About Our Lure Reviews
If you want to update your tackle with the latest and greatest lures to fish bass in 2022, you've come to the right place. Here at Bass Tackle Lures, we give you unbiased information to help you have more success while you're out on the water.
This list will be great for all you avid anglers out there and perfect for novice anglers who are just getting into the sport.
We've compiled a list of the bass lures that are either new in 2022 or are gaining popularity. You'll want to be using these if you're going after big bass this year. See our guides to the best bass fishing rods and best bass fishing reels for equipment information.
What's most important is that you all get out on the water and enjoy yourselves, but hopefully, we can help put you on to some PR (Personal Record) bass.
Overview of Contents (clickable)
1. Crankbaits
Crankbaits are one of the best lures for covering lots of water in a short period of time. This makes them great for tournament fishing and finding bass more efficiently. These hard body baits imitate wounded baitfish and can be found in all colors, shapes, and sizes to match the prey in your body of water.
Crankbaits dive to different depths depending on the size and shape of their front lip.
Shallow diving crankbaits swim on the surface between 0-4 feet deep. They are best for working shorelines, docks, and other shallow submerged obstacles.
Medium diving crankbaits swim 5-9 feet deep and are best for fishing deeper cover such as logs, rocks, and underwater grasses.
Deep diving crankbaits can dive up to 35ft and are best for fishing open waters. These lures need to be fished on a longer rod that casts farther, as it takes the bait a while to dive to their target depth. Your rod also needs to be stronger since deep diving crankbaits have more water resistance.
Lipless crankbaits don't have a front lip used for diving. Instead, they rattle side-to-side and are commonly fished in colder waters and "ripped through grasses." A sharp tug on your rod will knock any debris off and often cause a reaction strike from bass.
Bomber Shad Crankbait - Best crankbait for bass
4.6 Stars | 288 Angler Reviews
There aren't many lures that have changed bass fishing as much as the Bomber Shad Crankbait has. This crankbait has a unique design with flatter sides that makes it swim more efficiently than other lures.
The Bomber Shad has a diving depth of four to six feet, which is the most productive crankbait depth. While it has medium-diving action, it moves effortlessly. This allows you to fish it faster and cover more water.
Bomber's unique lip design makes this crankbait bounce off obstacles. This reduces the chances of hangups and snags, which are always frustrating.
Overall, this crankbait has an enticing action that other brands haven't been able to replicate. Anglers have won over $1 million in prize money with the Bomber Shad, so it's hard to argue against.
2. Rubber Worms
Rubber worms are the most popular bass fishing lures because they never fail to catch fish. They're made from malleable materials that give them a natural look and feel. There are many different brands, shapes, and sizes of rubber worms. However, some are more effective and versatile than others.
These lures are the go-to option for beginners, as you don't need any experience to fish them effectively. Rubber worms are also used extensively by professional anglers to catch record-setting bass.
The two most common types of rubber worms are stick baits and ribbon tail worms.
Stick baits have an even thickness and are the most popular type of rubber worm. They are best fished on Texas rigs and wacky rigs, and you should let them drift naturally through the water column.
Ribbon tail worms have long and thin tails that produce more action in the water. They're most effectively fished on Texas rigs and Carolina rigs. Ribbon tail worms may entice more active fish to bite when stick baits aren't getting enough attention.
Gary Yamamoto Senkos - Best Stick Baits for Bass
4.7 Stars | 3,915 Angler Reviews
*Update: Bass Pro Shops 25% Sale
"Rubber worms are extremely effective lures for catching bass. Nothing even compares to the Gary Yamamoto Senko Worms when it comes to worms and soft plastics in general.
Sure, on some days, you may catch bigger fish on topwater lures or more fish on a jig, but there's nothing else on the market like Senko Worms that will catch fish 'day in and day out.'
From fishing the dog days of the summer to cool water temperatures of the winter, bass can always be caught on these things."
* This is an excerpt from our recent article, 6 Best Senko Worm Colors For Bass.
Green Pumpkin Senko Worms
Most Popular
*Update: Bass Pro Shops 25% Sale
You're missing out if you don't already have the Green Pumpkin Color Pattern. These baits aren't ranked #1 on our list because they've been around for ages, but they very well could be. Gary Yamamoto sells more of these baits than almost all other colors combined.
