Best Bass Baits for March: Prespawn Picks From Cold to Warming Water

Our verdict

March Bass Bait Top Picks

Mike Iaconelli sums up March this way: “Up north, the water is still cold, and bass are in the pre-spawn phase, while down south, fish are either spawning or already post-spawn.” This guide keeps to the cold and prespawn side of that split. The baits that ranking March guides name follow that climb. Davy Hite reaches for jerkbaits and a No. 7 Shad Rap in high-40s water, Deep Dive’s guide turns to bladed jigs and squarebills past 50 degrees, and soft plastics take over as fish settle near the banks. This guide collects ten of those baits, each tied to March by a named source and linked at an exact size and colour. For rods, reels and line, browse our fishing gear guides.

Related guide: Best Fall Lures for Bass: Baits for Schooling Shad and Cooling Water

Picks: Rapala Shad Rap SR07, Rapala RipStop RPS09, Storm Original Wiggle Wart, Z-Man JackHammer, Bill Lewis ATV 1.5, Berkley Warpig, Strike King Premier Plus, Yamamoto Senko, Zoom Lizard, Buckeye Mop Jig

Compare the picks

Compare the 10 March Bass Baits

Size, weight and depth are each maker’s own figures unless the cell names another source. “March use” is the condition the cited guide names for that bait type.

How We Chose Baits for March Bass

What each bait had to show

• A named March source. A ranking March bass guide names the bait, or the exact bait style, for prespawn or cold-water bass.
• A bass use from the maker, its Amazon listing or the named March source (Rapala and Storm sell the RipStop and Wiggle Wart as multi-species baits; Zoom’s page names no species).
• Size, weight and depth from the maker, checked against the Amazon listing; “not published” where the maker gives none, and the retailer or listing named where we used one.
• An exact Amazon listing read on the day of writing: colour, size, stock and seller.

Where the March advice comes from, and how independent it is and overlap with our other bass guides

Where the March advice comes from, and how independent it is

Five ranking March guides name the baits here. Davy Hite’s column in Carolina Sportsman sorts his March rotation by water temperature; Hite is a former Bassmaster Classic winner, and the Amazon listing for the Buckeye Mop Jig credits his 2006 win with the bait. Deep Dive’s March guide groups baits by the 50- to 55-degree window. Louisiana Sportsman describes three March patterns without naming brands. Mike Iaconelli’s March list is by a Berkley-sponsored pro whose blog carries a sponsor shop, so we treat it as brand-linked. Tactical Bassin’s March list is a pick list with Tackle Warehouse links, not a written test. None is a lab test; each review’s Evidence line says what backs the pick.

Overlap with our other bass guides

Our early spring bass lures guide covers the same season from a lure-type angle and picks the JackHammer’s StealthBlade sibling; our winter bass lures guide links the same SR07 Shad Rap in a different colour; the 5 in Senko also appears in our pond bass baits and worm colour guides. This page keeps to late-winter and prespawn March water.

March Bass Baits: Detailed Reviews

Rapala Shad Rap SR07, Cold-Water Crankbait

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. Carolina Sportsman (Davy Hite): No. 7 Shad Rap, colour not stated.

Davy Hite, writing in Carolina Sportsman, names crankbaits as his top two March baits: “I love to fish a No. 7 Shad Rap, and a Rapala DT-6 or DT-10, depending on how deep the fish are.” He keeps the Shad Rap for the coldest water: “If the water temperature is in the mid-40s, the high 40s or the low 50s, that’s what I’m going to be throwing.” He fishes it when bass hold near bottom cover rather than suspend, and likes “crawfish colors: reds, browns, oranges.” The Crawdad SR07 was out of stock on Amazon when we checked, so we link Perch. Rapala builds the Shad Rap from balsa with VMC black nickel trebles.

Specs (linked: Perch, SR07, 2-3/4 in)

• Size and weight: 2-3/4 in, 5/16 oz (Rapala)
• Running depth: 5-11 ft (Rapala)
• Hooks: two No. 6 VMC black nickel trebles (Rapala)
• Price tier: $ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Rapala RipStop RPS09, Suspending Rip-and-Stop

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. Carolina Sportsman (Davy Hite): RipStop, size not stated.

