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What Kind of Lure do Bass Like?

When you go fishing, it is important to fish with the right type of lure for the fish you are trying to catch. This is the same case for folks trying to catch bass.

 

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Sometimes it can feel like all you are doing is buying more and more lures and adding to your tackle box to try to catch bass or any type of fish but to no avail. That is because you have to entice the type of fish you want to catch by appealing to what they eat and what they are attracted to.

Besides knowing what type of lures and bait bass like, you should know about the different aspects of weather, season, fishing conditions, and depth on the chances of your rig catching any fish.

Fishing is all about understanding the logistics and circumstances of the fish you are trying to catch. Doing your research, like reading this article, can help you have better luck next time you go fishing because you understand how to go fishing in the right ways to catch what you want!

So you are probably sitting there in your fishing vest wondering, “Well, what are the kinds of lures that bass like, what types of bait you should use, and what about the weather?””

Read on to have all your bass catching questions resolved in one easy to read article!

What Lure Should I Use for Bass?

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The best types of fishing lure to use while fishing for bass can be fairly varied depending on the season and where you are fishing. You want to have a tackle box that is diverse and varied so that you can go out and fish for bass no matter the season or location you are headed to.

Jigs

Jigs are often considered the best in the all-round lure category when it comes to catching bass. They are flexible and can be used in different ways to get different results.

They are super versatile in different weather conditions or water depths. You can go fishing with them on a 45-degree day or a 100-degree day, and they can also be used in shallow or deep water. In addition to all of that, you can go fishing with them in open water, or in grassy or rocky waterways where there is lots of vegetative or debris cover.

In the wintertime, you should set the hook with a brown jig and a craw combo, and go fishing around rocky banks with steep, cliff-like inclines. For summer fishing, attach a paddle tail and a bluegill colored jig and go fishing in grassy shorelines. If the grass is especially thick, use a one-ounce jig and aim your rod for the clearer pockets in the grass.

Because jigs are so versatile and flexible, they are commonly considered the best bass lure for bass fishing!

Crankbaits

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Crankbaits are probably the second-best bass lures on the market today for year-round bass fishing other than jigs.

There are several styles of crankbait and they all have different uses when it comes to bass fishing. They are important to know so that you can use the best one for your target depth or environment.

Let’s get to know the different types of crankbaits and how you can use them to your advantage next time you head out on a fishing trip!

Lipless Crankbaits

First up, you have the lipless crankbaits, which are crankbaits without the classical lip design A lipless crankbait is best to use in shallow water since they usually only dive about 3 to 6 feet deep.

Big Lipped Crankbaits

Big lipped crankbaits can get to depths that lipless ones cannot and are better for deeper waters. One of these types of big lipped crankbaits is the square bill, which is best for deflection and waterways with lots of wood under the surface.

Round Lipped Crankbaits

Round lipped crankbaits dive the deepest, while coffin billed crankbaits have the best of both square bill and round lips.

Set the hook with a tight wobbling crankbait in cool water and a wide wobbling crankbait in warmer water.

They are the best bass lures for controlling the depth that you want to fish so that you can find the bass.

Finesse Worms

Finesse worms are plastic worms that are not as flashy as the other bass fishing lures on our list. They are made out of soft plastic that allows them to wiggle in the flow of water, making them enticing to the bass fish.

These soft plastics make them look realistic to the fish, causing them to get bites all day no matter the conditions of the water. They can also be modified to make better use of their simple features.

Since they are soft plastic, they can be used on a Carolina rig or a shaky head for cold water fishing. In warmer conditions, bass will be attracted to this lure if it is twitched around without any weights in grassy or vegetated areas, as well as around boat docks.

They can be used in deep water when used in tandem with a nose-hook on a drop shot rig.

What is the Best Bait for Largemouth Bass?

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When it comes to finding the best lure and bait for a specific type of bass or any fish, you have to know what kinds of things the fish likes to eat. Fishing is heavily reliant on understanding what different fish like to eat and what they are attracted to. This same principle applies to bass lures and bass fishing.

When fishing for largemouth bass, simple is almost always better. Bass are not exactly complex creatures and have fairly simple wants and needs. Your bass lure and bait should reflect that, simple yet effective.

In this case, shiny and fresh or live bait is most likely to get you a bite from a bass. The most popular options for largemouth bass fishing bait are golden shiners or shads for catching the eye of any bass in the water.

Some other baits that will most likely get you a bite are live nightcrawlers, bluegills, or crayfish. This will trigger the scent in the water, attracting the bass to your fishing rod.

How do You Lure Fish for Different Bass?

Just like humans, different types of bass fish have different tastes and are attracted to different things. Some like classical lures like plastic worms or bottom lures, while others like swimming lures.

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Largemouth Bass

For bigger bass, definitely go for a bigger lure with a bigger piece of bait attached. It does not really matter what depth you are casting to, but if you are targeting big bass, make sure you are attracting them with lures and bait that they will find worth the effort to bite.

Smallmouth Bass

On the other hand, smaller bait and lures are better for fishing for smaller bass. The lure should frighten them, which can sometimes happen if the lure seems intimidating to them. This can cause them to swim away instead of giving your hook a bite.

Bass tend to enjoy lures that show activity, like live bait or spinnerbaits, which entice them closer to the surface through noise and visuals.

Topwater Lure Fishing

Topwater lures are another great type of bass fishing lures that attract the bass to the surface of the water, where they typically bite the line simply because it is there and they are bored. Fishing with topwater lures can be a bit noisy, but they do get bites.

These lures make noise as they hit the water, which attracts deeper water bass to check out the commotion.

Swimming Lures and Bottom Lures

Finally, swimming lures and bottom lures are the most common. Swimming lures look like little baitfish that bass like to eat, which causes them to bite. Bottom lures are best if they are moving a bit or making some kind of noise because this type of fish tends to eat bait that is near or above them, so they need a reason to grab onto your fishing hook.

How do you know where a fish is?

Overall, it is important to be in tune with the type of fish you are trying to catch. When it comes to fishing for bass, you need to be aware of the waters you are casting in.

If there is lots of debris, the fish might be hanging out on the bottom of the river to avoid the fallen trees. If there are lots of marsh or beach grass, you can expect to find the most fish in pockets of water inside the vegetation.

Are Water Temperatures Important for Bass Fishing

If the species of bass you are fishing for prefer living in cold water, try fishing in cooler temperatures with a lure or rig that goes deeper into the waterway. If the species enjoy warmer water, use a rig that does not go so far and head out for a fishing trip in the warmer months.

With all of this knowledge safely tucked into a pocket of your fishing vest, you are all set for your next trip!

Good luck!

  • September 2, 2020