Top 11 Best Smallmouth Bass Lures Reviewed

Smallmouth bass tend to inhabit areas with sandy or rocky bottoms, and when they are hungry, they can be quite aggressive in their feeding. It’s crucial to ensure that your lures are durable enough to withstand their powerful bites.

Fortunately, we have curated a selection of the top lures that will help you catch more smallmouth bass. Without further ado, let’s delve into the list.

Top 11 Best Smallmouth Bass Lures

1. Strike King Coffee Tube

When it comes to bed fishing, tube jigs emerge as one of the top choices among fishing lures. Their effectiveness is particularly evident when targeting smallmouth bass, which tend to hide in deeper waters with rocky or sandy bottoms. To successfully entice them, a lure like the Coffee Tube proves invaluable.

The Coffee Tube is specially designed for smallmouth bass fishing in water floors. It not only emits a scent resembling caffeine but also delivers an enticing presentation that generates plenty of action. This combination of scent and action greatly appeals to bass, increasing your chances of a successful catch.

2. Yamamoto Senko Worm

When it comes to dropshotting for smallmouth bass, the Yamamoto Senko stands out as the ultimate lure. Its unique characteristic of being soft and flexible allows it to wag its tail in an irresistibly enticing manner during the dropshot presentation.

Among the various soft plastic worms available, the Yamamoto Senko claims the top position for dropshotting. Its natural movement and action make it highly effective in triggering bites from smallmouth bass.

3. Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Worm

Moving on, we have the Berkley PowerBait MaxScent, an excellent choice when you prefer a worm lure that you can cast and patiently wait for the fish to strike. The PowerBait material used in this lure releases an irresistible scent that spreads far and wide in the water. This scent attracts fishes, including bass, even if they are unable to visually spot your lure. The powerful smell of the PowerBait MaxScent increases your chances of enticing bites from a wider range of fish.

4. Heddon Sonar

When it comes to smallmouth bass fishing, the Heddon Sonar emerges as one of the finest lure choices. As a blade bait, it is specifically crafted to elicit reaction bites from fish, making it highly effective for smallmouth bass. The enticing action of the Heddon Sonar is particularly irresistible to bass, while the shiny body of the lure emits a captivating flash that further adds to its allure. Combining enticing action and eye-catching flash, the Heddon Sonar stands out as one of the best lures for drawing in smallmouth bass.

5. Outkast Tackle Feider Fly

Crafted with the expertise of professional angler Seth Feider, this lure is a testament to years of pro angling experience. By choosing this lure, you can trust that it has been refined and optimized for exceptional performance. It is recommended to acquire the 1/8 ounce version, which is ideal for the desired fishing experience.

In case the available options are limited to dark colors, it is worth considering an additional lure that offers bright color choices. This will provide you with a suitable alternative when targeting smallmouth bass in different conditions that may benefit from brighter lure colors.

6. Spro Hair Jig

It’s evident that this is not your average lure. With its innovative head and eyelet positioning, this particular lure surpasses others in terms of realism, especially when compared to traditional hair jigs.

For those seeking a bright-colored bucktail jig, this lure is the ideal choice. Its vibrant hues make it highly visible and appealing to fish, attracting their attention and increasing your chances of a successful catch.

7. Rapala X-Rap XR10 Jerkbait

When it comes to jerkbaits, this particular lure stands out as my top choice. Its action and rattle surpass that of other jerkbaits, making it unmatched in performance. The lure’s ability to swiftly cut through the water creates a unique darting motion that is simply unrivaled. Moreover, the added rattle feature serves to further agitate smallmouth bass, enticing them to pursue and strike at the lure. This combination of exceptional action and enticing sound makes it an exceptional choice for targeting smallmouth bass.

8. Rebel Crawfish

Let’s kick off with the Rebel Crawfish, an intriguing yet highly effective crankbait. What makes this lure truly stand out is its unique design that mimics a crawfish, a feature not commonly seen in crankbaits. In my experience, the Rebel Crawfish has outperformed other crankbaits in terms of effectiveness.

I believe its success can be attributed to its unbelievably realistic color scheme, which closely resembles that of an actual crawfish. This lifelike appearance makes it highly enticing to fish. To maximize its effectiveness, it is best to use this lure near the bottom of the water, as that is where crawfish are typically found.

9. Booyah Blade

Moving on, we have the Booyah Blade, which claimed the top position among spinnerbaits for its exceptional ability to replicate the swimming motion of baitfish. This lure is particularly effective when targeting smallmouth bass, taking advantage of their feeding behaviors.

What sets the Booyah Blade apart is its ultra-tough components, which ensure its durability even during aggressive feeding sessions. With its ability to mimic swimming baitfish and withstand the rigors of intense fishing, the Booyah Blade is a reliable choice for anglers seeking to attract and catch smallmouth bass.

10. Rapala X-Rap Pop

When it comes to topwater lures, there’s no equal to this particular lure. Let’s delve into its exceptional features.

Firstly, its arched body shape produces loud and attention-grabbing splashes with even the slightest movement. This ensures that no fish can overlook it as you drag it along with your boat, making it highly effective in attracting fish.

Moreover, the lifelike eyes and color pattern of the lure further enhance its attractiveness, giving it a realistic appearance that entices fish to strike.

Lastly, the internal rattle of the lure adds another dimension to its appeal. This internal rattle creates enticing sounds that beckon smallmouth bass of all sizes to approach closer, lured by the promise of a delectable meal. The combination of splashes, lifelike features, and an internal rattle makes this topwater lure highly effective in enticing smallmouth bass to strike.

11. Heddon Super Spook Jr

This particular smallmouth bass lure has been meticulously engineered to withstand powerful bites, ensuring its durability during intense fishing sessions. Additionally, its streamlined body design allows it to glide through the water effortlessly, enhancing its overall performance.

The red and white color combination of this lure has consistently proven to be highly effective for smallmouth bass fishing. Time and again, it has worked like magic in attracting and enticing smallmouth bass. During retrieval, the lure mimics the movements of an injured baitfish, a presentation that smallmouth bass find irresistible. Its ability to resemble a wounded baitfish further increases its effectiveness in luring smallmouth bass to strike.

Final Verdict

These smallmouth bass lures are undoubtedly effective tools that can help you reel in those prized fish, provided they are used correctly.

While having a variety of fishing lures for smallmouth bass is generally beneficial, anglers on a budget can rely on the Strike King Coffee Tube as their go-to lure for smallmouth bass fishing. It offers versatility and effectiveness, making it a reliable choice.

If you prefer a more natural approach, catching your own crayfish to use as bait can be a cost-effective option. However, if lures are your preference, the list of popular smallmouth lures mentioned earlier provides a range of excellent choices.

When it comes to selecting a rod and reel combination for bass fishing, baitcasting gear is favored by many anglers, while others prefer spinning gear. For targeting bass specifically, I recommend exploring the best bass fishing rods along with the best baitcasting reels and best spinning reels that complement your preferred style of fishing.