Hite: “Jerkbaits really work better when the water is colder, so they’re great in early March, when we’re subject to have water temperatures in the high 40s and low 50s.” His jerkbait is the RipStop, “which can get down to about 6 or 7 feet,” in “shad and herring colors”; he does not say which size. Rapala lists the RPS09 at 3-4 ft and the larger RPS12 at 4-5 ft; we give both Hite’s figure and Rapala’s. Rapala says it stops “on a dime” and then “lifts its head with a super slow-rise.” The column’s cadence tip: start with “jerk-jerk-pause” and change it if fish you can see on sonar won’t bite. For more jerkbaits, see our jerkbait guide.

Specs (linked: Silver, RPS09, 3-1/2 in)

• Size and weight: 3-1/2 in, 1/4 oz (Rapala)
• Running depth: 3-4 ft; suspending (Rapala)
• Hooks: No. 6 and No. 7 VMC fine-wire trebles (Rapala)
• Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Storm Original Wiggle Wart, Deep Crawfish Crank

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Storm (maker page).

Deep Dive’s March guide lists the “Storm Wiggle Wart” among baits “capable of hunting a little deep along steeper banks and breaks,” and adds that “bright colors like reds, greens, and chartreuses provoke more attention in the prespawn.” It names no model or size; we link the Original Wiggle Wart in Brown Crawdad, a crawfish colour in line with Hite’s March advice. Storm describes “Side-to-side crayfish action” and a “Classic ‘wart’ rattle,” and lists 7-18 ft. Amazon’s live price was well above the list price on Storm’s site when we checked, and only a few were left.

Specs (linked: Brown Crawdad, V37, 2 in)

• Size and weight: 2 in, 3/8 oz (Storm)
• Running depth: 7-18 ft; floating (Storm)
• Hooks: two No. 4 VMC trebles (Storm)
• Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer 1/2 oz, Bladed Jig

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Z-Man (maker page).

Deep Dive: “The Z-Man Evergreen Jack Hammer is the go-to Chatterbait for many in the pro ranks.” It points to Takahiro Omori’s mid-February Bass Pro Tour win “in 50- to 55-degree water temperature” as proof that chatterbaits work on hard cover, not only grass; it does not say which model he used. Tactical Bassin’s March list names the “ZMan EverGreen JackHammer (1/2 oz)”, in Green Pumpkin Shad and Fire Craw; we link plain Green Pumpkin. Z-Man lists a “Gamakatsu heavy wire flipping hook,” a “double wire trailer keeper” and a “super thin, strong stainless steel blade,” and names largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass among its species. Our early spring guide picks the StealthBlade version, which uses a different blade; this is the original JackHammer. Sold by DepartureOutdoors on Amazon at the time of writing.

Specs (linked: Green Pumpkin, CBJH12-07, 1/2 oz)

• Weight: 1/2 oz (Z-Man; also 3/8, 3/4 and 1.25 oz)
• Blade: stainless steel; size not published (Z-Man)
• Hook: Gamakatsu heavy wire flipping hook (Z-Man)
• Price tier: $$$ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Bill Lewis ATV Squarebill 1.5, Shallow Squarebill

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Amazon listing and Tackle Warehouse (maker page unreadable).

Deep Dive’s March advice for “flat, shallow, stained water in 5 feet or less with hard targets like rock, stumps, laydowns, and docks” is a squarebill, and the “Bill Lewis’ ATV 1.5” is one of its listed choices. Tactical Bassin also lists the “Bill Lewis ATV 1.5,” naming Fire Truck Craw among its colours. The Amazon listing describes a “circuit board lip” that it says gives “a tighter wiggle compared to traditional squarebills,” a lip “designed to snap out of grass tops” and Mustad Triple Grip hooks. Size and depth come from Tackle Warehouse, a retailer. One customer review on Tackle Warehouse, which sells the bait, says, “The hooks come out of the package dull.”

