Pro's Guide: 10 Best Fishing Lures for Bass in Summer 2025

With years of experience in competitive bass fishing, I’m often asked about the best fishing lures for bass in summer. The answer always comes down to understanding how fish behave when the heat turns up. Success when fishing bass in summer is all about adapting to their changing patterns. As water temperatures rise, fish become more aggressive but also seek the comfort of deep water or the thickest, shadiest cover they can find.

With that in mind, this guide of riversiderelics.com breaks down the top 10 best fishing lures for bass in summer, compiled from personal experience, input from top pros, and consensus from the wider angling community.

1. The Topwater Frog

In the summer, bass push into the thickest vegetation to escape the heat. The Topwater Frog is the key to getting to them, thanks to its perfectly weedless design. Not only can it glide over these otherwise unfishable spots, but it also perfectly imitates the number one natural meal for bass this season: frogs, triggering instinctive, explosive strikes.

Top Pick: SPRO Bronzeye Frog 65

This is considered the gold standard because it’s incredibly easy to "walk" and comes with sharp Gamakatsu hooks, optimizing your hook-up ratio. However, the inherent weakness of most frogs is that the hook-up ratio can still be challenging for beginners. After a few fish, the body can also take on water and will need to be squeezed out.

Technique: Use a "walk-the-dog" retrieve by twitching your rod tip with a steady cadence to make the lure glide from side to side. When the frog passes over an open pocket or the edge of the grass, pause it for a few seconds. When a fish blows up on it, wait 1-2 seconds to feel the weight of the fish before setting the hook hard.

Recommended Setup:

• Rod: 7'3" - 7'6" Medium-Heavy to Heavy power, Fast action baitcasting rod.
• Reel: A high-speed baitcasting reel (7.1:1+ gear ratio).
• Line: 50-65 lb test braided line. 

2. The Deep-Diving Crankbait

When the sun gets high and the heat is on, bass move out to deeper, cooler water on offshore ledges, points, and brush piles. The Deep-Diving Crankbait is the indispensable tool for reaching them. It allows you to quickly cover vast areas of deep water and triggers reaction strikes when the lure deflects off the bottom or structure.

Top Pick: Strike King 10XD

Nothing compares to the 10XD’s ability to hit the 25-foot zone and its powerful hunting action. It's the ultimate weapon for targeting giant offshore bass. Its greatest weakness is also its strength: it pulls incredibly hard and requires a dedicated, heavy-duty combo to fish effectively without causing serious fatigue.

Technique: Cast well past your target and reel quickly to get the lure down to its maximum depth. When you feel it hit the bottom or cover, change your retrieve speed or pop the rod tip to create an erratic, triggering action.

Recommended Setup:

• Rod: A 7'6" - 7'11" Moderate action cranking rod (composite or fiberglass).
• Reel: A baitcasting reel with a medium gear ratio (5.4:1 to 6.2:1).
• Line: 10-15 lb test fluorocarbon line.

3. The Soft Plastic Worm

On the hottest summer days, bass get lethargic and want an easy meal. A large Soft Plastic Worm (10-12 inches), presented slowly on the bottom, represents a big, slow-moving, vulnerable meal. It’s a high-protein offering that low-energy bass can't refuse.

Top Pick: Zoom Ole' Monster 10.5"

This is a legendary worm with an irresistible tail action and an unbeatable price. Its strength comes with a trade-off: the soft plastic that gives it that great action is not durable and is often torn up after one or two fish. Its length can also lead to short strikes from smaller fish that just grab the tail.

Technique: The Texas rig and Carolina rig are most popular. Slowly drag the worm across the bottom, occasionally lifting the rod tip before letting it fall again on a slack line. Pay close attention for a very subtle "tick" or "mushy" feeling on the line.

Recommended Setup:

• Rod: A 7'0" - 7'4" Medium-Heavy power, Fast action baitcasting rod.
• Reel: A baitcasting reel with a 6.4:1 to 7.1:1 gear ratio.
• Line: 14-20 lb test fluorocarbon line.

4. The Jig

When you're talking about the best lures for bass in any season, the Jig is always in the conversation, but it's especially deadly in summer. It perfectly imitates a crawfish-a primary food source-and its compact design allows you to accurately pitch it into the shady places where bass hide from the sun.

Top Pick: Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Flipping Jig

This jig is built to be fished in the nastiest cover, with a super-strong hook and a robust weedguard. However, it's a specialized tool. Its heavy-duty hook and stiff weedguard make it less than ideal for open water or sparse cover, where a powerful hookset is not always possible.

Technique: Use a "Flipping" or "Pitching" cast to present the lure into heavy cover with minimal splash. Let the jig fall on a semi-slack line, as most bites occur on the initial drop.

Recommended Setup:

• Rod: A 7'6" - 8'0" Heavy power flipping stick.
• Reel: A high-speed baitcasting reel (7.1:1+ gear ratio).
• Line: 50-65 lb test braid for heavy cover or 15-20 lb fluorocarbon for clearer water.

5. The Spinnerbait

On windy or overcast summer days, bass become more active. The Spinnerbait is the ideal search bait for these conditions. The flash and vibration from the blades attract attention from a distance, allowing you to quickly cover water and find actively feeding fish.