"It doesn't matter whether you're fishing clear water, dirty water, cold water temperatures, warm sunny days; this thing will get bites. There's one lure and color that EVERY bass angler has in their tackle box, and it's this Green Pumpkin Magic Senko Worm."
3. Frogs
Frogs are weedless and are one of the most exciting lure types to fish. They're fished on the surface and cause bass to strike aggressively and leap out of the water. Topwater frogs are most effectively fished near shoreline cover such as lily pads, grasses, fallen trees, and around obstacles where frogs commonly reside.
Most frog lures have a soft plastic body with unexposed hooks. When a fish strikes, the body collapses, and the hooks become exposed.
The most important factors are color, durability, and build quality when choosing a frog lure. Topwater frogs go through a lot of abuse, so cheaply made ones will get ripped apart by larger bass.
Livetarget Hollow Body Frog
The Livetarget Hollow Body Frog is the most realistic and well-made topwater frog of the year. This lure has phenomenal details that bass notice when they inspect it on the surface. It looks like the real thing with 3D eyes, built-in legs, and accurate dimensions.
While other brands make somewhat realistic topwaters, Livetarget uses the best materials. The frog's body protects the hooks but always collapses when bass bite. Most importantly, the hooks are sharp and strong, giving this frog the best hookup ratio on the market.
Some anglers prefer to trim the tail skirts to prevent short strikes, but this isn't a necessary modification. Skip this frog over lily pads or across grass mats, and you're sure to have an exciting day on the water.
4. Creature Baits
If you've never fished creature baits before, they may look funny to you. Creature baits are soft plastic bass fishing lures with strange-looking appendages that wave in the water. The good thing is bass can't get enough of creature baits as they mimic their favorite prey.
Creature baits look like either crawfish or wounded baitfish, depending on how they're rigged. When used on a Texas rig, they become virtually weedless. This makes creature baits ideal for flipping or pitching in shoreline shrubbery.
While the Zoom Brush Hog was the first to popularize this style of lure, other brands have come out with their own variations.
Googan Baits Bandito Bug
4.7 Stars | 860 Angler Reviews
The Googan Baits Bandito Bug is a scented creature bait with a broader body than other popular soft plastics. The wide body of the Googan Bait gives this bait a "juicy" or tempting presentation, which helps when you're going after larger bass that are more selective in what they eat.
There's no perfect approach to the Bandito Bug. You can choose to flip it, skip it, tie it onto a Carolina Rig, or even fish it on a drop shot rig. The baits are sold as a 7-pack, making them less than $2 each, and the best variety is the Bandito Bug - Green Pumpkin Color Pattern.
We also love the kicking action of the legs, which really makes this bait come alive. It currently has 4.6 stars on Amazon, with 557 customer reviews. You can find the Bandito Bug here or by clicking the button above.
5. Swimbaits
Swimbaits are baitfish replicas that come in all shapes and sizes. However, swimbaits are commonly large lures that require hefty specialized tackle. While some novelty swimbaits replicate birds and mice, fish-style designs are more effective.
Most world-record fish were caught on gargantuan swimbaits. Large bass lures tend to draw fewer strikes because only big bass are attracted to them. Big swimbaits won't land a ton of fish, but if you're patient, you just might catch your PR.
There are four main categories of swimbaits; hard body, glide baits, soft plastic, and paddle tail.
Hard-body swimbaits are the most popular, although they can be super expensive. They usually feature lifelike paint jobs and jointed bodies that give them an "S" shaped swimming action. Some float on the surface, while others have lips that help them dive beneath the surface.
Glide baits have a slower swimming action. These lures have one joint, compared to hard-body swimbaits, which can have several. Anglers love the sweeping motion of glide baits and usually fish them during colder winter months.
Soft swimbaits are made from rubber, which gives them a more realistic feeling in a fish's mouth. Bass usually hold onto these baits longer, which gives you more time for your hookset. Soft plastic swimbaits don't usually have treble hooks, making them more resistant to weeds and better for fishing in shallow waters.
