
Water Conditions
Another important consideration is the water. Stick something down into the water and if you can’t see it past one or two feet, you’ve got murky conditions and you need specific lures to work within that situation.
The water is usually the murkiest during the Spring when there is a lot of rain or if there is snow runoff. When the snow melts, it drags a lot of dirt and mud into the water as it runs down. This causes low visibility which makes it harder for the bass to see your lures.
So, now is when you need something that makes a lot of noise, reflects light, or is bright enough to draw attention. In murky conditions, I would use a bass popper or a chugger because they make a lot of noise.
Fishing Style
How do you like to fish? Do you want something that requires a lot of attention? Like a stickbait or jig?
Or, would you prefer something like a frog or swimbait that does all the work for you? Are you using a spinning reel or a casting reel? Do you prefer trolling, fishing the bottom, topwaters, or cranks?
There are many questions to ask yourself and that’s why I believe you should have a lot of different tackle. If I could recommend anything, I would suggest getting one of each lure from this review so you have some options.
Live Bait vs Artificial Lures
For the most part, live bait is a great option for bass fishing, or for any game fish for that matter. Bass are carnivores and their natural prey are other small fish, worms, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates like crawfish, so naturally, the most effective bait is live bait.
Using live bait doesn’t require any special rod or reel techniques, except having a slow reel action.
So, they are also good for beginners. The two biggest cons with live bait are the mess and making sure to get the bait to the right depth.
Artificial lures are also a good option for bass fishing and one I’ve always preferred because I like to be in control.
Artificial lures like plastic worms, finesse worms, swim jigs, and craws require the angler to know how to “work” the lure to make it attractive to bass.
Each lure is intended to mimic a particular prey animal, so you need to use your rod and reel to create the movements of these living creatures in a metal or plastic lure.
If you are new to bass fishing, this can be a big con to artificial lures so you might want to start with live bait.
Wesley covers various types of lures and walks you through how and where to use each of them in this video.
Conclusion
For everyday bass fishing, the Strike King Square Bill delivers unmatched versatility and proven performance. Its snag-resistant square lip creates irresistible erratic action.
While the Rapala X-Rap comes in at a higher price point ($12-$17), its perfect suspend depth and natural dying-baitfish action make it worth the investment if your budget allows. If you’re buying just one premium bass lure, this is it.
Those just starting out should grab a pack of Yamamoto Senkos. While they may lack flash, their simple effectiveness and ease of use make them perfect for learning bass behavior. They’re the most reliable way to start catching fish consistently.
For anglers wanting the absolute best finesse presentation, the Berkley PowerBait Power Swimmer is worth every penny. Its combination of scent, action, and durability simply produces more bites than standard soft plastics.
Have a specific question about which lure to use in your local waters? Drop a comment below with your conditions and target species. I respond to every comment.
