The Best Bass Baits for Every Season

Maybe you’re building a tackle box or cutting back on lures. Either way, you need certain baits for specific situations during various seasons. Photo by Jason Sealock.

Tackle is a big part of bass fishing. If you’re anything like me, you own far more lures than you can ever use. What started as a tournament fishing necessity ended as a tackle addiction. But lately, I’ve found myself cutting back, getting rid of many of the lures I don’t use and instead restocking those that see lots of action.

Narrowing down your gear selection can be liberating, but it takes a realistic look into the baits that produce for every season. Whether you’re eliminating the clutter or stocking a tackle box for the first time, you’ll want to ensure certain baits make the grade.

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TOP EARLY SPRING LURES

Late winter into pre-spawn

Jerkbait, jig and plastic, grub, lipless crankbait

Regardless of your location, late-winter bass are sure to be lethargic as they begin their transition to shallow water. Nothing catches those fish like a jerkbait. You’ll want a suspending lure for early season. Pick a drab color in a bait you can cast well and fish in protected areas warmed by the afternoon sun.

Nothing catches lethargic early spring bass like a jerkbait. If fish are holding deeper, go with a grub. Photo by Joe Balog.

A grub will catch the fish that are too deep for a jerkbait. All you need is a handful of baits and some 3/16-ounce heads to catch largemouths, smallmouths, and spots off points leading into major creeks and coves.

Lipless cranks cover more water and work surprisingly well in cold conditions. I vividly remember a Bassmaster Classic won by Kevin VanDam when the morning temps were so cold that the boats froze to the trailers. Winding and yo-yoing a Red Eye Shad proved to be the winning ticket.

Finally, a jig and plastic is always a good pick once pre-spawn migrators move into shallow cover. Choose big, bulky jigs for big-mouths, but scale down to finesse-sized options for smallies and spots, fished on a spinning rod and lighter line.

TOP LATE-SPRING LURES

Spawn and post-spawn periods

Wacky worm, topwater, spinnerbait/Chatterbait, tube

Springtime and aggressive bass make this the best time of year for bass fishing. When combing shallow water looking for a productive stretch, spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits are the best options. We group these together as they accomplish the same purpose: remaining snag-free and triggering bites from fish roaming the shallows. Picking between the two lures is really a matter of personal preference.

Chatterbaits are a great option for combing shallow water while seeking a productive stretch. Photo by Joe Balog.

Wacky worms are deadly when bass are spawning or protecting their fry. Rigged Texas-style or hooked in the center, slow-sinking soft plastics including Trick Worms, Senkos, lizards and more. All get bites.

Topwaters catch the same shallow fish but add more excitement. Here, choose baits that stay in place — poppers and prop baits — over walkers or buzzbaits. It’s slow fishing but deadly.

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Tube baits will catch bass of all species in spring, but they really excel for smallmouth fishing. Rigged on a jighead and pitched around “dark spots,” you’ll be targeting aggressive bedding fish, so release them quickly.

Topwater lures can be deadly during late spring if fished correctly. Photo by Joe Balog.

TOP SUMMERTIME LURES

Deep-diving crankbaits, drop-shots, plastic worms, plastic minnows

Summertime in the mid-South means cranking ledges, still catching them old-school with long casts and deep divers. The process is easier than ever now, thanks to forward-facing sonar and lures that cast to the horizon.

Every bass angler loves big smallies, and summer is typically prime time to catch great fish. Photo by Jason Sealock.

Drop-shot baits will catch deep-water fish across the northern range, where smallmouths make up the primary targets. Nothing is better at getting down deep while still presenting a finesse approach. Be sure to keep a light leader as part of the equation.

You can’t go wrong with a plastic worm during summer. They work across the country. Photo by Joe Balog.

Plastic worms catch fish all across America each summer. Long Texas-rigs fool main-lake bass in the grass, while Neko rigs are the best option under shady boat docks. Minnows now make up a new category, as jighead minnow fishing in conjunction with FFS has taken the bass fishing industry by storm. It’s incredibly effective at targeting mid-depth roaming fish, which is typical summertime bass behavior. You’ll need a few packs if you plan to Scope offshore.

Deep-diving crankbaits are tailor-made for cranking big ledges in the South. Photo by Joe Balog.

TOP FALL LURES

Square-billed crankbaits, topwaters, swimbaits, plastic worms

Fall bass can be divided into three groups: those moving ultra-shallow, those positioning deep, and those chasing bait. Sometimes, bass fit more than one category.

In climates where waters cool and reservoir bass push into creeks, nothing beats a square-billed crankbait to trigger strikes. Despite two sets of treble hooks, these lures remain fairly weedless and can be fished around stumps and brush where big bass lie in wait.

When you need to cover water in autumn, topwater lures can prompt strikes. Photo by Joe Balog.

Topwater lures will trigger bites here, too. With roaming bass comes a need to cover water, so now’s the time to pick up walking baits and buzzers and stay on the trolling motor.

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Plastic worms are the catch-all category, as rigging in fall is never more diverse. Dropshots catch smallies pushing deep, while Nekos and finesse rigs are great around shallow targets.

Finally, swimbaits can be used to corral bass around bait or rigged on an umbrella rig for fast action of all bass species. Rapidly cooling water triggers this bite best.

Largemouth bass provide tremendous action year-round in many areas. It’s critical to fine-tune lure selection to stay atop of seasonal changes. Photo by Jason Sealock.

WINTER

Jighead minnow, blade bait, jerkbait

Forward-facing sonar is tough to beat when searching for isolated wintertime schools of bass. Using the technology allows anglers to quickly find fish and pick the right lure and retrieve to catch them. Jighhead minnows will clean house.

The blade bait is as old-school as it gets. It’s been catching giant smallmouths for decades and has recently been adapted more for largemouth fishing around isolated cover. Don’t confuse the lure’s simplistic design with lackluster catches. This thing is a cold-water wonder.

Blade baits might be old-school, but they remain a cold-water wonder. Photo by Joe Balog.

It’s time to revisit the jerkbaits that we started the year with, too. Again, suspenders score big. Scale down on your line size, and remember, the colder the water, the longer the pause.

We intended to simplify your tackle selection but might have made things worse. It’s true, a variety of gear is necessary to be a well-rounded bass angler facing diverse conditions. But that’s part of the fun. If you’re not thinking, you’re not bass fishing. There’s always a better bait, or a tweak in a retrieve that transforms a good fishing day into a great one. Lure selection plays a vital role in the process, and seasonal selection is where it begins.