Paddle tail swimbaits are usually smaller, which means they get more frequent bites. These swimbaits aren't sold with hooks attached but can be made weedless with the right hooks. Color and size are the most essential qualities to look for in a paddle tail swimbait, as the swimming action is impacted the most by the type of hook you use.
Shinefish Swimbait - Best hard body swimbait
4.4 Stars | 203 Angler Reviews
The Shinefish Multi Jointed Swimbait comes in a 3-pack variety and is an excellent lure for largemouth bass fishing. The swimbait is slow-sinking and is weighted well for long casts. This lure's body has 8 segments, which is more than most other swimbaits.
The extra joints give this swimbait a more realistic swimming action than other lures. Usually, large swimbaits don't catch as many fish; however, we found the Shinefish Swimbait catches a surprising amount of fish.
Fish seem to love how realistic this bait looks in the water. Shinefish coated this lure with 3D stereoscopic paintwork, which shines through the dirtiest waters. Anglers around the world love this swimbait. It currently has an average of 4.7 stars on Amazon with over 250 reviews.
Truscend Swimbait - Best paddle tail swimbait
4.4 Stars | 2,418 Angler Reviews
The Truscend Paddle Tail Swimbait utilizes the most recent bass fishing technology. The product comes in a set of 5 pieces, so you're really getting great value out of this one. This swimbait imitates both baitfish and crayfish, which largemouth bass can't resist.
Truscend used a unique drop-down hook design. A small magnet raises and lowers the hook when a fish strikes. We found this feature increased our hookup ratios and kept us from getting snagged.
The hooks used are durable and made from Carbon Steel BKK. We think the shape is perfect as the hook consistently finds its way to the corner of any fish's mouth.
The swimbait has a subtle rolling action and can be fished with a fast or slow retrieve. It currently has 4.7 stars on Amazon and has been rated by over 150 people.
6. Spinnerbaits
Spinnerbaits are one of the easiest lures to fish, and time has shown they're fish-catching machines! To use these baits, simply cast them out and retrieve them in a straight line back to you. These lures have spinning blades that attract fish by reflecting light and vibrating.
Different spinnerbaits swim at varying speeds and depths. The two main categories of spinnerbaits are willow blades and colorado blades.
Willow blade spinnerbaits have longer and skinnier reflectors. These spinners don't create as much resistance, allowing the lure to move quickly through the water. Willow blade spinnerbaits dive deeper than Colorado blade varieties.
Colorado blade spinnerbaits have round reflectors that displace more water than willow blades. The shape of the blade not only slows down the presentation, but the additional lift also keeps them swimming higher in the water column. We like fishing this spinnerbait in conditions with reduced water clarity because it reflects more light.
Strike King Finesse KVD Spinnerbait
Our favorite spinnerbait lure of 2022 is the Strike King Finesse KVD Spinnerbait. The design of this lure was a mutual effort between Strike King and professional angler Kevin VanDam. The result is a versatile spinnerbait that's perfect for finicky bass.
This model has a redesigned skirt that is smaller and draws strikes more frequently. The blades don't create too much resistance, and they reflect enough light to attract fish in murky waters.
The Finesse KVD Spinnerbait runs true and straight, has a sharp and durable hook, and overall is a blast to fish with. We found the action of this spinnerbait simply appeals to fish more than other similar lures.
7. Finesse Baits
Finesse-style bass fishing lures are small and designed to be fished on lightweight tackle. Finesse baits can be a game-changer when fish are finicky and won't commit to a strike. While these lures as smaller, they're still known to catch massive bass.
Finesse fishing is all about closely mimicking natural prey and keeping your movements to a minimum. This isn't the best choice for covering water quickly, but some days bass won't bite on anything else.
The most common finesse-style presentations are Ned rigs, drop shots, tubes, and finesse jigs.
Ned rigs are tiny stick baits attached to a flattened jig head. The soft plastic body will stand vertically on the bottom when fished correctly. While it doesn't look like anything specific, Ned rigs have a way of loosely replicating everything. The most important characteristic is their small size, which keeps this bait from intimidating fish.
Drop shot rigs keep your soft plastics off the bottom and give off a natural and suspended appearance. When fishing drop shots, lightly twitching your rod tip will cause your worm to sway tantalizingly in the water.
