That’s because, of course, the best bass lures are seasonally and situationally specific ... In most scenarios, I’ll reach for the 5-inch version and fish it weightless, on a Texas rig, or wacky ...

This bait combines the best features of swimbaits and Senkos ... while the larger sizes are perfect for a wacky or Texas rig. My only gripe with these baits is they do tear easily.

Silver and gold Rat-L-Traps are dead ringers for juvenile menhaden—a.k.a. peanut bunker—which are a staple of the striped bass’s diet (check out our guide to the best baits ... to fish a dropshot rig ...

Soft plastic baits are great for catching smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass. Many soft plastics can be fished weightless or rigged for other effective techniques. But the endless profiles ...