Best Bass Lures for Summer – 5 Baits That Can’t Fail

Bass fish become very active during summertime as they hunt for food to replenish their energy after their spawning season.

They tend to be the most active when the water temperature is between 50 to 70 degrees. When the water temperature rises above 80 degrees and above, bass becomes less active and seek out cold water areas.

Choosing a lure when fishing for bass in the summer heavily relies on the changing water temperature. Lures are available in a wide variety of colors and sizes, and some of them are more suited for targeting bass during the summer than others.

That’s why using the most suitable summer bass lure can significantly increase your chances of landing more bass. To help you make the best choice here’s a compilation of some of the top-rated summertime bass fishing lures available on the market.

Product NameTypeWeight
Booyah Poppin’ Pad Crasher FrogTop Water Lure1.5 Ounces
Panther Martin Classic SpinnerSpinner3.8 Ounces
Booyah BooSkirted Jig1.4 Ounces
Culprit Original WormSoft Plastic3.2 Ounces (8-Pack)
River2Sea Whopper PlopperTop Water Lure1.12 Ounces

List of The Best Bass Lures for Summer in 2021

1. Best Overall – Booyah Poppin’ Pad Crasher Frog

The top recommendation on our list is this topwater frog lure from Booyah. It’s perfect for summer bass fishing near heavy cover areas without facing any snags.

The Poppin’ Pad Crasher is designed with a soft collapsible hollow body that’s made of high-quality plastic materials. So, it can move smoothly through weed beds while keeping your bait 100% weedless.

It features spinnerbait-like legs that create a hopping action to entice bass to bite. It also features strong double hooks that ensure a solid hookset when the bass strikes.

It’s available in multiple colors and patterns to suit different water conditions.

Pros Vs Cons

The Pros

  • It’s made from high-quality soft plastic materials
  • It’s available in multiple colors and patterns
  • It moves smoothly and creates strong action
  • It features double hooks for a strong hookset
  • It doesn’t snag when fishing near weed beds

The Cons

  • The material of the hook is prone to wear out

Bottom line

The Booyah Poppin’ Pad Crasher Frog is the perfect choice for you if you’re looking for a high-quality bass lure that allows you to fish near cover without snagging.

2. Second Runner – Panther Martin Classic Spinner

This classic spinnerbait from Panther Martin is also one of the most effective lures when it comes to summer bass fishing.

It’s designed with a super sharp treble hook and unique blades that can create an impressive action. These blades send out sonic vibrations that help attract bass to your lure and get them to bite.

It has excellent sinking capabilities because of how heavy it is which makes it the most effective in deeper bodies of water.

It’s available in multiple colors and patterns to attract bass and other freshwater species in various water conditions. The blades also come in different sizes, so you can adjust the blade size according to the species you’re targeting and your fishing technique.

Pros Vs Cons

The Pros

  • It’s perfect for fishing in deep waters
  • It has excellent sinking capabilities
  • It works for bass as well as other freshwater fish species
  • It creates a vibrating action to attracts bass
  • It comes in multiple colors and patterns
  • It’s built with different sized blades that can be easily adjusted

The Cons

  • It’s not ideal for use in shallow water

Bottom line

The Panther Martin classic spinner lure is the perfect choice for you if you’re looking for an adjustable lure that creates fast and easy action for the best summer bass fishing.

3. Best On a Budget – Booyah Boo Jig Bass Fishing Lure

This budget-friendly Booyah Boo Jig bass lure offers many qualities for a very cheap price.

The jig is designed with a flat bottom with an 18-degree rise which allows you perfect control when casting. The body is coated with Plasti-Keeper protective material to enhance its durability.

It features a weed guard which allows the lure to easily penetrate and drop through weed beds. It also features a black nickel light wire hook and a 60-strand ultra-fine silicone skirt

It’s available in multiple colors and patterns to attract bass in different water conditions

Pros Vs Cons

The Pros

  • It has excellent casting capabilities
  • It’s made from highly durable materials with a protective coating
  • It features a weed guard to reduce snags
  • It’s suitable for fishing in areas with heavy cover
  • It features a wire hook and 60-strand skirt
  • It comes in multiple colors and patterns
The Cons
  • It’s not suitable for targeting very large bass

Bottom line

This Booyah Boo Jig lure is the perfect choice for you if you’re looking for an affordable bass lure without sacrificing durability and efficiency.

4. Culprit Original Worm

Culprit Original Worms has proven to be one of the best bass fishing lures out there. They’re a must-have in every bass angler’s tackle box.

These worms are made from a soft plastic material and they’re designed with a tail that moves smoothly in the water, even at the bottom, to create a natural action that attracts bass fish.

They can be rigged either Texas or Carolina style. The Texas rig is ideal if you’re fishing in shallow water areas with a heavy cover or, while the Carolina rig is ideal if you’re fishing in deep water areas.

They come in an 18-pack and they’re the perfect size for targeting bass. They’re available in a wide variety of unique colors and patterns to gives bass anglers an advantage when fishing in different water conditions.

