Catching bass on lures is potentially one of the most exciting styles of angling the UK has to offer, made even better when you're armed with the best lures. Arriving at the sea on a summer dawn morning with nobody else around and the anticipation of what could be out there really gets the adrenaline going. The solitude and peace this style of angling can present, with just the angler against nature, is what fishing is really all about.
You will get moments of sheer excitement when your lure is smashed by a hungry bass, size is irrelevant as they all hit with the same ferocity and power. It doesn’t matter how many times you get this sensation, it’s as exhilarating as the first bite. Bass are a hard-fighting, incredible-looking fish that will have you experiencing some of the best coastlines in the UK. Bass fishing with lures really does take some beating, and is why many anglers dedicate their lives to catching them.
The best bass lures for shore fishing at a glance
Bass are generally very aggressive fish, feeding on all manners of prey, and as such you can catch them on many different lures, in fact, you can even catch them on the fly. Surface lures, shads, diving plugs you name it, bass can and will be caught on all of them. As with all angling, however, some are just more effective than others. Here is a guide to some of the best lures available for bass fishing, get out there and give them a try…
Best Soft Plastic Bass Lures For Fishing
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When it comes to soft plastic baits, the Fiiish Minnow really does take some beating. The action the lure has and the colours that it is available in just seem to prove irresistible to bass and anglers find themselves using them time and time again.
The lures have a detachable head so you can swap the bodies for a different colour or if they get damaged, and the weedless design ensures you won’t get snagged up, making them ideal for rougher ground. The jig head comes in six styles depending on the depth of water you’re fishing in, and weights from 6g-190g.
The lure bodies come in 19 colours from Fluro Pink to the infamous and ever faithful Black Minnow, a colour which seems to take more bass than any other. These lures work best on a slower, constant retrieve and are a must have if you fish soft plastic baits.
Pros
- Very realistic swimming action.
- Weedless design reduces snagging up.
Cons
- They are soft plastic, so they are prone to being destroyed, although they are very tough.
Best Surface Bass Lures For Fishing
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The Xorus Patchinko has cemented itself as one of, if not the best surface lure currently available for bass fishing in the UK. Its sweeping side-to-side action just seems too much to resist for bass, and you wouldn’t be wrong in saying this lure accounts for more bass off the surface than any other.
Tail-weighted, with a streamlined body means even the lighter versions cast like bullets. The lure sits upright and can be retrieved just by reeling, but opting for a flick of the rop tip will impart loads of action into the lure, and this seems to drive the bass crazy.
Available in various sizes from 7cm to 14cm and in various weights, the most productive seems to be the 10cm-12.5cm sizes, you will catch bass from 12oz to 12lb on them. There are lots of colours in the range, as expected with most lures these days, all working on their day, but anglers seem to favour the white (Blanc), pink versions or the more silver/natural colours.
Pros
- Fantastic action.
- Long cast design.
Cons
- The treble can wrap around the line occasionally.
Best suspending lure for bass fishing
No lure guide would be complete without a world-famous Rapala lure included. Their reputation and longevity has come from making lures that do what they are meant to…catch fish, and they certainly do that!
The Rapala X-Rap Saltwater is a lure built for the harshest environments and hardest-hitting fish imaginable, so you can be sure this lure will last the test of time. The lure is a suspending bait, meaning it doesn’t sink or float, once you have wound it down to the desired depth, just flicking the tip with a very slow retrieve will cause the lure to roll and twitch at that depth.
The advantage of a lure like this is if you only have a small area the bass are holding up in you can keep the lure working in their eye lines for as long as possible to try to induce a take. The X-Rap is available in 8cm, 10cm, 12cm, and 14cm and comes in an array of lifelike colours, this lure is great for shallow water when the bass aren’t willing to take a surface lure.
Pros
- Suspending design offers something different.
- Very durable lures.
Cons
- Can take a while to get used to how to use them.
Best bass fishing lure for calm water
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A relatively new addition to the Momolures range is the Momolures Salty Skimmer and they really are excellent surface lures. Most surface lures work on creating lots of commotion to imitate a stressed bait fish to attract the bass to hit the lure, however, there are days when this will have the opposite effect and spook the fish.
Enter the Salty Skimmer, this lure has a great snaking action but as it has a rounded nose it will skate and glide along the surface leaving the smallest of wakes behind it, imitating an injured/dying fish swimming on the surface as the bass would naturally see them in the wild.
