The Best Smallmouth Bass Lures, Tested and Reviewed
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If there’s one thing that bass anglers can agree on, it’s that the hardest fighting bass, pound for pound, is the smallmouth.
From the Great Lakes to small stream-fed ponds across the Northern half of our country, these bronze beauties make drags scream. Even Southern anglers dream of catching giant smallmouth in heavy current. But to get in on this action, you need to be armed with an arsenal of the best smallmouth bass lures.
Smallies are reactionary feeders, and that means most of the time, the bite is electric. Even so, there are specific baits and lures that catch more, and bigger smallies. Over decades of chasing bronzebacks across the Northeast and Midwest, these are the best smallmouth bass lures I’ve used.
- Best Jerkbait: Megabass Ito Vision 110 +1
- Best Crankbait: Strike King Pro Model 3XD
- Best Topwater: River2Sea Whopper Plopper 110 Silent
- Best Ned Rig Bait: Z-Man Finesse TRD
- Best Drop Shot Bait: Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Flat Worm
- Best Forward-Facing Sonar Smallmouth Bait: Strike King Baby Z-Too + Dirty Jigs Tungsten HD Guppy Swimbait Head
- Best Chatterbait: Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer
- Best Spinnerbait: War Eagle Nickel Spinnerbait Double Willow
- Best Paddletail Swimbait: Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait
- Best Swimbait: Megabass 5” Magdraft Swimbaits
- Best Jig: Keitech Casting Jig
- Best Soft Plastics
- Honorable Mentions
- How I Chose the Best Smallmouth Bass Lures
Best Jerkbait: Megabass Ito Vision 110+1
Pros
- Ideal for covering water
- Wide array of color options
- Stock hooks work well
- Durable
Cons
- Will get snagged in hard cover like rocks or laydowns
- Expensive
Specs:
-
Size:
4 ⅓ inches -
Weight:
½ ounce -
Key colors:
French Pearl US, Megasbass Sexy Shad, GG Deadly Black Shad
Prime Conditions:
-
Pre-spawn -
Bluff walls, open water, over top of submerged timber
Ask any diehard bass angler to pick their favorite hardbody jerkbait and I’d be willing to bet 9 out of 10 go with the Megasbass Ito Vision 110+1. This is an expensive lure, but it’s worth every penny. The action it produces underwater perfectly represents a struggling baitfish darting back and forth. Plus, the angle at which it suspends imitates a nose down, dying baitfish to the letter.
Sure, you can catch fish on cheaper choices, but if you’re looking for a banner spring day of jerkbait fishing, look no further than the Vision 110+1. When Hank Cherry won his first Bassmaster Classic on one, his sponsor Berkley immediately got to work on replicating the Vision 110+1 as closely as they could. Cherry never admitted what he was throwing the Megabass version, but fans of the sport could tell from the live footage. As with anything, imitation is the biggest form of flattery, and the 110+1 has received a lot of flattery in recent years.
Best Crankbait: Strike King Pro Model 3XD
Pros
- Ideal for covering water
- Deflects off of shallow and mid-depth cover
- Wide array of color options
- Durable
Cons
- Needs to be fished at a certain depth range
Specs:
-
Size:
2 inches -
Weight:
7/16 ounce -
Depth range:
10-12 foot -
Key colors:
Brown Org Belly Craw, Fire Craw, Rootbeer
Prime Conditions:
-
Early pre-spawn through late pre-spawn -
Rock covered banks, rip-rap banks, stump fields
The Strike King 3XD is a small profile, mid-diving crankbait that smallmouth can’t get enough of. In river systems with current and highland reservoirs, bass love to feed on protein-rich crawfish throughout the spring. As the water warms, the crawfish begin to molt, making them an even easier meal due to the softness of their shell at that time.
The vibrant orange and red colors are often the ticket this time of year, and the fleeing motion the 3XD presents drives smallmouth wild. As the crankbait deflects off of boulders and other underwater cover, it will cause violent reaction strikes, sending a jolt down your rod. The 3XD offers a specialized bill to help with that deflection and it keeps your bait from getting snagged as often.
