These days, it’s easy to get caught up in all of the hype that is bass fishing. After all, bass are the most popular sport fish in the country. With that hype comes the idea of needing the best of the best. The fastest boat, the pinpoint electronics, the endless trays of lures: all things we can’t help but get lured in by. No pun intended.
But what about those of us who don’t have access to all the fancy gear or the boat to get us to secluded parts of the lake? What about those of us who chase bass from shore? Where do we start?
Without the use of a boat and the electronics attached to it, our focus can turn to what lure to use, and we’ve got you covered with this in-depth look at what we consider the best bass lures for shore fishing:
Table of Contents (clickable)
Related:
Best Bass Lures for Shore Fishing Reviewed
Best Finesse: Yamamoto Senko
Size: 3 to 7 inches
Lure Type: Stick Worm
Material: Soft Plastic
If you’re familiar with us here at USAngler, you’ll probably notice the Yamamoto Senko on many of our best lure lists, and the reason is simple: it catches bass, and lots of them.
In a market flooded with soft plastics, the Senko stands out above the rest and is quite possibly one of the most well-known bass baits, hard or soft.
Available in five sizes and over 150 colors, it’s no surprise that there’s a Senko for just about any bass fishing situation. Pair that with the many different rigging options from wacky to texas, and you’ve got one of the most versatile bass lures going.
The larger profile of the worm makes casting easy, even when fishing weightless, and it’s perfect for reaching those hard-to-get-to areas when fishing from shore.
Check out our buying guide for the best worms for bass!
Pros
- Highly versatile
- Soft plastic construction means it moves in the water like nothing else
- Available in a wide variety of colors
- Excellent castability
Cons
- Soft plastic construction does not hold up well to multiple fish.
- More expensive than comparable ‘stick’ style worms.
Best Topwater: Strike King KVD Sexy Frog
Size: 1 ¾ and 2 ½ inches
Lure Type: Top Water Frog
Material: Soft plastic hollow body with plastic trailers
Topwater is without a doubt the most exciting way to catch bass, whether you’re on a boat or fishing from a bank.
The nice thing about fishing for bass from shore is that you’re often close to the lily pads and heavy vegetation that big largemouth seek. It’s these areas where fishing a frog shines, and it’s hard to beat the Strike King KVD Sexy Frog.
Frog fishing’s popularity has led to many different lures on the market, but there are a couple of things that set the Sexy Frog apart from many others.
First is the sealed nose that keeps water from getting inside the hollow body. A recurring problem with frog fishing is water getting inside and weighing the frog down, losing its ability to float properly. Sure, having to squeeze water out of your frog is a minor inconvenience, but it’s better to not have to do it at all.
Second is the internal, free-floating rattle. Most frogs don’t feature rattles, relying instead on the action and commotion the lure creates on the surface. While the Sexy Frog still relies on these things, the rattle adds another element and can sometimes be the difference between catching fish on a frog or not.
Check out our buying guide and reviews of the top rated frog lures for bass!
Pros
- Excellent casting for both distance and accuracy
- Sealed nose keeps water from building up in the body
- Strong and durable
- Internal free-floating rattle for added attraction
Cons
- Plastic is stiffer than other topwater frogs
Best Jerkbait: Rapala X-Rap
Size: 1 ½, 2 ½, 3 ⅛, 4, and 4 ¾ inches
Lure Type: Suspending Jerkbait/Slashbait
Material: Hard plastic
Whether using the X-Rap as a subtle jerkbait, an aggressive slashbait, or with a simple cast and retrieve, the lure’s incredible action is why it’s widely known as one of the best bass-catching lures on the market, especially for smallmouth.
What separates the X-Rap from other jerkbaits as far as shore fishing is concerned is the unbelievable casting distance it has, without sacrificing accuracy. This is thanks to the unique integrated long-casting system that conveniently doubles as a rattle.
The X-Rap is also highly versatile and can be fished quickly parallel to the shore for aggressive fish, or slowly over submerged weed beds for fish that are using the cover as an ambush point.
The lure doesn’t dive very deep, making it perfect for the shallower waters close to shore, and its aggressive action calls out to fish whether they’re actively feeding or not.
Pros
- Long-casting system helps reach offshore areas normally unreachable by other lures
- Feather teaser trailer for added attraction
- Textured body that closely mimics the look of baitfish
- Unmatched action whether fished fast or slow
Cons
- Customers have reported that the bill is fragile
Size: ⅜, ½, and ¼ ounce
Lure Type: Football Jig
Material: Premium rubber skirt
Jigs are a popular item when it comes to bass fishing, but unfortunately, they’re often overlooked when fishing from shore. While we’ve been focused on shallow water fishing so far, the Strike King Tour Grade Football Jig has us changing gears.
Deep water is the number one reason jigs get overlooked by shore anglers. It’s a pretty safe assumption that when fishing from shore, you’re going to be fishing shallower water. But that’s not always the case, and when you need to get deep, the Tour Grade Football Jig does the job perfectly.