Specs (linked: Fire Truck Craw, ATV 1.5)

• Size and weight: 2-1/4 in, 1/2 oz (Tackle Warehouse)
• Running depth: 3-6 ft (Tackle Warehouse)
• Hooks: Mustad Triple Grip trebles (listing)
• Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Berkley Warpig 1/2 oz, Lipless Flats Bait

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Mike Iaconelli’s blog (Berkley-sponsored, sponsor shop): Warpig, size not stated.

Mike Iaconelli’s March list puts a lipless crankbait second for northern prespawn fish, for “big flats or searching for scattered fish,” and “especially if there’s new grass growing.” He writes: “My favorites are the Berkley Warpig and the new Berkley Jack 6 Series.” Iaconelli is sponsored by Berkley, and his post links to a sponsor shop, so read this as a brand-linked pick. He names no size; we link the 1/2 oz, 3 in. Berkley lists “Loud sound and vibration,” a “Blunt nose deflects off structure” and a “Lipless sinking bait,” designed with David Fritts. This lipless bait is the March alternative to the Rat-L-Trap in our early spring and winter guides.

Specs (linked: Ghost Red Craw, 1/2 oz, 3 in)

• Size and weight: 3 in (listing), 1/2 oz (Berkley and listing)
• Action: lipless, sinking, rattling (Berkley)
• Hooks: two size 5 trebles, stainless split rings (listing)
• Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Strike King Premier Plus 1/2 oz, Double-Willow Spinnerbait

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Strike King (maker page).

Louisiana Sportsman: “spinnerbaits are at their best in March if the water comes up, gets some color to it, or if it is windy.” The writer uses “double willow-blades in sunfish or natural shad under normal conditions,” switches to double Colorado blades in muddy water, and likes “the half-ounce size best.” He names no brand; we link Strike King’s Premier Plus in its 1/2 oz willow/willow build, in Bleeding Shad. Strike King: “Double willow blades provide incredible flash and burn, giving you a great searchbait for aggressive bass,” with a skirt whose “Magic Tails” act as a trailer and a pre-rigged trailer hook.

Specs (linked: Bleeding Shad, PPL12WW, 1/2 oz)

• Weight: 1/2 oz (Strike King)
• Blades: double willow; sizes not published (Strike King)
• Hooks: main hook plus pre-rigged Sabre Point trailer hook (Strike King)
• Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Yamamoto Senko 5 in, Stick Worm

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Yamamoto (maker page).

Deep Dive lists the Senko among stick worms that “will catch fish in March,” and says their window “actually opens when bass begin ‘sunning’ during pre-spawn, basically suspending in the upper water column around dock floats, cables, laydowns.” Its March colours are “watermelon red, green pumpkin, pumpkin candy, or Mardi gras”; we link Green Pumpkin Magic. Deep Dive names no size. Yamamoto says the 5 in “sinks in water with a tantalizing side-to-side shimmy on a weightless rig” and lists wacky, weightless Texas, weighted Texas and Neko rigs. Our bass lure rigging guide covers the rigs.

Specs (linked: Green Pumpkin Magic, 5 in, 10 pack)

• Size: 5 in; 10 per bag (Yamamoto)
• Weight: not published
• Rigs: wacky, weightless Texas, weighted Texas, Neko (Yamamoto)
• Price tier: $ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Zoom 6 in Lizard, Carolina-Rig Lizard

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Zoom (maker page).

Louisiana Sportsman: “Carolina-rigged lizards are great baits for probing points and other structure at any depth leading into spawning areas.” The rig, he adds, “maintains contact with the bottom at all times.” He names no brand; we link Zoom’s 6 in Lizard, which Zoom calls “perfect for just about every situation and every rig that you use for soft plastics.” Sold by DepartureOutdoors on Amazon at the time of writing.

Specs (linked: Watermelon Seed, 6 in, 9 pack)

• Size: 6 in (Zoom); 9 per pack (listing)
• Weight: not published
• Rig: Carolina rig for this use (Louisiana Sportsman); Zoom lists no rig limit
• Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Buckeye Lures Mop Jig 1/2 oz, Big-Bass Mop Jig

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. Carolina Sportsman (Davy Hite): Buckeye mop jig, weight not stated; the brand’s Amazon listing credits his 2006 win, so not independent.