The lures have the option of a built-in rattle or just a lure for ultimate stealth. They come in a range of colours, our favourite being the White Pearl or Mackerel versions, sizes vary but aim for the 11cm version as it just seems to be the sweet spot.
Pros
- Superb lure for calm water.
- Great when the bass are wary.
Cons
- Not the best in rough conditions.
Best Diving Bass Lures For Fishing
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Some days, the bass aren’t willing to come to within normal casting range, and that is when the IMA Hound 125f Glide is reached for. The lure was designed for optimum casting, with the weight loaded towards the tail of the lure and a streamlined profile, this lure really does fly, on the right tackle it’s been cast over 70m, extraordinary.
The lure isn’t just designed to cast, it has proven to be very successful for bass. The lure is a floating/diving lure and will dive to around 1.5m, so it allows you to search out the depths of the shoreline to find where the bass are. The small vane prevents it diving too deep and gives the lure a nice rolling action to keep from veering off course, which is important on long retrievals.
The lure is 12.5cm long and comes in wide array of patterns.
Pros
- Can be cast extreme distances.
- Has a lovely rolling action.
Cons
- The lure has two sets of trebles, so be careful.
Best Bass Lures For Low Light Conditions
The Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow really capitulates everything a diving plug needs to be successful at catching bass. Its vibrant, realistic colours, insane action and durable body make it a go-to lure when the bass are feeding below the surface or in shallow water.
The holographic glint makes these lures particularly deadly when used in low light periods, and we would say this lure has been more successful for us at dawn than any other lure we have used. The lure needs absolute minimal light to reflect and sparkle, coupled with the wobbling action just produces action time and time again.
This lure works best on a slow retrieve, pausing and allowing the lure to hold in the water before a sharp flick of the rod causes the lure to roll and wobble erratically, this is usually when you will get that heart-stopping thump from a bass.
Available in 9cm, 11cm and 13cm. Colours are never-ending, but the more natural colours seem to score best, although on its day, the classic red head and white body can be devastating.
Pros
- Holographic finish makes them deadly in low light conditions.
- Very erratic action, it can't go unnoticed.
Cons
- Not suitable for deep water spots.
Best bass fishing lure for rough ground
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When the bass are chasing small baitfish and sandeels, it can really pay to put a lure on with a slim profile as it emulates exactly what the bass are eating. The fish can get so fixated on a certain size at times, and this is when the Savage Gear Sandeel V2 Weedless really excels.
Sandeels don’t swim erratically, so this lure is designed to be fished on a steady retrieve. The paddle tail kicks naturally, and the built-in rattle helps stimulate the fish into taking the lure. The slim profile helps the lure cast really well, and the weedless design means it won't get snagged up easily, allowing you to fish the lure how it's intended.
The lures are available in 11.5cm and 13cm, with the standout colours being the Khaki and Green Silver.
Pros
- Ideal choice when bass are preoccupied on small baitfish.
- Weedless design allows you to work the lure close to the bottom.
Cons
- Body can rip quite easily.
Best diving lure for bass fishing in shallow water
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Another long-distance offering but this time from Shimano. The Shimano Exsence Silent Assassin Flash Boost 129f AR-C is designed with Shimano’s advanced casting system, the lure has a sliding weight design to maximise casting capabilities and that it does, with distances over 60m recorded.
The lures are finished in a lovely holographic effect and have a mirror mounted on a spring inside the lure which bounces and reflects light on the retrieve. This massively increases their visual presence, even in the lowest light levels, to make sure the bass know they are there.
A 12.9cm floating lure that will dive to depths around 1m, it is perfect for shallower coastlines or when the bass are feeding just below the surface in deeper water.
Pros
- The flash boost helps draw attention even in poor light conditions.
- Sliding weight design optimises casting.
Cons
- The glint can be very attractive to mackerel and small bass.
What to look for in a bass lure for shorefishing
Bass can be found in nearly all coastline habitats, shallow water beaches, estuaries and rocky marks, they have even been caught over double figures on stretches further up the Hampshire Avon. If there is something for the bass to eat, they won't be far away. Due to the diverse nature of where bass feed, it is well worth carrying a selection of lures to make sure you can adapt to the conditions and how the bass are behaving. Some days you'll see bass chasing fry and hitting everything is sight, other days the bass feed more cautiously and a more refined approach is needed.