Top Pick: War Eagle Spinnerbait (1/2 oz)

Its key strength is a thinner wire, which provides maximum vibration and helps it run true right out of the package. The trade-off is that this same wire can bend after catching a big fish or a bad snag, requiring you to tune it back into shape by hand to maintain its proper action.

Technique: Cast and retrieve steadily. To add appeal, vary your speed or use a "yo-yo" retrieve by lifting and dropping your rod tip.

Recommended Setup:

• Rod: A 7'0" Medium to Medium-Heavy power, Moderate-Fast action baitcasting rod.
• Reel: A baitcasting reel with a medium gear ratio (around 6.4:1).
• Line: 12-17 lb test monofilament or fluorocarbon line.

6. The Topwater Popper

Summer bass love to ambush prey from specific shady spots (a single tree, a dock post). A Popper allows you to stay in that strike zone longer. Its "popping" or "spitting" sound mimics wounded prey, luring an ambushing bass out for an attack.

Top Pick: Rebel Pop-R

This is the legendary popper with a unique "spitting" sound that is hard to duplicate and highly effective. To keep it affordable, its known weakness is the stock hooks and split rings, which are average at best. Most serious anglers upgrade them immediately for a better hook-up ratio.

Technique: After casting, let the ripples settle. Give the rod a short, sharp twitch to create a "pop," then pause for a few seconds. The cadence is key.

Recommended Setup:

• Rod: A 6'6" - 7'0" Medium power, Fast action spinning or casting rod.
• Reel: A matching reel for your rod choice.
• Line: 10-14 lb test monofilament line.

7. The Bladed Jig (aka Chatterbait)

This is the perfect lure when bass are actively feeding in or around summer grass. The Bladed Jig combines the intense vibration to call fish out of cover with the profile of a baitfish or jig. This aggressive presentation is perfect for fish in an aggressive feeding mood.

Top Pick: Z-Man ChatterBait Jack Hammer

It’s considered the pinnacle of bladed jigs, with an instant-start, hard-thumping action and premium components. It has no performance weaknesses, but its main drawback is the price. It's significantly more expensive than others, which makes losing one to a snag particularly painful.

Technique: Much like a spinnerbait, a steady retrieve is effective. Occasionally, snap the rod tip to make the lure jump and change its vibration, which can trigger a strike.

Recommended Setup:

• Rod: A 7'0" - 7'3" Medium-Heavy power, Moderate-Fast action rod (composite or fiberglass is preferred).
• Reel: A 6.4:1 to 7.1:1 gear ratio baitcasting reel.
• Line: 15-20 lb test fluorocarbon line.

8. The Creature Bait

To get the attention of bass buried in the thickest cover, you need something that creates a major disturbance. A Creature Bait, with its multiple appendages, displaces a lot of water as it falls. This bulk and commotion helps fish zero in on the lure even when they can't see it well in the dense cover.

Top Pick: Strike King Rage Bug

Its greatest strength is the patented Rage Flanges, which create an incredible kicking action with very little movement. The trade-off is that these soft flanges are also the least durable part of the bait and are often torn off by fish, which can compromise its signature action.

Technique: This is a go-to for flipping and pitching into heavy cover. The action on the initial fall is the most important part of the presentation.

Recommended Setup:

• Rod: A 7'3" - 7'6" Medium-Heavy to Heavy power, Fast action baitcasting rod.
• Reel: A high-speed baitcasting reel (7.1:1+ gear ratio).
• Line: 17-25 lb test fluorocarbon or 50-65 lb test braid.

9. The Drop Shot Rig with a Finesse Worm

When bass get extremely finicky from heat or fishing pressure, they often suspend in deep water and won't chase a lure. The Drop Shot Rig presents a small, subtle meal right in their face and keeps it there. It's the most effective way to coax bites from inactive fish.

Top Pick: Roboworm Straight Tail Worm

This is the king of finesse worms, with its super-soft plastic and hand-poured colors creating an unmatched, subtle action. This delicacy is also its weakness: the worm is not durable at all and tears very easily. It's a highly specialized bait that is ineffective for covering water or fishing dense cover.

Technique: Drop the rig straight down to the depth you see fish on your electronics. Keep a tight line and gently shake your rod tip to give the worm action without moving the weight.

Recommended Setup:

• Rod: A 6'10" - 7'2" Medium-Light power, Extra-Fast action spinning rod.
• Reel: A 2500 or 3000-size spinning reel.
• Line: 8-10 lb test braid as the main line, with a 6-8 lb test fluorocarbon leader.

10. The Walking Bait (aka Spook)

In the summer, bass often school up in open water to chase shad. A Walking Bait is the best tool to call them up. Its side-to-side "walk-the-dog" action perfectly mimics a wounded baitfish struggling on the surface. This action triggers the school's competitive nature, resulting in explosive strikes.

Top Pick: Heddon Super Spook Jr.

This is the iconic walk-the-dog lure with a hypnotic action that's easy to create. Like many classic hard baits, its recognized weakness is the stock hooks, which most anglers recommend upgrading for a better hook-up ratio. Additionally, its effectiveness is greatly reduced in choppy water, which disrupts its signature surface action.

Technique: Use short, rhythmic twitches of your rod tip while reeling steadily to get the lure to glide left and right.

Recommended Setup:

• Rod: A 6'8" - 7'2" Medium power, Moderate-Fast action baitcasting rod.
• Reel: A high-speed baitcasting reel (7.1:1+ gear ratio).
• Line: 12-17 lb test monofilament line