Best Early Spring Bass Lures: 8 Picks Compared

Our verdict

Early Spring Bass Lures: Top Picks at a Glance

Early spring is the stretch when water is still cold and bass are moving from winter holding areas toward spawning water. Tournament pro Mike Iaconelli, on his own blog, defines the pre-spawn as “somewhere between the middle to upper 40 degree mark on up into the upper 50 degree mark”, and says the fish can be hard to find but are grouped when you find them. Douglas Outdoors’ pro Garrett Paquette says to fish very slowly, find the warmest water you can and consider downsizing to finesse presentations. Field & Stream asked 10 B.A.S.S. and Major League Fishing pros for their early-spring baits, and a r/bassfishing thread draws replies across spinnerbaits, crankbaits, lipless baits, jerkbaits, jigs and chatterbaits.

Related guide: Best Jerk Baits for Bass: 8 Picks Compared

This guide compares eight lures from seven brands, each linked as one specific size and colour. Size, weight, running depth and hook size come from the maker where its page could be read; where the maker and the Amazon listing disagree, or a figure is not published, the review says so. The lures are sorted by how they work in cold water: jerkbaits and crankbaits first, then jigs, a soft plastic and a swimbait. For a deeper-winter lineup, see our bass lures for winter comparison, which shares the Rat-L-Trap and Shad Rap families with this one.

Related guide: Best Northern Pike Lures: 8 Picks Compared

Compare the picks

Compare the Eight Early Spring Lures

All eight lures side by side. Weight, length, running depth and hook size are the maker’s (Rapala, Yo-Zuri, Z-Man, River2Sea, Googan Squad, Bill Lewis) unless a review says it comes from the maker’s Amazon listing or a retailer’s table. Pick 3 is in the same Shad Rap family as the Shad Rap in our winter guide. Tap a lure’s Specs button for the rest.

Detailed Reviews of the Eight Lures

Rapala Shadow Rap, Slow-Sinking Jerkbait

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Mike Iaconelli’s blog: Rapala Shadow Rap (size not stated; SDR11 linked).

Rapala describes the Shadow Rap as a jerkbait that kicks almost 180 degrees right then left, so it can be fished nearly in place with little forward travel, and that slow-sinks on the pause. Its specification table lists the SDR11 at a 4-3/8 in body, 7/16 oz, a running depth of 2 to 4 ft and three No. 6 hooks, with premium VMC black nickel round bend hooks. Rapala lists the SDR11 at $13.49 on its page. The Amazon listing agrees on length, weight and depth, and Amazon.com sells this Live Perch listing. The sources differ on how it behaves at rest: Rapala’s page lists it as slow sinking, while the Amazon listing title calls it suspending; we give Rapala’s term.

Mike Iaconelli’s blog lists the Shadow Rap and the Shadow Rap Shad as his suspending-jerkbait favourites and says they come in two models that dive to different depths; he does not say which one he means. He writes that if the water is on the cool side, maybe no warmer than 55 degrees, it is hard to beat a suspending jerkbait, that in cold water you should shorten and lighten the twitches and lengthen the pauses, and that jerkbaits are not very effective in muddy or heavily stained water because bass need to see them from a distance. Iaconelli is a Rapala-sponsored pro, so we grade his blog as a brand-tied source, not an independent test.

Specs (SDR11, Live Perch):

• Linked model: Rapala Shadow Rap SDR11, Live Perch, sold by Amazon.com
• Length / weight: 4-3/8 in / 7/16 oz (Rapala; Amazon listing agrees)
• Running depth: 2 to 4 ft, slow sinking (Rapala; the Amazon title says suspending); hooks: three No. 6 (Rapala)

Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap, Lipless Crankbait

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Field & Stream: Bill Lewis Original Rat-L-Trap (size not stated; 1/2 oz linked).

Bill Lewis’s own page blocked our reader, so the maker details here come from how its search listing reads: the Rat-L-Trap page describes a lipless crankbait with premium Mustad hooks, in 1/2 oz and 3 in size. A retailer’s size table, Tackle Warehouse’s, lists the 3 in as 1/2 oz and sinking. Hook size and running depth are not published in what we could read, and the maker’s list price was not published in what we could read. This is the 1/2 oz Lectric Silver listing sold by Amazon.com; our winter guide links the same 1/2 oz size in a different colour.

Field & Stream quotes Mosley, a Bassmaster Elite Series angler, saying “A Rat-L-Trap works year round but really shines during the pre-spawn when fish are getting ready to move on to the beds”; he fishes it around grass, rocks, flats and ditches and yo-yos it. MLF’s Boyd Duckett says a Trap is extremely effective in cold water, that he can use it from 2 to 8 feet and that he never just casts and retrieves one in late winter or early spring, but lets it sink and yo-yos it back slowly. Neither names a size. Game & Fish writer Blake Russell writes that a 3/8 oz lipless crankbait is a good option for shallower water while 1/2 oz versions are better suited for deeper water, which is the weight this pick carries.

