Does the thought of the first warm spring days make your fishing rod itch for action? Spring bass fishing is a thrilling time. The fish are waking up and hungry after a long winter. But here’s the tricky part: what lure should you tie on first? The tackle store shelves look like a rainbow exploded, full of crankbaits, jigs, and soft plastics. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and waste precious fishing time guessing which lure the bass actually want today.
Choosing the wrong lure means fewer bites and more frustration. We know you want to feel that explosive spring strike, not just watch the water! This guide cuts through the noise. We will break down exactly which lures work best as the water warms up and why. Keep reading to discover the secret weapons that put more springtime bass in your boat.
Top Spring Bass Fishing Lures Recommendations
- EYE-CATCHING LURE: Matching head and blade-color patterns, creating a totally different look while retaining the fish-catching action
- ATTRACTING SPINNERBAIT: Vibration action of spinnerbait to replicate real craw
- BAIT DESIGN: Specializes in color and blade combinations that have been hand selected to match the forage base of smaller water
- TAILORED HOOK: Mustart Ultra Point 2/0 Hook Size making it optimal for Bass fishing
- EFFECTIVE SIZE AND COLORS: 60-strand ultra fine silicone skirts; 3/16 oz top water fishing
- WEED GUARD DESGIN: Penetrates brushpiles and drop through grassbeds with equal efficiency
- JIG FEATURES: Flat-bottom 18-degree rise, black nickel light wire hook
- ATTENTION SEEKER: Baby Boo Jig has a proven record of catching the big ones
- EFFECTIVE SIZE AND COLORS: 60-strand ultra fine silicone skirt patterns; 5/16 oz lure weight
- TOUGH AND DURABLE: Strong hard coat paint with Plasti-Keeper Spike
- ✅ GREEN BABY BASS. REALISTIC PROFILE. See video below on how bait swims. Fast sink rate so bait will get down to those active fish.
- ✅ WE USE ACTUAL IMAGE of bait wrapped onto bait create that natural look for the baitfish.
- ✅ 1/2oz. FAST SINK ROF 10"-15" allows the bait to swim in the strike zone. Throw bait around rocky points and dropoffs.
- ✅ GREAT SEARCH BAIT to pinpoint where the bait ball is located. See the video below. Toss bait into the cluster of bait and hold on! Makes a great gift!
- ✅ TWITCH LIKE A JERKBAIT. The small profile makes it great to reach narrow areas. Throw in open water or pockets where fish are waiting for a quick meal.
- WIDELY FISHING SPECIES - Using Japan material, the freshwater fishing lures is the perfect size at 3.5in, which ready to take on multiple hits. Whether you are fishing reefs, estuaries, rivers, fresh or saltwater, the Truscend lures for fishing will become your essential paddle tail lure to target bass, trout, Walleye, pike snook, salmon, redfish and many more.
- LIFE-LIKE ACTION - The bass fishing lures have a special 3D paddle tail to give off turbulence, ultra-realistic patterns, life-like halographic eyes and solid wire through construction to ultra-sharp BKK back hook. The Top Hook protects against hangups. Its weedless nature enables you to fish it well through all types of cover.
- LONG CASTING JIG HEAD - Having an ideal weight for long casting and slow sinking, Truscend fishing bait can achieve a slow, flutter presentation. Featuring a precisely engineered shape, the soft body swimbaits generate the perfect kicking action. You can easily cast the fishing jigs bait into your ideal fish area.
- JAPAN DESIGN - Constructed from high quality materials from Japan, expertly design and rigorous testing of light refraction fish pattern make TRUSCEND "Shad Paddle Tail Bait" more realistic and attractive. The soft plastic fishing lures who lively Japanese design perfectly emulates erratic baitfish action.
- ULTRA-SHARP HOOK - Equipped with sharp high quality high carbon steel hook on back, the innovative design of these soft lures can help ensure increased fish hook ups in all situations while avoid getting hung up when fishing. The bass lures can take your bass fishing game to the next level.
- INCLUDED IN EACH FISHING KIT: Each Mystery Tackle Box from Catch Co comes with a variety of baits and lures (minimum 5 different items) along with our own Mini Fishing Magazine (Dibble) and other educational and fun content.
- PRODUCTS: We work with the best brands in the fishing industry and ensure these products are both effective and specifically designed for freshwater bass (smallmouth and largemouth).
