11 Bold Lures to Catch Giant Bass

Written by Aaron Warner in Bass

There is nothing more exciting in the sport of bass fishing than landing a giant bass. However, as many anglers know this is often no easy task. Landing a big bass requires knowledge, skill, dedication and most importantly presenting the right baits and lures to entice the big ones to bite.

Although it’s possible to catch big bass with any lure, there are certain baits and lures that will dramatically increase your chances of catching a trophy sized bass. Simply put if you want to catch giants, you’ll need to be bold and throw big baits. In this article we share the best big bass lures and baits that will help you catch some giants.

The 11 Best Big Bass Lures & Baits

Don’t have a lot of time? No worries, here is an overview of the best big bass baits. The following list includes the best baits and lures for catching big bass. These lures are in no particular order and are all great ways to catch some trophies.

  1. Big Swimbaits
  2. Glide Baits
  3. Big Jigs
  4. Whopper Ploppper
  5. Frogs
  6. Spinnerbait
  7. Giant Plastic Worm
  8. Alabama Rig
  9. Chatterbait
  10. Buzzbait
  11. Big Spoons

Make sure to check out My Recommended Bass Fishing Gear and Tackle Guide to ensure you have the right gear for your next fishing adventure.

Big Swimbaits

There is perhaps no better way to target giant bass than with the right swimbait. If big bass is your goal, the first place I’d start is with a big swimbait.

More double digit bass are caught on a swimbaits each year compared to any other lure or bait. They are easy to fish and can result in some monster bites.

When you are swimbait fishing for bass it’s important to realize that you may only get a bite or two in a day or a week, but when they come it’s likely going to be from one of the biggest bass in the lake.

Get the right equipment and tackle, be patience, stay dedicated and enjoy those monster bass!

Swimbait Recommendations
  • Huddleston
  • Osprey Swimbait
  • Deps 250
Swimbait Resources

Glide Baits

Glide baits are essentially a single jointed hard swimbait, but this subcategory of swimbaits can be so effective at catching big bass that I had to mention it separately. 

Glide baits excel at imitating baitfish like a swimbait but have a much wider S-motion in the water compared to standard swimbaits. This motion allows anglers to pop or pull the rod and cause the bait to glide of to one side, often triggering any nearby bass into striking.

There is something about that side to side action that drive big bass crazy. There are two main types of glide baits. There are glide baits that are designed for cover and ones that are designed for open water situations.

Make no mistake glide baits can absolutely catch some monster bass. Here are some of the best glide baits out on the market.

Glide Bait Recommendations:
  • S-Waver (168 & 200)
  • Gan Craft Jointed Claw
  • Savage Gear 3D Shine
How to Fish the Glide Bait
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chWKgWyUOUE&t=282s

Big Jigs

Jigs are well known for being a big bass bait, and for good reason. I can’t think of another bait that catches big fish as consistently as a jig.

A classic jig-n-pig is an all-time great bass fishing bait. If you ask any angler what they use when they need to get a big bite, I bet most of them would put the jig high on their list.

Jigs can be flat out deadly and are one of the few baits that can be fished at any time and during any season. The best part about a jig is the size of fish that are caught.

Here are the different types of jigs that will help you adapt to the different fishing conditions that you may face.

Types of jigs
  • Football Jigs
  • Grass Jigs
  • Finesse Jigs
  • Swim Jigs
  • Punching Jigs
Recommended Jigs
  • California Swim Jig
  • Pitchin’ Jig
  • Black Hair Jig
  • Dirty Jigs
Jig Fishing Resources

Whopper Ploppper

The Whopper Plopper has taken the bass fishing industry by storm in recent years. There is something about this top-water lure that catches not only a ton of bass but also big ones.

This River2Sea’s lure was originally designed by legendary angler Larry Dahlber and was initially created to be a killer musky bait. Soon after they realized that it was also a great lure for giant bass.

One of the great things about a Whopper Plopper is that it will allow you to cover a lot of water and key in on those areas that hold big fish.