Hite: “I will fish a Buckeye mop jig anytime during March, depending on the cover and what bass are doing,” and calls a mop jig “a great, big-fish bait.” He matches the colour of local crawfish and adds “a Yamamoto Flappin’ Hawg” as the trailer. Hite does not name a weight; Louisiana Sportsman starts flipping jigs at 3/8 oz and goes heavier for thick cover, and we link the 1/2 oz in Peanut Butter & Jelly. The Amazon listing says the Mop Jig “burst onto the national scene” when Hite won the 2006 “Pride of Georgia” event, so his praise is not independent of the brand. The listing describes “hand tied heavy living rubber,” an “elongated skirt,” “Double Rattles and a Mustad Flippin’ Hook.”

Specs (linked: Peanut Butter & Jelly, 1/2 oz)

• Weight: 1/2 oz (listing; 3/8 and 5/8 oz also listed)
• Skirt: heavy living rubber, elongated (listing)
• Hook: Mustad Flippin’ Hook; double rattles (listing)
• Price tier: $ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Matching the Bait to March Water

The March sources sort baits by water temperature and by where the fish sit, so we do the same. For the full spring progression, see our guide to when to use each bass lure.

Mid-40s to about 50 degrees

Hite’s rule: a jerkbait such as the RipStop when fish suspend, a crankbait such as the Shad Rap when they hold near the bottom.

50 to 55 degrees and warming

Deep Dive says the “power-fishing window” opens as water rises “past the 50-degree mark and towards that magical 55-degree zone.” That window suits the JackHammer, the ATV 1.5 and the Wiggle Wart, with the lipless Warpig on grass flats and the spinnerbait on windy days.

Slower presentations as fish reach the banks

As the spawn nears, Deep Dive says bass become “a lot more ‘wormy'”: that is the time for the Senko, the Carolina-rigged lizard and Hite’s mop jig.

Frequently Asked Questions

The sources tie the choice to water temperature: a No. 7 Shad Rap or a jerkbait in the 40s (Hite), bladed jigs and squarebills past 50 degrees, then soft plastics such as the Senko (Deep Dive).

The March sources match baits to forage: Hite fishes shad and herring colours on his jerkbait and crawfish colours on his crankbaits and mop jig, matched to the crawfish he sees. Live bait such as nightcrawlers is a separate approach; this guide covers artificial baits sold on Amazon. Our how to put a worm on a hook guide covers hooking live and plastic worms.

For a soft plastic such as the Senko or the Zoom Lizard, the rig decides where the hook goes. Per our worm-hooking guide, a wacky rig goes through the middle, and a Texas rig goes in the nose and out the underside with the point buried. Our how to rig a bass lure guide walks through each.

Spring covers prespawn, spawn and post-spawn. This guide keeps to March prespawn water; our early spring bass lures guide covers the season by lure type.

None of our sources ranks one bait above all others for March. Louisiana Sportsman’s writer says bass this month “are susceptible to being caught on anything” and advises sticking “with the best lure for the conditions and for your confidence.”

The bottom line

Final Verdict

In water still in the 40s, start with the Rapala Shad Rap SR07 (check price) on the bottom and the Rapala RipStop RPS09 (check price) for suspended fish. As water passes 50 degrees, work the shallows with the Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer 1/2 oz (check price) and the Bill Lewis ATV Squarebill 1.5 (check price), crank steeper banks with the Storm Original Wiggle Wart (check price), and fish the Berkley Warpig 1/2 oz (check price) on grass flats and the Strike King Premier Plus 1/2 oz (check price) on windy days. For slower fishing near the banks, rig the Yamamoto Senko 5 in (check price) or the Zoom 6 in Lizard (check price), and pitch the Buckeye Lures Mop Jig 1/2 oz (check price) for a big-fish bite in cover, as Hite does.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.