- INFORMATIONAL CONTENT: Get the best instruction and information to improve your fishing adventures by catching more fish with these helpful tips!
- MILLIONS OF BOXES: Our team has been sending boxes full of the best fishing gear since 2012 so join us today!
- BEST FISHING KIT: The Mystery Tackle Box from Catch Co is the best fishing kit for everyone this holiday season!
- 【REAL ANGLER'S CHOICE】If you are or want to become a REAL lure fishing angler, you should try this bass lures kit. This bass fishing kit includes most commonly-used and hand-picked fishing baits and lures.
- 【HAND-PICKED】This bass fishing lures kit is not a random combination of low-end lure baits, we hand-select most effective and easy-to-operate bass fishing baits which are very suitable for local fishing in US.
- 【QUALITY-CHOICE】This fishing tackle kit is a QUALITY choice,all baits are tested and proved to be effective and attractive, as well as enough strength.
- 【DECENT GIFT】As this product contains a nice fishing tackle box with tackle included, so it can be a very decent fishing gift for men or kids.
- 【TARGETING SPECIES】This fishing lures set is mainly designed for bass fishing, also cover these: pike, catfish, trout, walleye, snakehead, perch, etc.
- 【Long Casting Accurate Throwing】: Weighted in the end of the lure for slow sinking and to reach deeper waters. Accurate gram mark to meet the needs of different anglers. Flash gold coating refracts light, life-like swimming actions make it attracting more catches.
- 【Sharp Feather Treble Hooks】: Each fishing gear has sharp rust-proof trebles hook which include super sharp needle points and barbs, the penetrating power is wonderful enough to effectively prevent fish from escaping.
- 【Convenient Storage】: Packaged with 4 attractive fishing lures （15g and 20g) and 4 fishing swivel duo lock snaps. Plastic storage containers to easily organize and carry the fishing jig. These lures are perfect for the beginner as well as the professional angler, providing a wide range of tackle for any fishing excursion.
- 【High-Quality Fishing Lures】: Constructed from durable materials, anti-rust coating, bright color and classic design ensuring fishing bait last multiple fishing trips. They can be effective for both shallow and deep water fishing.
- 【Novelty Gift Ideas for Every Special Day】: This naughty fishing lure comes with a premium gift box, is an awesome funny gift that will definitely make anyone laugh. Decent great gifts for Christmas, Thanksgiving Day, Valentine's Day, Father's Day, Mother's Day, anniversary, I love you gift, birthday, stocking stuffer, White Elephant gift
- Soft Swimbaits: Made of environmental friendly quality soft plastic, jig head fishing lures are soft, light but durable with fishy smell to attract freshwater / saltwater fishes.
- Lifelike Culter Bait: Fishing jig soft lure features realistic 3D laser fish eyes, plump trout shaped fish mouth, fish scale and fins to imitate the real culter fish.
- Big Soft Tail: Soft and flexible big tail strongly swings and creates natural swimming action in water can easily attract bass, trout, perch, crappie, pike, walleye, mandarinfish, etc.
- Jig Head Fishing Lure: Weighted jig hook inside the head; a triple hook with a squashed double connecting ring (an optional hook hanger）at the abdomen; reasonable counterweight designed for long casting, deep sinking and high catching rate.
- What You Get: Package comes with 6 PCS fishing baits in 6 colors (blue, green, silver, white, red-white and black-red). Each bass lure is 3.54in long and weighs 0.31oz.
Choosing the Best Spring Bass Fishing Lures: Your Complete Buying Guide
Spring is an exciting time for bass fishing. As the water warms up, bass become more active. They move from deep winter spots to shallower areas to feed and eventually spawn. Picking the right lure makes a huge difference in your success. This guide helps you select the best lures for those crucial spring bites.
Key Features to Look For in Spring Lures
When you shop for spring bass lures, focus on a few main features. These features help mimic the natural food sources bass crave during this season.
- Vibrant Colors: Spring water can sometimes be murky after winter rains. Look for lures with bright colors like chartreuse, white, or firetiger. These colors show up well in stained water.
- Action and Vibration: Bass use their lateral lines to detect movement. Lures that wobble, buzz, or vibrate strongly attract attention from a distance.
- Size Consistency: Match your lure size to the baitfish in your local lake. Smaller lures work well early in the spring when bass are still sluggish. Larger baits shine when the water heats up later in the season.
- Hook Quality: Sharp, strong hooks are non-negotiable. You need hooks that penetrate easily and hold the fish tight when you set the hook.
