We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Products or services advertised on this page may be offered by an entity that is affiliated with us. Learn more about our process here.
Written by
Larry Stark, Founder / Main Editor
Professional fisherman, who loves to review new fishing gadgets.
Smallmouth bass is an individual breed in the bass family with a unique temperament. Unlike their relatives, largemouth basses are easily hooked on the vulnerability of smaller creatures, while smallmouth bass is attracted to color.
The brighter, the better! Although it seems obscure, smallmouth basses recognize colors, especially bright ones. If you’re new to bass fishing, read this guide to learn more tactics, fishing techniques, and the best smallmouth bass lure.
Top 3 Smallmouth Bass Lures
Smallmouth Bass Lure For Murky Waters
Booyah Blade
- Creates perfect thuds
- Suitable for all bass types
- Excellent vibration performance
Smallmouth Bass Lure With Sharpened Hook
FOVONON
- Excellent hook sharpness quality
- Perfect for beginners and experienced anglers
- Ideal for shore fishing in bushy areas
Most Triggered Smallmouth Bass Lure
Sougayilang Minnowbest
- Excellent skin design
- 2 barbed tremble hooks included
- Develops a realistic swimming pattern
Table of Contents
- 5 Best Smallmouth Bass Lures
- Booyah Blade Spinnerbait for Smallmouth Bass
- FOVONON Crankbaits for Smallmouth Bass
- Sougayilang Minnowbest Smallmouth Bass Lure
- Rapala X-Rap Lure for Smallmouth Bass
- Senko-Worms-Bass-Fishing
- How to Choose Smallmouth Bass Lure?
- Weight of the Smallmouth Lures
- Type of a Rod
- Realistic Lures
5 Best Smallmouth Bass Lures
- Booyah Blade Spinnerbait – Best Smallmouth Bass Lure For Murky and Stained Waters
- FOVONON Crankbaits – Best Smallmouth Bass Lure With Sharpened Hook
- Sougayilang Minnowbest – Most Triggered Smallmouth Bass Lure
- Rapala X-Rap – Best Jerkbait Lure for Smallmouth Bass
- Senko-Worms-Bass-Fishing – Best Worm Designed Lure For Smallmouth Bass
#1
Best Overall Smallmouth Lures
Booyah Blade Spinnerbait for Smallmouth Bass
WHY WE LIKE IT: Based on our testing, this is the best smallmouth bass lures. Booyah Blade Spinnerbait is a perfect lure for murky and stained waters where the only way to trigger a reaction from a smallmouth fish is by vibration. The Booyah Blade is designed to cause loud thumps that any bass can register, regardless of breed.
- Color: Snow White, Gold Shimmer, Gold Shiner, White Chartreuse, Citrus or Silver Shad, Perch, Satin Silver Gleam, Wounded Shad, and many more
- Dimensions: 3.15 x 0.39 x 2.76 inches
- Weight: 0.04 pounds
Pros
- Creates perfect thuds
- Suitable for all bass types
- Excellent vibration performance
- Multiple colors to match the murky level
Cons
- The hook quality may not be sustainable for big smallmouth bass
- Not recommended for first-time anglers
- It may be too small for someone's taste
OVERVIEW: If you want to fish in stained water, then you definitely need Booyah Blade Spinnerbait spinner bait. The size and weight are suitable for any smallmouth shore fishing you can pull, but also for an average smallmouth bass. We tested it in the middle of the lake, but we recommend them better in shallower water.
#2
Best Rated
FOVONON Crankbaits for Smallmouth Bass
WHY WE LIKE IT: Fovonon is the perfect wake-up call for basses lying in bushy areas. We like their minimal yet effective design because the hooks are so sharp that they can hardly slip away once they get into the smallmouth’s mouth. Also, these are suitable for beginners or first-time anglers.
- Color: F103, F103B, F115, F245, F260
- Material: Alloy Steel, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Plastic
- Length: 1.18 inches
- Weight: 0.004 pounds
Pros
- Excellent hook sharpness quality
- Perfect for beginners and experienced anglers
- Ideal for shore fishing in bushy areas
- Excellent swimming pattern
Cons
- The hooks are too sharp that may severely hurt the fish
- Too light for deep-water fishing
- More size variety
OVERVIEW: Smallmouth basses love crankbaits, especially when they notice them cluelessly floating in the weeds. Fovonon did a great job copying the features of a real crankbait and pasting it onto their lure.
These small minnows are heavy enough to produce the same swimming pattern as the real fish prey and sharp enough to tackle any smallmouth fish. However, if you are a deep-water fishing fan, you may need to add weight to this lure so it can go down or get a new lure specifically for deep-water smallmouth fishing.
#3
Minnows
Sougayilang Minnowbest Smallmouth Bass Lure
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Sougayilang Minnobest is our ultimate minnow topwater lure because of the design with wounded spots and bright eyes that immediately trigger smallmouth bass. Minnows are what smallmouth typically eat, and what largemouth bass look for in the bushes. 10/10 for versatility and design.
- Color: a mix of 10 colors per package
- Material: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Alloy Steel, Metal
- Dimensions: 6.5 x 3.54 x 0.98 inches
- Weight: 0.29 pounds
Pros
- Excellent skin design
- 2 barbed tremble hooks included
- Develops a realistic swimming pattern
- It works even for largemouth bass
Cons
- Possible poor material quality
- Some find it super light for a topwater bait
- Makes no noise
OVERVIEW: If smallmouth bass typically eats smaller fish like minnows, why not serve it on a silver platter? This Sougayilang Minnow topwater bait is big enough to catch the attention of the smallmouth bass and big enough to create friction and tension in the water to provoke the smallie.
