The Ultimate Guide: Top 10 Best Fishing Lures for Smallmouth Bass

In the world of bass fishing, the smallmouth bass, or "bronze back," is a true warrior, famous for its power and the kind of bone-jarring strikes that anglers live for. After years spent on the water specifically targeting these fish, I've learned that conquering them isn't about luck—it's about a proven strategy and a battle-tested arsenal.

This isn't just another generic list of the best fishing lures for smallmouth bass. Consider this my personal playbook, The Ultimate Fishing Lure Guide.  It’s distilled from countless hours of in-the-field experience that I've used to curate the collection at riversiderelics.com. I’m sharing the exact lures that have earned a permanent place in my tackle box and the hard-won techniques that consistently trigger bites, even on the toughest days.

How to Choose the Right Lure for Smallmouth Bass

For any angler learning how to fish for smallmouth bass, picking the right lure is the foundational key to unlocking success. Instead of choosing randomly, base your selection on these three core principles to dramatically increase your odds.

Mimic Natural Prey

This is the golden rule. Smallmouth primarily feed on crawfish, baitfish, and insects. Your best lures will be those that convincingly imitate the shape, color, and, most importantly, the  movement of this forage.  

Trigger a Reaction Strike

Smallmouth are both aggressive and wary. Use lures with an erratic, unpredictable action to trigger their predatory instinct. A sudden dart, a quick deflection off a rock, or an abrupt pause will often provoke a strike even when the fish isn't actively feeding.  

Adapt to the Conditions

Your lure choice must adapt to the conditions. In clear water, use natural colors (like green pumpkin). In stained or murky water, opt for high-contrast colors (like chartreuse). Likewise, match your presentation to the water temperature: fish slowly and with finesse in cold water, and use faster, more powerful presentations in warm water.  

The Top 10 Best Fishing Lures for Smallmouth Bass

This is the definitive list, carefully selected to deliver maximum performance across a wide range of conditions.

1. Tube Jig

• Pro Pick: Strike King Coffee Tube  
• Why It Works: The tube is the perfect imitation of a crawfish or goby—two of the primary food sources for smallmouth. Its spiraling fall is an irresistible trigger, and its soft tentacles quiver subtly even at rest, perfectly mimicking a defensive crawfish.  
• How to Fish It: Use a slow drag along the bottom to imitate a crawling crawfish, or use an aggressive "snap" to pop the bait off the bottom and let it fall, generating a reaction strike.  
• Recommended Gear: 7' medium power spinning rod, 8-10 lb fluorocarbon line. 

2. Suspending Jerkbait

• Pro Pick: Rapala X-Rap , Megabass Vision 110  
• Why It Works: It perfectly mimics a wounded, dying baitfish. The erratic jerk-pause action triggers a smallmouth's predatory instinct, with most strikes occurring during the pause.  
• How to Fish It: In cold water, use sharp jerks followed by long pauses (up to 10 seconds). In warmer water, speed up the cadence with aggressive, continuous jerks and shorter pauses. Always vary your rhythm to keep the action unpredictable.  
• Recommended Gear: 6'10" medium power baitcasting rod, 8-12 lb fluorocarbon line.  

3. The Ned Rig

• Pro Pick: Z-Man Finesse TRD
• Why It Works: When the bite gets tough, the Ned rig is the ultimate weapon. Its compact, non-threatening profile represents an easy meal (insect, leech, small crawfish) that even the most cautious fish can't refuse. The buoyant plastic allows the tail to stand straight up off the bottom, making it an easy target.  
• How to Fish It: Less is more. Cast it out, let it hit the bottom, and slowly drag it or let it sit. The bites are often subtle, feeling like a "spongy" weight.  
• Recommended Gear: 6'10" - 7' medium-light power spinning rod, 10lb braided line to a 6-8 lb fluorocarbon leader.  

