Fishing Lures for Largemouth Bass
Every angler wishes they could have one magical lure that never fails to catch fish, but this wouldn't be realistic. In this guide, we discuss the best largemouth bass lures and when to fish each bait.
Bass can be challenging to fish for, as their tastes and preferences change based on many factors. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass each have different qualities that make them independent feeders.
As well as the species difference, you have to consider the time of day you're fishing, what the weather's like, and what the fish are used to eating. Bass can be difficult to predict, but in this post, we will be unveiling the world's best largemouth bass lures to help you catch fish under any conditions.
Table of Contents (Jump-to)
Booyah Pond Magic - Best Largemouth Spinnerbait
4.5 Stars | 2,150+ Angler Reviews
The Booyah Pond Magic Spinnerbait is the first on the list because of its success at catching largemouth bass. The lure gives off a ton of reflection to get the attention of even the biggest largies, and its weedless design makes it efficient to use. The blade has great action mimicking an injured baitfish.
We were also surprised at how well this lure holds up. It's a rust-resistant bass lure that will stay intact even after the strongest blows from big largemouth. The lure has 4.6 stars on Amazon with over 500 reviews of anglers vouching for it and has been awarded Amazon's Choice Product.
Fishing Spinnerbaits for Largemouth Bass
Spinnerbaits are also unique because they catch largemouth almost anywhere. They work exceptionally well in shallow and deep water, and you can retrieve them at any speed. If you're fishing from a boat and going from deep water ledge to ledge, you'll want to slow down your retrieve.
Focus on causing as much commotion as you can by bumping your spinner into rocks and logs. If you're fishing from shore, you'll want to prioritize your cast placement and try to get your spinner as close to the bank as possible.
The best spinnerbaits come in many colors, but you should look for something with a lot of "flare" to really catch the bigger bass's attention. Largemouth bass often cluster around areas with lots of weeds and aquatic plants, so you should always try using weedless baits first. It's a real hassle if you have to take weeds off of your hooks after every cast.
Gary Yamamoto Senkos - Best Plastic Worm
4.7 Stars | 3,330+ Angler Reviews
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There are tons of different styles of plastic worms. When you're choosing a good plastic worm for largemouth, your best bet is to use a Yamamoto Senko Bait Plastic Worm. These are by far the most popular rubber worms for fishing, and it's easy to see why. They have more weight to them than common worms, they're more durable, and their added girth attracts much better than the competition.
Any angler from any state what plastic worm they recommend, and 9 out of 10 times they'll tell you about Senkos. They are the #1 Best Seller in the Fishing Jig Category on Amazon with 4.6 stars and over 1000 reviews.
If you're not already using Senkos, you're in luck because this tip will make you catch far more largemouth. If you want to learn more about Gary Yamamoto Senko Worms, here's a helpful guide!
Artificial Worms For Largemouth Bass
When fishing for largemouth bass with soft plastic lures, the best option is to use rubber or plastic worms. These guys will shred fish year-round and can be combined with almost any fishing style.
You can use these on a drop shot rig, you can use them on ledges, you can use them to mimic injured baitfish, and overall they are an exceptionally versatile bait to use.
One of our favorite strategies is to use just a worm with an offset bait hook without weighting. With this strategy, you want to cast it close to shore, let it fall for 3-5 seconds, pull it one rod-length up, reel in the slack, and repeat.
With this method, the worm has the best natural presentation, and largemouth bass love the slow-falling style. They will almost always hit it when it's falling, so be prepared to set the hook on your pull-up!
Strike King Red Eye Shad - Best Lipless Crankbait
4.6 Stars | 440+ Angler Reviews
*Update: Bass Pro Shops 37% Sale
A strong recommendation for a lipless crankbait that catches Largemouth Bass is the Strike King Red Eye Shad Crankbait. This thing never fails to get the job done and put fish in the boat.
The coloration is flashy enough to attract largemouth, but it keeps a realistic and approachable design. The lure also has a tremendous body-to-hook ratio, which means you'll avoid getting your line tangled in the hooks every cast like other crankbaits.
The crankbait by Strike King also has the best rattling sounds on the market. It's not abrasive and obnoxious like others, but it has just enough sound to make it even more tempting to largemouth bass when you knock it against obstacles.
Lipless Crankbait Techniques
When all else fails, you can rely on a trusty lipless crankbait to get the job done. One of the crankbaits' best qualities is that they can be fished faster than other lures, allowing you to cover more water. Lipless crankbaits offer the best imitation of the baitfish largemouth bass are feeding on, and they can be easier to control when fishing them correctly.
Lipless crankbaits can be used in every situation. Whether you're bouncing from ledge to ledge, fishing in the grass, tagging deep water humps, casting into the flats, or working around stump fields, you'll be able to lure in the fish.
Contact Lure Technique
You should also always remember that crankbaits are "contact" lures, which means they work best when you're bumping them into objects. If you're fishing a stump field, for example, you'll want to place your cast so that on your retrieve, you can knock your crankbait against multiple logs.
Bass will usually follow a crankbait until they see it do something unexpected like this, and then they'll bite. Largemouth bass think your baitfish presentation is wounded and will take their opportunity at an easy meal.
Z-Man Elite - Best Largemouth Bass Chatterbait
4.6 Stars | 830+ Angler Reviews
The Z-man Chatterbait Elite is an exceptional topwater bait for fishing largemouth bass. The Z-man lure brand is known in the angler community to produce exceptional quality baits.
Not only are they durable and well built, but they've been shown to outperform the competition. This lure gives off a ton of vibration, which gets the bigger largemouth bass's attention that only strike larger profile baits.
This is likely a lure that you already have because it's so popular. With that said, this list would feel incomplete without this bait. We recommend purchasing this bait from Amazon because of its great reputation, but it can be found in many different stores.