Best Topwater Bait: River2Sea Whopper Plopper 110 Silent
Pros
- Ideal for covering water
- Creates a noise similar to feeding baitfish
- Wide array of color options
- Durable
Cons
- Doesn’t come through cover or weeds well
Specs:
-
Size:
4 ⅜ inches -
Weight:
1 ounce -
Key colors:
Bone, Monkey Butt, Loon
Prime Conditions:
-
Post-spawn -
Rip-rap banks, stump fields, submerged grass flats
Frankly, there’s nothing I find more exhilarating than an explosive smallmouth topwater strike. They hit it with such ferocity that it’ll make your heart rate skyrocket. And there are loads of topwater lures designed for open water schooling bass, shallow water cover, and everything in between. In any open water lake or river scenario, I tend to reach for the River2Sea Whopper Plopper 110 Silent.
The 110 is a smaller version of the 130 or 190 that were originally introduced over a decade ago, and since it’s been brought to the market, it’s caught more post-spawn smallmouth for me than I can count. The chugging noise it makes as it streaks across the top of the water is irresistible to a hungry smallmouth. With the ability to speed it up or slow it down throughout the retrieve, you can dial in exactly how the fish want you to fish the Whopper Plopper to maximize your bites. If you’re looking for some explosive topwater strikes this summer, look no further than the Whopper Plopper 110 Silent.
Best Ned Rig Bait: Z-Man Finesse TRD
Pros
- ElaZtech plastic doesn’t break down easily
- Wide array of color options
- Subtle floating action underwater
Cons
- Will melt when introduced to other soft plastic baits
Specs:
-
Size:
2.75 inches -
Key colors:
Green Pumpkin, The Deal, Coppertreuse
Prime Conditions:
-
Pre-spawn and early post-spawn -
Bluff walls, rock piles, current breaks
The Ned Rig is an undisputed smallmouth catching machine. Since its inception, it’s been an easy-to-use bait for anglers of all skill levels to catch smallmouth in any body of water they inhabit. The subtle, small profile lure is such an easy meal that they simply can’t resist it.
While there are plenty of soft plastic trailer options out there now, one of the original option is still the best. The Z-Man Finesse TRD uses Z Man’s ElaZtech plastic which allows the bait to stretch and pull much more than competitors’ baits. This specialized plastic has a certain allure to a hungry smallmouth, and my favorite part is that I don’t have to constantly put on a new worm after catching only one or two fish.
Best Drop Shot Bait: Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Flat Worm
Pros
- Maxscent flavor keeps fish holding on longer
- Wide array of color options
- Soft, yet durable
Cons
- Can’t cover water efficiently
Specs:
-
Sizes:
3 3/5 and 4 ¼ inches -
Key colors:
Goby, Black, Smallmouth Secret
Prime Conditions:
-
Late pre-spawn, spawn, post-spawn -
Bluff walls, open water, offshore structure
Fishing a drop shot is seemingly synonymous with fishing for smallmouth. The two go hand in hand. Since smallmouth typically stage just off the bottom, and like to feed up into the water column, the way a drop shot suspends your bait a foot or more off the bottom is irresistible.
There are hundreds of drop shot baits out there for you to choose from, honestly, you can fish practically any soft plastic on a drop shot, but my favorite option is the Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Flat Worm. The flat worm is small, subtle, and looks like the perfect bite sized option for smallmouth in any body of water. Whether they think it’s a goby, small baitfish, or even a hellgrammite on the move, they can’t help but eat the easy meal. Its durability, color options, and fish catching ability keeps me coming back for more Flat Worm packages any time I visit a tackle store.
Best Forward-Facing Sonar Smallmouth Bait: Strike King Baby Z-Too + Dirty Jigs Tungsten HD Guppy Swimbait Head
Pros
- Perfect for fishing with forward-facing sonar
- Wide array of color options
- Soft, yet durable
Cons
- Can’t cover water efficiently
Specs:
-
Sizes:
3, 3 ½, 4, 5 inches -
Key colors:
Arkansas Shiner, Pearl, The Juice
Prime Conditions:
-
Pre-spawn and late post-spawn -
Bluff walls, open water, offshore structure
Fishing with forward-facing sonar has become a mainstay tactic for smallmouth anglers everywhere. FFS helps you find schools and individual trophy fish — and it helps you put your bait in front of them.