On calm days in shallow water there is nothing more exciting than catching bass with surface lures, not only do you witness the heart stopping moment a bass hits the lure, you also benefit from the lure missing all the weed and rocks below. When the bass can be seen attacking baitfish on the surface, a fast retrieve with violent sweeps of the rod will make the lure dance and make loads of commotion, attracting the bass. If the fish can't be seen, then a more gentle retrieve generally gets the best results.
If the water is deeper or the conditions are rougher, a soft plastic or diving lure is generally the best option. If you know your chosen mark has rougher ground, then a weedless version of a soft plastic would be an ideal choice, as the bass will be feeding around the bottom and that will be where you need to work the lure, the weedless versions just help reduce the lure snagging up when retrieving. Alternatively, a floating/diving lure can be worked above the bottom, these lures can be fished however you want and offer more versatility than a soft plastic that sinks. Colours in all lures can make a difference, it is worth carrying a few options from the brightest to the most natural. You will find you favour certain ones, but some days changing to the lure you rarely use could just catch the attention of the fish of a lifetime.
Glossary
Soft plastic lure: A lure that has a soft, rubberised body designed to feel more natural when the fish take it.
Floating/diving lure: A hard plastic lure that will float on the surface but, when retrieved, will dive under the surface thanks to a plastic vein on the front.
Rough ground: A name given to a fishing mark where the bottom is made up of rocks, boulders, weed and other items you're likely to snag up on.
Weedless: A lure design, where the hook point is buried in the lure to prevent it getting caught up, the hook is exposed when the fish bites down on the body of the lure.
Jig head: The metal weight, generally with a hook attached that is used to mount a soft plastic lure on to give it the weight to cast and sink to the bottom.
Paddle tail: A flat, rounded section at the back of a lure that causes drag in the water causing it to kick erratically.
Rattle: Some lures have a hollow internal compartment that is filled with ball bearings that knock together when retrieved to create a rattling sound.
Diving vein: A thin, rounded plastic or metal plate mounted on the front of a lure. When retrieved it causes drag that forces the lure downwards.
Walk the dog: A method of retrieving a surface lure to make it look as natural as possible. By maintaining a constant retrieve and flicking the rod tip, the lure will snake from side to side, looking like an injured fish.
Lure action: This refers to the way a lure moves when it is retrieved by the angler.
<strong>Frequently asked questions on bass fishing lures</strong>
What size lure is best for bass?
This is a tough one, and all depends on the day. Don't always think a bigger lure means bigger fish, some of the biggest bass get caught on small lures and we've seen bass less than 8oz taken on some ridiculously big lures. If we had to state a good size to start on, then a lure between 10cm and 13cm seems to be the most consistent size, but always carry a range and keep the changes coming.
What is the best time of year to fish for bass?
Generally, bass are associated as a summer species, and as the water begins to warm, the bass will come inshore. The summer is also associated with calmer water, meaning the sea will be clearer, so the fish will be able to see your lures much easier, as such you will tend to be more successful. The best months are May until October, but don't be surprised to catch fish outside of these months too.
What are the best spots to fish for bass?
Bass frequent most of the UK coastline, so whichever part of the coast is closest to you will have bass to be caught. Anywhere prey is found, bass are found. Good spots include harbours, estuaries and rocky areas. If you have a lagoon or shallow beach, they can also be great places to catch bass.
Is there a season for bass and can I take them?
Yes, you can keep bass you catch in the UK, but there are restrictions on what you can keep and what time of year it is. Between December and February 2023, bass fishing is catch and release only. March and November you can keep two bass over 42cm per day. This is due to change from December 2023 when the catch and release season will run from February 1st until 31st March 2024, outside of these dates recreational anglers may take two fish over 42cm per day. Find out about the latest guidelines.
What tackle do I need to fish for bass?
Tackle for bass couldn't be simpler, and a lot of it crosses over with coarse fishing gear. A small spinning reel between 2500 and 4000 in size and a spinning rod between 7ft and 11ft is ample, with a casting weight between 15 and 50g. Load the reel with a 12-18lb braid, and you'll be ready to fish. A fluorocarbon leader is always advised to stop the braid, putting the fish off taking.
Author Aidan Bordiuk is an enthusiastic angler who enjoys all fishing disciplines from match fishing to beach casting. He is currently occupying the position of Commercial Content Writer at Angling Times.