The 5 Best Lures for Catching Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass are one of the most popular freshwater gamefish for anglers across North America. Their large size, fighting spirit, and accessibility make them a favorite target species. Choosing the right lure for catching largemouth bass can make the difference between an epic day on the water and getting skunked. This article will cover the top 5 most effective lures for hooking into lunker largemouth bass.

1. Plastic Worms

Plastic worms are likely the most well-known and widely used lures for catching largemouth bass. The classic rubber worm imitation triggers strikes from bass looking for an easy meal. The lifelike action of a plastic worm falling slowly through the water mimics a real nightcrawler. Widely considered a universally effective lure, plastic worms should be one of the first lures bass anglers tie on.

The most popular plastic worm colors include black/blue, green pumpkin, and watermelon. Anglers should experiment with different sizes and rigging options too. Texas rigging, wacky rigging, and Carolina rigging all work well. The falling action of a plastic worm, combined with tantalizing movement, makes it a top choice of many seasoned bass pros for a reason.

2. Crankbaits

When bass are more actively feeding, crankbaits are hard to beat. The wide wobbling action and flash of a crankbait effectively mimics wounded baitfish while covering a lot of water to find hungry largemouths. Crankbaits allow anglers to target bass relating to cover, structure, or bait schools.

There are a few main types of crankbaits. Floating or shallow diving crankbaits run from the surface down to around 4 feet deep. They are great for targeting bass that are chasing baitfish near the surface. Medium divers reach depths down to around 10 feet, effective when bass are holding near submerged structure. Deep divers are ideal for reaching the bass suspended down to 20+ feet deep, especially during summer months and on clear reservoirs.

Must-have crankbait colors include sexy shad, citrus shad, and chartreuse. Having a variety of sizes and depths is key to adapting to different situations. Crankbaits allow anglers to quickly cover water and trigger reaction strikes from active largemouths.

3. Spinnerbaits

As another classic bass lure, spinnerbaits are weighted and feature a spinning blade that puts out vibration, flash, and water displacement. They can be burned over the top of grass or slowly rolled along bottom structure. The mesmerizing, pulsing action triggers savage strikes from aggressive largemouth bass.

Spinnerbaits really shine when bass are guarding fry or shad are balled up near cover. They also work well as a search bait to quickly cover open water areas. A double willow leaf blade combination gives the best flash and vibration in murky water. Go with a single Colorado blade for maximum water displacement and slower retrieve.

White and chartreuse skirts work well for clear water conditions. Opt for brighter colors like orange when fishing dirty water. Skirt and blade combinations in shad patterns excel when bass are keyed in on shad. Spinnerbaits are easy to use for anglers of any experience level. Give them a shot when reaction bites are key.

4. Jigs

Jigs are extremely versatile bass lures. They can be flipped into heavy cover and worked along grass lines or dragged over deep structure. Anywhere there is bass cover or structure, a jig is a potential producer. Their tantalizing fall and lifelike profile trigger bass to bite. A bass jig can elicit strikes in nearly any situation, especially when conditions get tough.

Pairing a jig with a soft plastic trailer helps increase realism and action. Chunks and craws work very well. For clear water, opt for green pumpkin or brown colors. Black and blue is ideal for dirty water situations. Jigs can be fished a variety of ways. Casting, flipping, pitching, and swimming a jig are all effective. It's a bait that every bass angler needs to have confidence in.

5. Jerkbaits

Jerkbaits are deadly on largemouth bass when the water is cold. They imitate injured baitfish with an erratic darting action when paused after a jerk and rod tip twitch. Jerkbaits trigger bass to strike out of reflex and can catch finicky cold water bucketmouths.

Suspending jerkbaits are preferred over floating models. They pause and hang motionless in the strike zone after a twitch or jerk. Long slim twitchbaits are good for colder water finesse presentations on light line. Shorter, wider jerkbaits work better for more aggressive retrieves to trigger reaction bites. Natural shad patterns excel but flashier colors can help on tough days.

Jerkbaits are ideal for fishing parallel to bluff walls, over rockpiles, or along weed edges. They allow anglers to reach depths unavailable by most other artificial lures. Definitely have a few jerkbaits tied on when targeting lethargic cold water largemouth bass.

Conclusion

This covers 5 of the most consistently productive lure choices for largemouth bass fishing. When it comes to selecting colors, factors like water clarity, weather, time of day, and others all come into play. Experiment with different retrieves until you dial in what triggers the bass to bite. Confidence and versatility are what make a lure truly shine.

The most important things are matching lure selection to the given conditions and staying versatile. Bass frequently change their patterns. Anglers need to adapt with different techniques to keep catching fish consistently. With practice you'll gain experience knowing when to try which lures to maximize your success. Mastering these 5 essential bass lures will certainly help you boat more buckets!