When I first started bass fishing, anytime there was rain in the forecast I would decide to go fishing on a different day. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was missing out on some incredible fishing opportunities.
Sure, heavy rain can bring some unique challenges and make it tough to navigate through, but it can also activate the fish and make for some killer fishing days.
Now instead of shying away from rainy conditions, I look forward to fishing in them.
However, if you want to have success bass fishing in the rain, you’ll need to understand what the best lures to throw are and the key areas you should be targeting to ensure you have the most fun out there that you can.
In this post I share with you the best bass fishing lures to use when it rains, the key areas you should be targeting and some tips and tricks that will help you catch more fish in the rain.
Bass Fishing in The Rain
Before we talk about the best baits to use in the rain, lets first discuss the effect the rain has on the bass and where they can be located.
When it rains, runoff starts to occur in most lakes and reservoirs. This water that comes into the lake is carrying little insects and tiny food that baitfish just love to eat.
Not only that, but it also causes the water’s color to change and, in some cases, even heats up nearby water.
This also tends to add a tint of color to the water making these areas even more attractive for the baitfish.
Why is this important? When the bait fish head to these areas, the bass aren’t far behind. If you can find the bait fish, you’ll find the bass.
Here are some of the key areas to target in the rain:
Areas to Target
- Feeder creeks
- Points
- Drains
- Ledges
- Anywhere with current
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.
Best Bass Fishing Lures in The Rain
Selecting the right bass fishing lure in the rain is critical if you want to maximize your chances of catching fish. So, what are the best lures to use for bass in the rain?
The best bass fishing lures to use on a rainy day are going to be the ones that allow you to cover water, can get to those hard to reach places and excel at trigger bass into striking.
Here is a list of the top 5 bass fishing lures to bust out when you are faced with rainy conditions:
- Topwater Lures
- Spinnerbait
- Chatterbait
- Crankbaits
- Swimbaits
Topwater Lures
Fishing in the rain can be an awesome time to catch bass. One of my favorite ways to catch them in the rain is with topwater lures.
The combination of the cloud cover impacting light penetration and the rain breaking up the surface can make for a killer top water bite.
These conditions are perfect for fast moving baits as the bass become less timid and feel more comfortable roaming around and feeding.
There are a ton of different topwater lures out there and they all have their time and place. For me, I like fishing buzzbaits, poppers, frogs, and whopper ploppers in the rain, but there are a lot of great options out there.
In my experience topwater lures really shine when there is a light to moderate rain, anything above that I’ll switch to something else like a spinnerbait or chatterbait.
Here are some of my favorite topwater lures that can help you catch more bass in the rain.
Best Topwater Lures in the Rain
- Whopper Plopper
- Buzzbait
- Frog
- Popper
- Spooks
Spinnerbaits
One of the best and most popular bass fishing lures to use in the rain is a spinnerbait. This lure has been catching bass in windy and raining conditions for decades and is still regarded as one of the best lure out there.
There are two primary blade options that I use when fishing a spinnerbait, a double Colorado blade and a double willow blade.
The Colorado blade creates more vibration in the water and is great when you need a louder lure to grab the fish attention. I like to use this style of spinnerbait in murky or stained water.
The willow blade has more of a tear drop shape to it. This style of spinnerbait is great in clear water situations or when you need a fast retrieve.
The willow blade often gives out more of a flash as well which can work great in overcast and rainy conditions.
Spinnerbaits are a versatile lure that will allow you to get up shallow and fish heavy cover in the rain. If you aren’t throwing a spinnerbait in the rain, I would highly recommend giving this lure a shot.
Here are some of my favorite spinnerbaits:
Recommended Spinnerbaits
- Strike King Finesse KVD Spinnerbait
- War Eagle Gold
- River2Sea Bling
- Terminator T1
Chatterbaits
The chatterbait, also known as a bladed swim jig or vibrating jig is another killer bass fishing lure that works great in rainy conditions.
The chatterbait is most effective when the bass are chasing up shallow, making it an ideal bait for when a storm rolls in.
What makes this lure so effective in the rain is the vibration of the blades. You get all of the benefits that you would fishing with a jig but you add a unique vibration making this a deadly combo.
My favorite place to fish a chatterbait is in submerged grass. You can fish it just like you would a lipless crankbait but it’s a lot more weedless.
There are several different ways you can fish a chatterbait from a slow roll to a snap retrieve, I like to mix it up until I can find one that the bass will respond to.
The chatterbait is the perfect lure to throw on a rainy day but it often gets overlooked by a lot of anglers. The next time your faced with some stormy conditions try throwing a bladed jig, you’ll be happy with the results.