Important Materials Matter
The material of your lure affects how it swims, how durable it is, and how much it costs.
Hard Baits (Plastics and Wood)
Many top spring lures, like crankbaits and jerkbaits, use hard plastic bodies. Good quality plastic resists cracking when you hit rocks or logs. Some premium lures use balsa wood, which often gives them a more natural, subtle action in the water. Soft plastic lures, like creature baits or swimbaits, should be made of soft yet durable plastic so they don’t tear after just a few catches.
Metal Components
Screws, split rings, and line ties must be made of stainless steel or high-quality, corrosion-resistant metal. Cheaper metals rust quickly, which weakens the lure and ruins its action.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Lure Quality
Quality isn’t just about the price tag. How a lure is designed and built directly impacts your catch rate.
What Makes a Lure Better?
- Realistic Finishes: Lures painted to look exactly like shad, bluegill, or crawfish fool wary bass. Look for 3D eyes and detailed scale patterns.
- Proper Weighting: Crankbaits need correct internal weighting to achieve the advertised depth and action. A well-balanced lure swims correctly every time.
- Noise Makers: Rattles inside hard baits can draw fish from cover. Ensure the internal bearings rattle clearly when you shake the lure.
What Lowers the Quality?
- Flimsy Components: Thin wire hooks or weak split rings break easily under pressure.
- Poor Paint Adhesion: If the paint chips off after one trip, the lure quickly loses its realistic look.
- Incorrect Buoyancy: A floating lure that sinks too fast, or a suspending lure that floats up too quickly, will not stay in the strike zone long enough.
User Experience and Spring Use Cases
Think about where you will fish and when in the spring cycle.
Early Spring (Cold Water: 45°F – 55°F)
Bass hug bottom structure and move slowly. Use lures that stay in the strike zone longer. Jerkbaits are excellent here; pause them for long periods between twitches. Slow-moving jigs fished near rocky banks also score well.
Mid-Spring (Transition Water: 55°F – 65°F)
Bass start moving shallow to find cover. This is the time for reaction strikes. Use crankbaits that mimic crawfish bouncing off the bottom. Spinnerbaits also work great when retrieved quickly through submerged grass lines.
Late Spring (Pre-Spawn/Spawn: 65°F+)
Bass are aggressive and territorial. Topwater lures like frogs or buzzbaits become highly effective over shallow flats. Pitch soft plastic Texas-rigged worms directly into heavy cover where guarding bass hide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Spring Bass Lures
Q: What are the best colors for bass lures in muddy spring water?
A: Use bright, high-visibility colors. Chartreuse, bright orange, and white are your best bets because they push more water and show up better in stained conditions.
Q: Should I use topwater lures early in the spring?
A: Generally, no. Early spring water is too cold for bass to chase surface lures. Wait until the water hits 60°F or higher before relying heavily on topwater baits.
Q: What is the most versatile lure for spring fishing?
A: A medium-diving crankbait is often the most versatile. It covers a lot of water, appeals to different bass moods, and handles the varying depths of spring transitions.
Q: How does water temperature affect my lure choice?
A: Colder water means slower presentations (jigs, suspending jerkbaits). Warmer water allows for faster retrieves (spinnerbaits, topwater).
Q: Are expensive lures always better for bass fishing?
A: Not always, but higher-priced lures usually feature better components like sharper hooks, better finishes, and more realistic swimming actions. Quality matters, especially with action baits.
Q: What is a “jerkbait” and why is it good for spring?
A: A jerkbait is a hard lure you retrieve with sharp twitches and pauses. During cold spring, bass often prefer a slow, erratic stop-and-go presentation.
Q: Do I need a specific type of soft plastic for spring?
A: Yes. Look for creature baits or crawfish imitators early on. Later, stick to worms or swimbaits that imitate bluegill or shad as they move shallow.
Q: How deep should my lures run in early spring?
A: In the coldest parts of spring, bass stay deep near deep structure or creek channels. Aim for lures that run 5 to 10 feet deep, or use jigs that stay right on the bottom.
Q: What metal components should I check before buying a lure?
A: Check the split rings and the line tie. They should feel solid and resist bending when you squeeze them with pliers.
Q: Should I size up my lure when bass start spawning?
A: Yes, when bass move shallow to spawn, they become aggressive and territorial. Using slightly larger, more intimidating lures often triggers a strike from guarding males.