Tube baits are larger than the others we've discussed; however, they're still considered finesse lures. Tube baits are designed to look like crayfish, the primary food source for smallmouth bass. These baits destroy smallies in areas with rocky and sandy bottoms.
Finesse jigs also mimick crawfish and should be fished in similar areas as tube baits. The best finesse jigs have flexible skirts that move in the water, drawing in bass from afar.
Z-Man 10X Tough Finesse TRD
The Z-Man 10X Tough Finesse TRD is the best ned rig bait of 2022. This popular finesse bait is naturally buoyant, which keeps the worm in a vertical position underwater. It's the perfect size for ned rigs at only 2.75 inches long.
This ned rig worm was specifically designed to be fished on Z-Man's Finesse ShroomZ jigheads. While other jigheads will work, the Z-Man combination is deadly. This bait is also made from a proprietary material that keeps fish holding on longer, increasing your hookup ratio.
8. Jerkbaits
Jerkbaits are one of the only bass lures that consistently catch fish year-round. These lures have a baitfish profile with one-piece construction. Jerkbaits can be fished in different ways to change their action, and they can be fished anywhere in the water column.
While they're effective lures, they take time to master. Unlike other bass lures, the angler has to give jerkbaits their action. This is done by repeatedly twitching the tip of your rod, sending the lure back-and-forth in a zig-zag motion.
Rapala Shadow Rap 11
The best jerkbait on the market is the Rapala Shadow Rap 11. It comes as no surprise that our favorite jerkbait is made by Rapala since they're the pioneers of modern jerkbait innovation. We love the Shadow Rap 11 because of its versatility, lifelike paintwork, running depth, and darting action.
This jerkbait darts a full 180 degrees when fished correctly. It slowly sinks when still and has a running depth of two to four feet. The body is slimmer than other jerkbaits with a sharper backline, giving it unique action.
As with all fish-style lures, make sure to match the colors of your jerkbait with the colors of the baitfish in your waters. Matching the hatch will make your presentation enticing to even the largest, most finicky bass.
9. Topwater Baits
While we've already discussed the best frog lures, there are other productive topwater baits. All of them are exciting to fish, as you'll likely witness bass "blow up" and jump out of the water.
Topwater baits can be fished year-round. However, they're especially effective in spring and early summer when water temperatures rise.
You'll also find success fishing topwaters during sunrise and sunset. This is when bass come out of the shade and actively feed on the surface. Bass also know that the cover of darkness protects them from predators, so they come out of hiding. When shopping for topwater baits, make sure they have sharp and well-placed treble hooks. Bass strike the surface quickly, and fishing with poor-quality hooks will cause you to miss fish.
Other than frogs, our three favorite topwater lures are poppers, walk the dog lures, and ChatterBaits.
Poppers are one of the slowest moving topwater baits. They float and have a cup-shaped head pushing water as the lure moves. Jerking your rod will cause the popper to propel water and make a chugging or popping sound on the surface.
Walk the dog lures are torpedo-shaped lures that float on the surface. These baits take practice to fish correctly, as you must jerk your rod to make them weave side-to-side. Bass love the darting action these lures produce, and you're sure to land some big fish!
ChatterBaits are the noisiest topwater bass lures. As you retrieve this bait, a metal spinner splashes, clanks, and buzzes on the surface. The primary purpose this lure serves is to annoy fish so much that they can't help but bite to try and get rid of the nuisance. ChatterBaits can cover water quickly, making them ideal for tournament fishing.
Z-Man ChatterBaits
4.7 Stars | 1,411 Angler Reviews
If you're looking for a great chatterbait brand, Z-Man is the only way to go. The Z-man ChatterBaits are the original lures that everyone else copied. We've watched countless companies try and fail to make their designs as effective as Z-Man.
The Original Z-Man ChatterBait Carolina was specifically designed to be an effective bass tournament bait. This lure has shown its potential and will help fill your livewells and cash those tournament checks. If you're not on a professional level but still enjoy catching bass, well... using the same lures the pros do is a good idea.
*Read more: Best ChatterBaits for Bass Fishing
Z-Man ChatterBait Elite
2nd Generation
4.6 Stars | 800 Angler Reviews
The Z-Man ChatterBait Elite is the revised version of their original product. The bait has a 5/0 Gamaktzu hook, a low-profile skirt jig hub, eye-catching patterns, and several other features.