Here are some of my favorite chatterbait/trailer combinations:
Recommended Chatterbaits
- Evergreen Jack Hammer Chatterbait
- Z-Man Project Z Chatterbait
- Z-Man CUSTOM Chatterbait
- Picasso Shock Blade
Best Chatterbait Trailers
- Yamamoto Cowboy
- Strike King Rage Trailer
- Yamamoto Zako Swimbait
- Yamamoto Swim Senko
- Keitech 4.8 Fat Swing Impact
Also for more detailed information about fishing a chatterbait check out this article by tacklescout.com.
Crankbaits
If you haven’t noticed already I’m a big fan of power fishing when rain is in the forecast. One of the best ways to power fish in these conditions is with a crankbait.
There are a ton of different styles, sounds, depths and types of crankbaits out there. They all have their time and place but for me a lipless and a square bill are the best crankbaits to use in the rain.
As far as colors go, if I am fishing in clear water I’ll go with a ghost or a white colored crankbait. In stained or muddy water, I’ll go with a chartreuse or dark colored crankbait and throw one that has a nice rattle to it.
Anytime there is grass go with a lipless crankbait, this will outperform pretty much any other lure. If you are fishing in a creek or shallow on a point or bank, then a square bill will be tough to beat.
Here are some of my favorite crankbaits to use in rainy conditions:
Recommended Crankbaits
- River2Sea Tactical DD Crankbait (best in cold water)
- Strike King 6XD
- Megabass Deep Six
- Norman DD22
Swimbaits
If you are bass fishing and haven’t thrown a swimbait, now is the time to start. Swimbaits are a phenomenal lures that can absolutely load the boat with bass in the rain.
There are so many different types of swimbaits to choose from that it can be hard sometimes to decide which one is right for you.
There are both hard swimbaits made out of wood, plastic and other materials and soft plastic molded swimbaits. They both come in a variety of sizes and colors with each having its own unique action.
Hard swimbaits for me are ideal when covering big areas such as points, flats, humps and anywhere else big bass tend to roam. The drawing power of these baits can be incredible.
Soft plastic swimbaits are a lot more versatile, they are some that are great for slow rolling in big areas and others that are designed more to be fished in heavy cover.
Swimbaits are primarily known for being a clear water bait, but you can also have success with them in stained and muddy water as well.
The life like appearance and subtle action and drawing power is what makes the swimbait one of my favorite baits to throw, especially in the rain.
Recommended Swimbaits
- Osprey Tournament Talon
- Keitech Fat 6″ and 7″
- Huddleston Swimbaits
Tips on Bass Fishing in the Rain
Go Topwater
The best way or at least my favorite way to fish when it rains is with topwater lures. Rainy days are some of the best days to fish with a topwater lure and you can use them all day long. With the sun being blocked by the clouds and the surface area being broken up, you can’t go wrong with a topwater lure.
Find Drains
One of the best areas to target bass when it’s raining are drains or anywhere there is water coming in. This runoff brings in fresh nutrients into the water and attracts baitfish and bass. If you can find water coming in that is relatively clean even better, this will be a great area to catch some bass.
Be aggressive
In a lot of cases the rain can really trigger bas into biting. With the sun gone and the cloud cover all around bass tend to roam around more, and they become more aggressive. Take advantage of this and use lures that will allow you to cover water and catch fish.
Be Safe & Gear Up
Fishing in the rain can be a great time to catch bass. However, your primary focus should be staying safe. Make sure that you have all the proper rain gear and that you be careful out there as you are fishing through a rainstorm.
Bass Fishing in the Rain FAQ
Do bass bite when it’s raining? Yes, bass will bite when its raining. In fact, one of the best times to fish for bass can be when it’s raining. During rainy conditions bass tend to roam around more and will be more aggressive resulting in more bites.
What lures to use for bass in the rain? The best bass fishing lures to use when it’s raining are: frogs, buzzbaits, other topwater lures, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and chatterbaits.
Final Thoughts
If you have been fishing for a while you have probably ran into a few rainy days here and there. The rain can be a great thing when it comes to bass fishing. The rain creates current, brings in nutrients and breaks up the surface area – which can all help activate the bass bite.
The next time it rains, instead of heading home or not going out in the first place, I would encourage to grab a topwater lure or a spinnerbait and hit the lake for some great fishing.
I hope you have learned a thing or two about bass fishing in the rain and that this information helps you catch more bass. Best of luck out there.
Tight Lines!