4. "Walk-the-Dog” Topwater

• Pro Pick: Heddon Zara Spook  
• Why It Works: The side-to-side, zig-zagging action ("walking the dog") imitates a fleeing or injured baitfish on the surface. This commotion draws fish from a distance and triggers explosive topwater strikes, especially in low-light conditions.  
• How to Fish It: Use short, rhythmic twitches of the rod tip to get the lure gliding from side to side. Find a steady cadence to create a smooth, walking action.  
• Recommended Gear: 6'6" - 7' medium power baitcasting rod, 12-15 lb monofilament line (it floats, which helps the lure's action).  

5. Spinnerbait

• Pro Pick: War Eagle Double Willow  
• Why It Works: A classic search tool, the spinnerbait combines flash and vibration to attract attention. Double willow leaf blades are ideal for clear water and speed, while Colorado blades create more "thump" for stained water.  
• How to Fish It: Simply cast and retrieve. Vary your retrieve speed to cover different depths. It's exceptionally effective around cover like grass and wood.  
• Recommended Gear: 7' medium-heavy power baitcasting rod, 12-17 lb fluorocarbon or monofilament line.  

6. Squarebill Crankbait

• Pro Pick: Strike King KVD 1.5  
• Why It Works: Designed to be fished in shallow cover, the squarebill excels at deflecting off rocks and wood. This erratic, ricocheting action mimics a panicked crawfish and triggers powerful reaction strikes.  
• How to Fish It: Cast past your target (rock, stump) and retrieve fast enough for the lure to collide with the cover. The sudden change in direction is what triggers the bite.  
• Recommended Gear: 7' composite or fiberglass crankbait rod (medium power), 10-14 lb fluorocarbon line.

7. Paddle Tail Swimbait

• Pro Pick: Keitech Swing Impact FAT  
• Why It Works: It offers one of the most realistic swimming actions, perfectly imitating a baitfish. The tail produces an enticing kick and body roll at any retrieve speed. It's extremely versatile and can be rigged on a jighead, a weighted hook, or as a trailer.  
• How to Fish It: Rig on a jighead for a simple cast-and-retrieve, or Texas-rig it to fish through cover. Match the size to the local forage, upsizing in the fall.  
• Recommended Gear: 7' - 7'6" medium power spinning or baitcasting rod, 8-15lb fluorocarbon line.

 8. Hair Jig

• Pro Pick: VMC Dominator Marabou Jig , Outkast Tackle Feider Fly  
• Why It Works: One of the most effective cold-water lures. The marabou or bucktail material provides a subtle, lifelike movement with minimal input from the angler, perfectly imitating small insects, leeches, or invertebrates.  
• How to Fish It: Fish it painfully slow. Cast out, let it sink, and use a gentle drag along the bottom. Often, just letting it sit is enough.  
• Recommended Gear: 7'6" medium-light power spinning rod, 8lb braided line to a 6lb fluorocarbon leader. 

9. The Drop Shot Rig

• Pro Pick: Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Flat Worm  
• Why It Works: This is the ultimate way to present a bait suspended just off the bottom, right in a smallmouth's strike zone. It's irresistible to fish that are suspended or unwilling to chase a lure.  
• How to Fish It: Let the weight hit the bottom and keep your line tight. Gently shake the rod tip to impart action to the bait without moving the weight, or slowly drag the rig across the bottom.  
• Recommended Gear: 7' medium-light power drop shot spinning rod, 10-15lb braided line to a 6-10lb fluorocarbon leader.  

10. Prop-Style Topwater

• Pro Pick: River2Sea Whopper Plopper  
• Why It Works: This lure revolutionized topwater fishing with its unique, churning sound. The rotating tail creates a distinctive "plop-plop-plop" sound, causing a major surface disturbance that calls fish in from long distances.  
• How to Fish It: A straight, steady retrieve is often most effective. Vary your speed from slow to fast to see what the fish want. An occasional pause can also trigger a strike.  
• Recommended Gear: 7' - 7'3" medium-heavy power baitcasting rod, 30-50lb braided line.  

Seasonal Strategy: Choosing the Best Smallmouth Bass Lures All Year

Use this table to quickly select the right lure based on the season and water conditions.