If you’re strolling for bass, presenting a jig head and a minnow to a smallmouth might seem easy enough, but you’ll need to get the profile and color right. I lean on the Strike King Baby Z-Too paired with a Dirty Jigs Tungsten HD Guppy Head. Combined, these two options give you the ability to present the perfect looking baitfish right on a hungry smallmouth’s nose. With plenty of color options and a durable plastic, I’ve always got at least a pack or two of Baby Z-Too’s ready to go when I hit the water.
Best Chatterbait: Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer
Pros
- Ideal for covering water
- Wide array of color options
- Tungsten jig head makes different noise than lead
- Durable
Cons
- Paint chips off of blade easily
- Expensive
Specs:
-
Size:
4 ¼ inches -
Weight:
⅜, ½, ¾, 1 ¼ ounces -
Key colors:
Fire Craw, Bhite Delight, Black Blue
Prime Conditions:
-
Late pre-spawn and post-spawn -
Shallow vegetation and current breaks
The rise of the chatterbait began about a decade ago when professional anglers were catching some massive bags on the newfangled bladed jig. The thump and swimming action provided a new presentation that smallmouth bass hadn’t felt or seen before and that led to aggressive bites. Now, it seems every bass angler loves to throw a chatterbait, and they’re still catching plenty of fish. My go-to chatterbait is without a doubt the Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer. They’re durable, swim true, and catch bass in grass, open water, and under docks without fail.
Best Spinnerbait: War Eagle Nickel Spinnerbait Double Willow
Pros
- Ideal for covering water
- Wide array of color options
Cons
- Wire bends easily
Specs:
-
Size:
4 inches -
Weight:
¼, ⅜, ½, ¾ ounce -
Key colors:
White Silver, Pro’s Choice, Sexxy Shad
Prime Conditions:
-
Late pre-spawn and post-spawn -
Shallow vegetation, current breaks
As the chatterbait has gotten more popular, spinnerbaits have declined. But you’d be foolish to overlook them. The key to a good spinnerbait is a sharp, durable hook, and blades that spin without fail. My favorite is the War Eagle Nickle Spinnerbait Double Willow because it’s made with high quality materials and holds up to some bone jarring bites. I’ve never had an issue with the blades not turning, no matter how beat up they’ve become. From fast flowing current to still water lakes, the War Eagle Double Willow spinnerbait will put big smallmouth in the boat.
Best Soft-Plastic Paddletail Swimbait: Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait
Pros
- Ideal for covering water
- Can be fished by itself or used as a trailer
- High salt content
Cons
- Durability can be an issue
Specs:
-
Sizes:
2.8, 3.3, 3.8, 4.3, 4.8, 5.8, 6.8, 7.8 inches -
Key colors:
Electric Shad, Bass Candy, Smallmouth Magic
Prime Conditions:
-
Pre-spawn and early post-spawn -
Bluff walls, open water, swimming above offshore structure
To round out our top five selections, we can’t ignore the reliable soft-plastic paddletail swimbait. You can rig a Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait as a trailer on a chatterbait, swim jig, Alabama rig, or thread it on an empty jig head to swim along a bluff wall. It’s made of a durable plastic that’s loaded with salt to help keep those bass holding on long enough for you to bury the hook. There are plenty of colors available, so just remember to match the hatch.
Best Smallmouth Swimbait: Megabass 5” Magdraft Swimbaits
Pros
- Ideal for covering water
- Targets big fish
- Stock hooks are sharp
- Durable
Cons
- Hard to fish deeper in the water column
Specs:
-
Sizes:
5, 6, 8, 10 inches -
Weights:
¾, 1 ¼, 3, 6 ⅛ ounces -
Key colors:
Albino Pearl Shad, White Back Shad, Silver Shad
Prime Conditions:
-
Late pre-spawn and early post-spawn -
Open water, over the top of submerged timber, over the top of shallow vegetation
With ‘bigger’ baits becoming all the rage for bass anglers, the easiest way to test the waters for smallmouth is with a 5” Magdraft from Megabass. The larger 6” or 8” models are great for largemouth, and giant smallmouth will certainly eat those. However, to ensure they get the bait, the newer 5” version is perfect. These realistic plastic swimbaits swim well at low to moderate retrieval speeds and have a knack for tricking big bass into biting. When the clouds come out and the wind picks up, head to your favorite big-bass spot with shallow cover and hang on tight.