The wide, heavy head of this football jig makes it a breeze to cast out to deeper water and gets it down into the strike zone quickly. Made with a premium rubber skirt and featuring a powder-coated head, the Tour Grade Football Jig will hold up to multiple fish and the cover they hide in.
Pros
- Powder coated head won’t crack or chip when banged off cover
- Premium skirt is lightweight and produces life-like movement
- Color matching weed guard
- Extra strong and sharp Gamakatsu hook
Cons
- Hook is a little small for the jig size
Best Spinner Bait: BooYah Pond Magic Spinnerbait
Size: 3/16 oz.
Lure Type: Spinnerbait
Material: Ultra-fine silicone skirt on premium Mustad hook
The spinnerbait is possibly one of the best lures for shore fishing bass. It can be fished fast or slow, shallow or deep, and is extremely effective in any part of the water column.
The BooYah Pond Magic is no exception. Designed to fish smaller lakes and ponds, don’t let its small stature fool you, as it works just as well on bigger lakes for big fish. The Pond Magic is the right combination of weight to help cast long distances and a smaller profile to get into tight spaces close to shore.
The tandem blades on this lure displace water and spin perfectly, continuing to do so whether you’re slow-rolling it across deeper cover or burning it over thick vegetation.
Check out our full list of best spinnerbaits for bass
Pros
- Hand-selected color combinations to match the hatch
- Ultra-fine silicone skirt
- Premium Mustad hook
- Small profile works great on pressured fish
Cons
- Silicone skirt is not as durable as larger spinnerbaits
Best Crankbait: Strike King KVD Square Bill Silent Crankbait
Size: 2, 2 ½, 2 ¾ inches
Lure Type: Shallow Crankbait
Material: Hard plastic body
We often associate crankbaits with deep water fishing, so it’s understandable that they can sometimes get overlooked when fishing from shore. While it may not be ideal for fishing thick vegetation, Strike King’s KVD Square Bill Silent Crankbait is perfect for rocky shorelines and areas with deadfall that fish can be hiding under.
Just like when fishing from a boat, a crankbait can be used as a search bait when fishing from shore, making lots of casts and working the lure quick until you find fish.
The square bill on this silent crank not only keeps the lure running at the right depth, but it also provides irresistible wobble and deflects perfectly off of cover to entice savage strikes from big bass.
Whether chasing shallow water largemouth or smallmouth, the KVD Square Bill will help you make quick work of locating hungry bass.
Want more option? See our full buying guide and reviews: Best Crankbaits For Bass
Pros
- Rattle-free design is perfect for shallow water fishing
- Lure always runs true even after banging into structure
- Square bill design gives the lure a unique action
- Available in a wide range of colors
Cons
- Plastic bill can be fragile and break easily
Things to Consider When Choosing The Right Lure For Bass Fishing From Shore
Fishing Conditions
Fishing conditions are going to be a top priority when selecting the best lure to fish for bass from shore. Different bass lures will do certain things well, under certain conditions. These conditions aren’t just limited to weather or water conditions, but you should also take into consideration what bass you intend to target and the area you want to target them in. This will help determine whether you should be fishing deep or shallow, fast or slow, and will help narrow down your selection.
Lure Action
Just because a lure has great action doesn’t mean it’s going to catch fish. Each of the lures on this list provide unique actions that aren’t going to be suitable for every condition. For example, if the fish are highly pressured or not active in general, you may need a lure with a more subtle action to entice them. On the other hand, when fish are aggressive, a lure with a lot of action can trigger strikes.
Sound
Every fishing lure makes sound to some degree. Whether that’s the thumping of a spinnerbait or the rattles in a jerkbait, there will always be some sound. And while many anglers think the more sound the better, that isn’t always the case, especially when fishing from shore where shallow water can often mean fish are on high alert. If that’s the case, artificial rattles can sometimes be counterproductive and scare fish away.
Color
We often get asked if color is as big of a deal as it’s made out to be when it comes to artificial lures. The quick answer is yes, it is. Like action, and even sound, the right color is going to be based on the fishing conditions. Clear water fish might be more likely to hit something that looks more natural, whereas fish in murkier water might need something flashier. Of course, this is only scratching the surface of color selection, and there are so many other factors that come into play when trying to choose the right one, but the point is that color should not be overlooked.
It isn’t easy to pick just one lure to deem as the best. Each lure on this list can outshine the other in different circumstances. With that being said, it’s the versatility of the Yamamoto Senko that makes it our top pick for bass fishing from shore.
The Senko can be fished in deep water or shallow cover. It can be fished painfully slow or moved quickly around cover. With the seemingly endless ways this worm can be rigged, it will cover any situation you’re faced with when fishing from shore, and with over 150 colors available, there’s a Senko suitable for any scenario. See our recommendations for the best senko colors.
Final Thoughts
Shore fishing for bass is more popular than ever and is only going to increase in popularity as anglers realize that with the right gear and lure choices, you can be successful at catching monster fish without having to drop thousands of dollars on all the latest, greatest bass equipment.
We hope we were able to help narrow your shore fishing lure choices down and help you get into more bass from shore. Leave us a comment and let us know if we did!
Source: usangler.com