The upgraded stainless steel ChatterBlade, stronger quick-clip line tie, and strengthened connection between the head and the blade are our favorite new additions to the CatterBait Elite. When deciding between the Elite and the original model, know that the Elite has better durability.
Z-Man ChatterBait Jack Hammer
Professional Grade
4.9 Stars | 182 Angler Reviews
If you're willing to go the extra mile and spend a fair amount more, the Z-Man ChatterBait Jack Hammer is the most advanced model of Z-Man's series. Three world premiere designers worked together to make this bait the best it could possibly be. The idea was to make the best performing ChatterBait possible, eliminating the need to make any future improvements.
Z-Man, Bassmaster Elite Pro Brett white, and Japanese luremaker Ever Green International collaborated on this product. The bait has a lower center of gravity, a custom hook, imported paint colors, and much more. Basically, every aspect of this bait meets or dramatically exceeds the unspoken professional standards.
Is it worth the money? Some anglers think so. It really all depends on whether you frequently lose baits or not. Compared to the other models, it could either be a great investment or an expensive snag.
Heddon Spook Baby Bass
4.7 Stars | 3,276 Angler Reviews
The Heddon Super Spook Jr Baby Bass fishing lure is one of the most outstanding largemouth bass lures of 2022. Anglers around the world use Heddon Spook lures. There are a few extremely effective Heddon Spook colors, but the baby bass pattern seems to be the best, making sense based on what bass feed on.
If you weren't aware, bigger largemouth bass will frequently hunt down and feed on smaller bass, which is why this bait catches so many monster fish. Heddon is one of the most reputable lure manufacturers, and it's obvious looking at their Amazon ratings.
This particular lure is rated 4.6 stars, and it is also an Amazon's Choice Product. It's an excellent value for the money and will surely last you a lifetime of fishing.
Arbogast Triple Threat
4.7 Stars | 1,003 Angler Reviews
Sometimes, you won't know what the largemouth will be biting on a particular day. That's why the Arbogast Triple Threat Legendary Set is a must-have for many anglers. The kit includes 3 bass lures that all have outstanding action. You get their black jitterbug, white belly jitterbug, and hula popper, all for a fantastic price.
These largemouth bass baits are all made of high-quality materials and make great sounds in the water. They get the attention of big bass, and their treble hooks are super sharp. If you're looking for great jitterbugs and hula poppers, Arbogast has what you need.
10. Jigs
Jigs are effective year-round and are highly versatile. These lures are composed of a jig head, hook, and skirt. The skirt, a clump of thin threads, comes in dozens of color variations. Changing the color and length of the thread can help you mimic different prey such as bluegill, shiners, crayfish, and frogs.
You can literally fish jigs anywhere you can find fish. Jigs can be flipped under docks, pitched into weeds, twitched along the bottom, and even swam in open water. Many anglers would consider this bait the best bass lure ever made.
The three most common jig types are Arkie jigs, football jigs, and swim jigs.
Arkie jigs are all-purpose lures and are a great place to start if you're new to jig fishing. They're also referred to as flipping or casting jigs. The weighted head on an Arkie jig is large enough to balance well on the bottom but isn't so wide that it snags easily on debris.
Football jigs have larger heads designed to keep the bait on the bottom. Since football jigs aren't weedless, they're best for sandy and rocky areas.
Swim jigs are different as they're made for fishing in the middle of the water column. Instead of having a weighted head, they have a slim profile that keeps them moving straight. These jigs are effective for covering water quickly and searching for fish. The lure's narrow head also helps it slip through plants and other obstacles.
Strike King Tour Grade Skipping Jig
The Strike King Tour Grade Skipping Jig was designed by tournament angler Andy Montgomery to be the best jig for fishing around cover. This jig has a unique head that will bounce off the surface of the water, helping you make accurate casts virtually anywhere.
Whether you're casting around trees, logs, docks, or shrubbery, the bass can't get enough of this jig. The hook keeper is well placed and makes this jig hard to snag. This bait also has a very reasonable price tag for a tournament-quality lure.
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