#4
Jerkbait
Rapala X-Rap Lure for Smallmouth Bass
WHY WE LIKE IT: Jerkbaits are very popular smallmouth lures because of the swimming pattern they create that always seems to trigger smallies. Rapala offers outstanding imitating features in terms of looks (it has the appearance of the perfect prey) and overall design. The weight is just adequate to mimic the prey movement and handle a trophy smallmouth bass on the hooks.
- Color: Silver, Blue Sardine, Glass Ghost, Grey, Multi, Olive Green, Silver Blue Mackarel
- Dimensions: 1.06 x 1.63 x 5.93 inches
- Material: Blend
- Weight: 0.2 pounds
Pros
- It's a small lure, but able to hold trophy fish
- A bit weighted to sink deeper for better movement in the water
- Works for largemouth and striped bass fishing
- Sustainable material made to last in saltwater
Cons
- Prone to tangling in bushy or rocky areas
- Not recommended for beginners
- Not the best for freshwater
OVERVIEW: If you want a good product that will add friction or vibrations of a barrel in water, Rapala X-Rap is the right lure for your technique to provoke a reaction from smallmouth bass. Moreover, jerk baits are lures that will sharpen your skills and improve your game after a few tries which is one of the reasons we label them as the best bass fishing lures.
#5
Worm Design
Senko-Worms-Bass-Fishing
WHY WE LIKE IT: Every angler fishing kit must contain soft worms, regardless of the level of experience. If you haven’t got yours, grab Senko worms, one of the best worms for bass and smallmouths. They come in 5 colors, different weights, several high-quality hooks, and beads. Plus, with the Senko worms, you will receive an O-wacky rigging tool which is a huge money saver if you prefer the wacky rigging.
The Senko’s plastic worm set contains:
- 5 different colors of plastic worms: black, white, red, dark green, light green
- Beads
- Hooks
- O-Wacky tool
- Different weights
Pros
- Suitable for beginners and experienced anglers
- High-quality materials
- Includes an o-wacky tool
- Ideal for more fish profilers, including walleye, largemouth bass, and other predators
Cons
- The colors may not be that pleasing for some
- Worms get discolored when mixed with others
- You may need little knowledge to set up the worms
OVERVIEW: One of the main reasons we highly recommend using the Senko Worms kit is because it is a real money saver, especially for beginners. If you plan on fishing in the future but have yet to buy your first kit, you will find Senko Worms convenient and versatile. Despite catching smallmouth bass, these worms are one of the best white bass lures because of the colors.
How to Choose Smallmouth Bass Lure?
Targeting bass is challenging as they are aggressive, confrontational, and clever. To outsmart them, you should consider the following when picking the best smallmouth lures.
Weight of the Smallmouth Lures
Smallmouth lures must fill up the requirements of the bait they mimic. If the lure is too heavy, it will sink. If this relates to the actual lure it mimics, use the weight. Otherwise, remove the weight.
Additionally, you should pay more attention to the lures used in different water conditions. Always use lighter smallmouth bass lure in clear water and heaver in murky and densely vegetative lake structures. However, always aim to fish in drop-off areas because smallmouth bass usually lurks around.
Type of a Rod
With a good quality rod, reel, and action, you can go smallmouth fishing and find the best smallmouth bass lure. Check out our rod tip below if you have yet to shop for your rod or reel.
Firstly, you should know that the rod size is determined based on the fish you’re after. Targeting smallies, you need a 6-7 ft rod. For a more effective game, include the rod’s action, allowing you to throw it precisely and quickly. You can also consult an expert for the best baitcasting rod for bass.
Ultimately, if you are going after trophy smallmouth or wish to fish and drag out bass from rocky and sandy bottoms, you have to consider that the reel can hold 8-12 lines.
Realistic Lures
When you go shopping for the best smallmouth bass lure, you will notice that most fish have super realistic appearances that will land you a trophy smallmouth.
Smallmouth bass is a visual predator. They tend to go after what catches their eye, so they immediately prepare for an attack if they notice a smaller prey fish. However, remember that a smallmouth is a very clever fish. You may easily provoke them, but they can tell a meal from a trap.
Therefore, even if some lures look realistic, ensure that they mimic the movements or actions of the prey in detail. Additionally, vibrations or swimming patterns are even bigger triggers for smallmouth bass.
Seasonal Smallmouth Bass Lures
Choosing a bait or lure that is active during the fishing season is essential. As mentioned, the smallmouth bass is cunning and knows what to expect from nature every season.
Therefore, before going smallmouth bass fishing, ensure that the baits you chose will match the season or you will have difficulty catching the fish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Watermelon or green pumpkin are the most common colors noted to work with smallmouth basses. However, bright colors are a recommendation if you fish in crystal-clear areas.
Smallmouth bass is a predator, but unlike the largemouth basses that wait on vulnerable prey, the smallmouth bass is lured visually. Noticing a color floating in the lake can easily capture their attention.
Smallmouth bass is most active from dawn till mid-morning, from 4 AM to 9-10 AM. Then from sunset till dusk. All basses are nocturnal fish.
The best month for smallmouth bass fishing is late fall or early spring.