Best Smallmouth Jig: Keitech Casting Jig
Pros
- Can be fished successfully year-round
- Can be fished in a multitude of ways
- Durable
Cons
- Not ideal for covering water
- Will get snagged in thick cover
Specs:
-
Size:
3 inches -
Weight:
⅜ and ½ ounce -
Key colors:
Green Pumpkin, Black and Blue, Green Pumpkin Craw
Prime Conditions:
-
Spawn and post-spawn -
Docks, submerged timber, offshore rock piles
Every bass angler needs a jig and while there are plenty of jig design options available, it’s hard to go wrong with a simple casting jig. You can drag it, swim it, hop it, or even flip it into shallow cover effectively. My go-to is the Keitech Casting Jig because it’s a very small profile tungsten jig that really matches the size of the crawfish in my region of the U.S. (the Northeast) and it’s got a sturdy hook that keeps bass hooked up throughout the fight. If there are smallmouth to be caught, this jig will get the job done.
Best Soft-Plastic Smallmouth Baits
Selecting the best smallmouth soft-plastic baits that everyone will agree on from the thousands of options that exist is impossible. But that won’t stop me from trying. The soft plastics below have all caught plenty of big smallmouth for me over the years.
Best Soft-Plastic Crawfish: Strike King Rage Tail Menace Grub
Best Soft-Plastic Tube: Strike King Coffee Tube 3.5″ Pro-Model
Best Soft-Plastic Worm: Berkley Powerbait 4″ Power Worms
Best Soft-Plastic Creature Bait: Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver 3.50
Best Carolina Rig Bait: Zoom Centipede 4″
Best Grub Style Bait: Z-Man Grubz 2.5”
The Best Smallmouth Bass Lures: Honorable Mentions
The lures below deserve an honorable mention, because they’re all smallmouth killers when used in the right conditions. Honestly, the only reason they’re down this far in the list is because they’re not thrown as often as other lures. Blade baits, spybaits, Alabama rigs, and spoons are all phenomenal options for representing baitfish in different smallmouth fishing situations.
Best Blade Bait: SteelShad Blade Bait
Best Spybait: Duo Realis Spinbait Spybait Series
Best Alabama Rig: Shane’s Baits Mini Blades of Glory
Best Spoon: Nichols Mojo Flutter Spoon
How I Chose the Best Smallmouth Bass Lures
I’ve been a tournament bass angler for almost two decades now, and still struggled to narrow down my favorite smallmouth bass lures. Aside from my tournaments, I also closely follow the professional tours, have many close friends that work in the fishing industry, and am lucky enough to write about fishing techniques and breaking news in the fishing space for work. There are tons of incredible options out there for each bait category, but what I’ve selected here are the smallmouth bass lures that have produced for me consistently over the years.
Read Next: The 7 Best Smallmouth Bass Lakes and Rivers
FAQs
Natural colors like watermelon and green pumpkin are always good bets for smallmouth. However, bold colors like red, pink, and chartreuse are also proven catchers in the right conditions.
Choose a lure based on the current feeding pattern. You need a lure that can be presented at the depth the fish are holding and that represents their preferred forage. For example, if fish are on offshore structure, a drop shot would be a good option. If fish are feeding on shad around riprap, a jerkbait is a great option.
Smallmouth are primarily sight feeding fish. In clear water, natural looking baits are the go-to choice. But, they can also be enticed into reactive strikes with lures that dart, vibrate, and make noise.
Final Thoughts on the Best Smallmouth Bass Lures
No matter where you fish, if there are smallmouth present, the lures in this list will help you catch more of them. They’re tried and true, successfully tested throughout years of use as I’ve traveled the country tournament bass fishing.
Consider this roster of lures as the ultimate starter kit to catch smallmouth anywhere, anytime. As you spend more time on the water you’ll want to refine your own list and add to it. Just as I’ll keep adding to this story as I test more baits each year.
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