Best Swimbait to Catch Bass

Bass comes in many different shapes and sizes. Averaging weights of up to 22 lbs and can measure anywhere from 15” to 32”, these fish can be quite the tough fighters. They can also be found in almost every freshwater resource in the United States. All of these make bass arguably the most popular game fish for sports fishing enthusiasts.  But as many variables factor in when maximizing efficiency, different anglers have different methods in catching them. There are many variations of rods, reels, and tackles that can be used in any combination in order to suit the needs of the angler. When talking about lures that can be used, swimbait is one of the most popular options. 

Swimbait was introduced during the 1980s as rainbow trout imitations that Southern California-located largemouth and striped bass were known to prey on. Today there are two types of swimbait, namely the hard-body and soft-body variations; hard-body being made of wood or plastic and soft-body, made out of rubber and softer plastic. Swimbait appeals to the bass’ sight as it takes advantage of looking like bait fish. Oftentimes these lures are best used in clearer waters. There are also differences in weighted and buoyant lures that work in deeper or shallower waters, respectively. 

Top 5 Best Swimbait for Catching Bass

1. Storm Arashi Glide Bait

Developed as a partnership between Arashi and pro bass angler, Brandon Palaniuk, these lures were made specifically to catch the biggest bass. This two-piece type glide bait weighs 3 ⅛ oz with a length of 7.5”. They come in four different colors, the oikawa mesu, rainbow trout, threadfin shad, and black silver shad. They can also accommodate two hooks. In terms of weight, they stand in the middle where they’re light enough to be thrown in long stretches of time and heavy enough to land in long distances. According to Arashi, these glide bait sinks at a rate of 0.4 feet per second. When reeling it in, it swims in an S-pattern.

2. Berkley Havoc Sick Fish Bait

As its namesake suggests, this next swimbait mimics a sick fish in the water. It’s considered a hard-body swimbait that is astonishingly realistic in design, coming in with meticulous details like textured scales, and a variety of lower fins. It also comes with a unique scent that attracts other fish. The Sick Fish bait comes in 6 different colors; namely, the chartreuse shad, ghost minnow, disco shad, Tennessee shad, light hitch, and clear bream, all of which appeal to different bass located in different ecosystems. Finally, they come in different sizes ranging from 3”, 4”, 5 ½”, coming at a modest price of $2.99 per pair, making it one of the cheapest yet effective swimbait out in the market.

3. Strike King Shadalicious Swimbait

The next swimbait is a soft-body variant with a lot of color variations. It specifically comes in 11 colors resembling different types of bait fish which are named KVD Magic, Sexy Blue Back Herring, and Chartreuse Shad, among many others. There are many ways to use the lure from rigging to either an open or internal jighead, and even a weighted hook. They also come in different sizes depending on the quantity of a single pack. Both the 3.5” and 4.5” sizes come in packs of 6, while the 5.5” and 6.5” come in packs of 5 and 4 respectively. Using the Shadalicious for use on an umbrella rig is also recommended. The Shadalicious, like the Storm Arashi, was instrumental in helping pro bass angler, Kevin Van Dam, in winning his 5th Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year.

4. Savage Gear 3D Line Thru Trout

This trout imitation is technologically different than the rest. Like the Strike King, this 3D Line Thru Trout bait is categorically a soft-body swimbait. Unlike the rest of the lures on the list, this one is based on a 3D scan of a hatchery trout. It is a representation of innovation in the sports fishing world, made up of nylon, line-thru soft plastic material. The lure comes in three sizes, all with different functions. The 3 oz lure is only for floating. Meanwhile, the 3 ¼ oz and the 3 and ½ oz are used for slow and moderate sinking, respectively.  Despite the variety of weight available, the 8” lure is the only size available. Another innovation this lure has is that it mimics the size and proportions of a hard-body swimbait while having the lightness of a soft-body lure. 

5. Spro BBZ- 1 Slow Sinking Swim Bait

Opposite to the above mentioned 3D Line Thru lure, this next swimbait is a hard-body body lure with key components like its tail and appendages being made out of soft-body material. Despite its tail being made out of a different material than the rest of the body, it’s colored well enough to match the rest of the lure. The Spro BBZ- 1 comes with 3 patterns to choose from, namely the trout, matte trout, and the Kokanee. It also weighs 4.5 oz and has a length of 8”, while coming with 2 treble hooks. It also comes with 3 different variations of its use, having a floating, slow and fast sink variation. Like the 3D Line Thru, it is sectioned into three parts that move accordingly to mimic a swimming fish. As it moves around the water, the lure makes an audible knocking sound. Going for $40, this hard-body swimbait is a great bang for your buck lure that’s on the lower end of hard-body models while being very durable.

Swimbait: Go With What’s Best

Featuring these five swimbait is only scratching the surface of the many models out in the market. The beauty of bass fishing is picking out what suits the area you’re fishing at. At the end of the day, it’s all about going out there and trying what works best. Bass reacts differently per area, and as common as largemouth bass is in North America, there are definitely near-infinite ways to prepare in catching them.