Pros Vs Cons

The Pros

  • It features a tail that creates a natural action
  • It can be rigged in multiple ways
  • It’s suitable for surface and bottom fishing
  • Its size is perfect for bass
  • It is available in multiple colors and patterns

The Cons

  • The soft plastic material is not the most durable

Bottom line

The Culprit Original Worms are the best choice for you if you’re looking for a versatile soft plastic lure that can be rigged in different ways to suit different water depths and conditions.

5. River2Sea Whopper Plopper

The River2Sea Whopper Plopper from River2Sea gained a lot of popularity among bass anglers in the past few years.

It’s designed with a flashing tail that creates good action to mimic the movement of dying baitfish on the surface of the water. This will effectively grab the attention of bass fish and get them to bite. It also features two strong treble hooks that will be able to withstand the weight of bass fish.

It has excellent casting abilities and it’s perfectly tuned for use right out of the box. It is available in multiple sizes and colors to suit various water conditions.

Pros Vs Cons

The Pros

  • It features a tail that mimics baitfish to attract bass
  • It’s available in multiple colors and sizes.
  • It has excellent casting abilities.
  • It features two strong treble hooks.

The Cons

  • The tail is prone to snagging in heavy cover

Bottom line

The famous Whopper Plopper lure is the best choice for you if you’re looking for a reliable bass lure that can realistically mimic the movement of baitfish.

How to Choose the Best Lures for Bass?

man holding bass to show the best bass lures for summer

Generally, the best lures to use when targeting bass would be spinners, vibrating skirted jigs, soft plastic worms, and topwater frogs. Vibrating skirted jigs, spinners, and topwater frogs are suitable for catching largemouth bass. While soft plastic worms are more suitable for catching smallmouth bass.

What You Need to Know About Bass Fishing in the Summer

What Are the Most Common Species of Bass?

The most common species of bass fish are the largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.

The largemouth bass is green with horizontal stripes and spots on its body. The dorsal fin on the top of its head has a break in it which makes it look like two separate fins and it has a long jawline that extends past its eyes. This type prefers warm water and slow currents. It’s not selective when it comes to its diet and will generally eat anything.

The smallmouth bass is brown with vertical stripes on its body. Its dorsal fin doesn’t have any breaks. Its mouth is small and its upper jawline doesn’t extend past its eyes. This type prefers cold water with fast currents and it’s more limited with what it eats because of its smallmouth.

What Do Bass Feed On?

The largemouth bass is not picky when it comes to food. However, it usually has a preference for shad, bluegill, crawdads, worms, lizards, snakes, and even small turtles. On the other hand, the Smallmouth bass is more selective when it comes to food. Their diet is usually limited to small shiners, crawfish, sunfish, perch, worms, and minnows.

Where to Find Bass in the Summer?

Both bass species are in constant pursuit of the areas with the most comfortable water temperature for them to feed. So, the key to successfully target bass in the summer is knowing where these areas are.

Since largemouth bass prefer warmer water and slower currents, they are found near the south. Smallmouth bass, however, prefer cooler water and faster currents, so they are found more towards the north.

You can fish for bass in lakes or rivers, in deep or shallow water. The best areas to target them would be near the edges of cover or shelter in calm patches of water. This includes logs, rocks, stumps, brush, and weed beds.

When Is the Best Time for Bass Fishing?

The best time to fish for bass would be right after their spawning season which is during late May or early June. That is because they tend to become the most active, as they would be looking to hunt and replenish their energy.

As for the most ideal time of the day to fish for bass, it can be during dusk or at night because bass fish tend to swim to shallower areas of the water during these times.

What Kind of Gear Is Best for Summer Bass Fishing?

You will generally need heavier tackle when fishing for bass because they are large in size and can put up quite a fight.

To target bass during the summer, it’s recommended to use a fast action medium-heavy powered fishing rod that’s 6’7” to 7’8” feet in length. When it comes to the reel, it’s recommended to go for a baitcasting reel spooled with an 8-pound test braided fishing line.

It’s also recommended to use larger hooks because hooks that are too small might bend or break in the bass’ mouth if they put up a fight. You can go for a hook size that’s between 4 to 6/0.

If you are going fishing for Bass in the winter, you should definitely check out my guide to cold weather water fishing guide here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does The Color of the Lure Matter When It Comes to Bass Fishing?

Yes, the color of the lure matters when you’re fishing for bass, especially in low light conditions. It’s recommended to use lures with colors that are within the range of colors that bass fish can see in order to increase your chances of getting more bass to bite.

Can You Eat Bass?

Yes, you can eat bass. They’re very healthy as they’re rich in omega-3s, manganese, phosphorus, vitamin B12, and protein. However, their taste is not favored by many for a lot of people as they have a murky taste because they sometimes feed at the bottom of the water.

How to Safely Hold a Bass Fish?

To safely hold a bass fish, you need to hold it vertically with its mouth facing the sky and its tail pointing toward the ground. This way you will relieve any pressure on the bass’ jaw from the weight of its body. You also need to make sure to keep your thumb placed inside the mouth of the bass to keep a firm hold of its bottom lip.

Helpful Resources

Big Book of Bass: Strategies for Catching Largemouth and Smallmouth – ( you can also check it on Amazon here)

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