When targeting big bass use a bigger size, cover water and be ready for some giant blowups. This is a fun lure to fish and I would highly recommend it.

Recommended Whopper Ploppers Colors
  • Bone
  • Blue Blood
  • Munky Butt
  • Loon
  • I Know It
Whopper Ploppers Resources

Frogs

Perhaps the most exciting thing in the sport of bass fishing is having a giant largemouth bass blow up on your top water frog. Frog fishing for big bass can be exciting, fast-paced and a great way to catch some lunker bass.

One of the biggest advantaging of frogging, is that you can literally cast these lures just about anywhere. They are designed to float can be freely worked across lily pads and other surface vegetation’s without any problems of getting hung up.

The only downside to fishing with a frog is that it does have a lower hook up ratio compared to other baits. You’ll receive some big blow ups but you’ll need to be patience and set the hook just right to land these bass.

If you are fishing for big bass in the summer around vegetation, then there is no other lure that will get the job done like a frog. If you would like to learn what the best frogs are and how to fish them continue reading below.

Recommended Frogs
  • River2Sea Bully Wa 2
  • LiveTarget Hollow Belly Frog
  • Snag Proof Bobby’s Perfect Frog
Frogs Fishing Resources

Spinnerbait

The spinnerbait is another all-time classic bass fishing lure that can absolutely catch some giant fish. Although there are some anglers that think it isn’t a great lunker lure, don’t be mistaken those anglers that have confidence and experience with a spinnerbait know that it catches giants.

There is something about the vibration and flash of a spinnerbait as it bangs around cover that drives big bass crazy.

Another thing that makes this a solid big bass bait is its versatility. It’s weed-less so you can fish it in heavy cover or around grass, but you can also have success slow rolling it in deep waters as well.

As far as colors go, I like whites and natural colors in clear water and chartreuse, black and red in muddy or stained waters. Here are the main types of spinnerbaits:

Types of Spinnerbaits
  • Colorado Blade
  • Willow Blade
  • Combination (Colorado and Willow)

Learn how to fish the spinnerbait for big bass from bass pro Pete Gluszek on the video below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1_Bj_n6HLk
Recommended Spinnerbaits
  • Revenge Double Willow
  • War Eagle Gold
  • Revenge Heavy Duty
  • River2Sea Bling
  • Revenge Deep Runner
  • War Eagle Screamin’ Eagle
Spinnerbaits Fishing Resources

Giant Plastic Worm

When I talk about big worms, I’m talking about ones that are anywhere from 8 to 12 inches or longer in some cases. This big presentation will draw in and trigger those big bass into biting.

Quite frankly big bass are smart and lazy. They don’t want to expend a lot of energy chasing after a small snack. They would prefer to get a large meal with minimal effort. That’s why a big plastic worm can be so effective.

Big worms really shine in the summer time. Here are some key areas to target while fishing one of these worms.

Areas to Target with Big Worms
  • Rocks
  • Ledges
  • Docks
  • Humps

There are a ton of big plastic baits out there, here are a few that we recommend trying:

Recommended Big Worms
  • Powerbait Power Worms
  • Uptons Straight Tail Worm
  • Strike King Bullworm
  • Zoom Ol’ Monster Worms
Big Worm Fishing Resources

Here are some big worm fishing resources to help get you started:

Alabama Rig

The Alabama Rig is such an awesome bass fishing rig that it was banned for being “too effective for tournaments”. When this lure burst onto the scene in 2011, Paul Elias won a FLW fishing tournament by a whopping 17 pound margin. Ever since than the Alabama rig has caught some monster fish.

Controversy aside, the Alabama rig is without question one of the most effective baits you can throw when the conditions are right.

If have any doubts or haven’t heard about the Alabama Rig go watch this video by LakeForkGuy. He catches 25lbs on two casts, including a 9lb 12oz beast. If that doesn’t get you pump for big bass, I don’t know what will.

To learn how to fish the Alabama rig check out this article by Shopcarls.com

Note: In some states the Alabama Rig may be illegal to fish with. This is because it consists of more hooks per line than is allowed in the states waters.

So before you try this technique make you are okay to do so with where you are fishing. It has also been banned by many tournament circuits because bass find it irresistible

Chatterbait

The Chatterbait (also known as a bladed jig) is another great big bass option. It’s one of those baits that is under the radar for bigger bass, but it’s something that every angler searching for a big bit should try.

The vibration is a key component of this lure, along with the shape, size, color and action. This combination is the ingredients that tempts bass into biting. This lure offers big bass a noisy, slow meal that is tough to resist.

One of the big reasons why a chatterbait works so well is that is has a massive wobbling action, and it’s designed to be weedless. Allowing it to cut through grass and other types of structure easily.

If you haven’t experimented or thought of this lure as a big bass option, I would highly recommend giving it a try. Here are some chatterbait fishing resources to help get you started.

Best Chatterbaits
  • Evergreen Jack Hammer Chatterbait
  • Z-Man Project Z Chatterbait
  • Strike King Naked Rage Blade
  • Picasso Shock Blade
  • Picasso Undressed Shock Blade
Chatterbait Fishing Resources

Buzzbait

There is nothing more exciting than catching big bass on topwater lures. The buzzbait just might be one of the most exciting style of bass fishing there is. This is a noisy fast moving bait that will draw in nearby bass.

The fast movement of this bait will cause bigger blowups and more aggressive strikes. This is a great lure for when fish are in tight cover or at night. These lures are fairly weedless, so you can toss them in and around vegetation.

There is something about the buzzbait that produces big fish. I wish I could tell you the exact reason why but I do know that it can catch some big ones.

Here are some resources that I have put together to help you get started catching big bass on buzzbaits.

Best Buzzbaits
  • Quad Blade – D&M Slow Roller
  • Double Buzz – Brabec Double
  • Jackall Firecracker
  • Zorro Head Knocter
Buzzbait Fishing Resources

Big Spoons

When the fish are schooling one of the first lures a lot of anglers turn to is a spoon. A big spoon will often be your best chance at catching the biggest bass in school.

If you can find competitive fish that are in and around deep water, there is a great chance you can find a good spoon bite. They can also be a great way to catch big bass in local ponds as well.

Types of Spoons

There are surprisingly a lot of different types of bass fishing spoons. Here are the most common ones.

  • Casting Spoons
  • Slop Spoons
  • Jigging Spoons
  • Flutter Spoons

This lure really shines when the bass are suspend off of ledgers of structure over open water but it can also be applied to a variety of fishing situations.

All and all spoons are a great way to catch some lunker bass all year round and is something that I would recommend any angler try if they haven’t already.

Here are some helpful spoon fishing resources to help get you started:

Best Bass Fishing Spoons
  • Nichols Lake Fork Flutter Spoon
  • Lake Fork Flutter Spoon
  • Hopkins Shorty Spoon
  • Blade Runner Duh Spoon
Bass Fishing Spoons Resources

How to Catch Big Bass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK5ub48Fi7c

Best Big Bass Conditions

Although bass can be caught all year round in most places, there are certain times of the day and year where your chances of catching giants increase dramatically. Here are some of the best conditions for catching big bass:

  • Low light conditions
  • Pre-frontal conditions
  • Falling barometric pressure
  • Night fishing in the summer

Final Thoughts

Nothing gets me more excited in fishing than landing or helping someone else catch a big bass. There is nothing quite like it. In this article we have discussed the best bass fishing lures for catching big bass. I am confident that if you fish these lures, put in the time, fish at the right places and apply what you have learned that there is no doubt you’ll catch a lunker.  

Aaron Warner

Aaron Warner is an avid angler with over 15 years of experience. He has participated and won fishing tournaments all over the country and enjoys fishing for bass, trout, walleye and other species.

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