Specs (1/2 oz, Lectric Silver):

• Linked model: Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap 1/2 oz, Lectric Silver, sold by Amazon.com
• Length / weight: 3 in / 1/2 oz (the maker’s page as shown in its search listing; a retailer’s table agrees)
• Running depth: sinks; no running depth published; hooks: Mustad, size not published
• Maker list price: not published in what we could read

Rapala Shallow Shad Rap, Shallow Balsa Crankbait

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Mike Iaconelli’s blog: Rapala Shad Rap (size not stated; Shallow Shad Rap SSR05 linked).

This pick is in the same Shad Rap family as the Shad Rap in our winter guide; it has its own slot because it is the shallow-running model in a small size. Rapala calls the Shallow Shad Rap the shallow-running version of the Shad Rap, balsa-built and “ideal for fishing skinny water”. Its table lists the SSR05 at a 2 in body, 3/16 oz, 3 to 6 ft and two No. 8 hooks, with the SSR07 at 2-3/4 in and the SSR09 at 3-1/2 in. The Amazon listing’s title says “Size- 2.5”, which disagrees with Rapala’s 2 in for the 05; we give Rapala’s figure. The page shows a price only for the SSR07, so Rapala’s list price for the 05 was not published in what we could read. Amazon.com sells this Perch listing.

Iaconelli writes that a pre-spawn crankbait should have a tight wobble, that the straighter the plastic lip comes off the nose the tighter the wobble, and that he wants balsa and a subtle bait, shying away from loud, heavy rattling lures at this time of year. He gives “the Rapala Shad Rap and the DT 6” as his two favourite choices, under a Shallow Shad Rap heading in his article, without naming a size. As a Rapala-sponsored pro writing about a Rapala bait, his blog is not an independent test. He also says to pick a lure that runs as deep as, or a little deeper than, the water you are fishing, which is why the 3 to 6 ft range matters.

Specs (SSR05, Perch):

• Linked model: Rapala Shallow Shad Rap SSR05, Perch, sold by Amazon.com
• Length / weight: 2 in / 3/16 oz (Rapala); Amazon’s title says “Size- 2.5”: sources differ
• Running depth: 3 to 6 ft, floating (Rapala); hooks: two No. 8 (Rapala)

Yo-Zuri 3DB Squarebill 1.5, Squarebill Crankbait

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Tackle Village: Yo-Zuri 3DB Series Squarebill Crankbait 1.5.

Yo-Zuri’s page describes the 3DB Crank 1.5 Squarebill as a 1/2 oz bait sized to mimic forage in a local lake, pond or river, with enough buoyancy to bump over laydowns and run over rocks, and calls it a shallow-water search bait. Its table lists the R1352 as floating, 2-3/8 in (60 mm), 1/2 oz, with a range of 3 to 5 ft and a wobbling, rolling action; the hooks are round bend black nickel, size not published. The page says the red eyes indicate a distressed baitfish “on which big bass key”. It shows no price, so Yo-Zuri’s list price was not published in what we could read. The Amazon listing, Real Brown Crawfish, repeats the 2-3/8 in size, and Amazon.com sells it with limited stock.

Tackle Village names this exact bait: “The Yo-Zuri 3DB Series Squarebill Crankbait 1.5 is a bait an angler can cast in and around heavy covers like docks, trees, stumps, and brush piles in the spring fishing season.” Game & Fish’s Blake Russell adds, about squarebills in general, that they begin to shine once water climbs to around 55 degrees, that the colder the water the slower the retrieve should be, and that bouncing the lure off cover is the key to strikes.

Specs (R1352, Real Brown Crawfish):

• Linked model: Yo-Zuri 3DB Crank 1.5 Squarebill R1352-RBCF, Real Brown Crawfish, sold by Amazon.com
• Length / weight: 2-3/8 in (60 mm) / 1/2 oz (Yo-Zuri; Amazon listing agrees on length)
• Running depth: 3 to 5 ft, floating (Yo-Zuri); hooks: round bend black nickel, size not published
• Maker list price: not published in what we could read

Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer StealthBlade, Bladed Jig

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Tackle Village: JackHammer StealthBlade, weight not stated.

Z-Man describes the StealthBlade as the ChatterBait made with EverGreen International for situations that call for a subtler presentation, with more subdued vibrating action and less flash for finicky fish, clear water, fishing pressure or bluebird skies. It lists 1/2 oz and 3/8 oz sizes and lists the 1/2 oz at $19.99 on its page. Running depth and hook size are not published there; the Amazon listing says the jig carries a custom Decoy fluorine coated hook, a clear polycarbonate blade and dual wire trailer keepers, and that it was designed with bladed-jig specialist Brett Hite. The 3/8 oz StealthBlade listings we checked had no offer, so this is the 1/2 oz size. DepartureOutdoors, a third-party seller, holds the buy box for this listing, with limited stock at the time of writing; the listing title abbreviates the colour as “GrnPumpShad”.

Tackle Village writes that “Z-Man’s ChatterBait JackHammer StealthBlade is easily the most popular style of chatterbait available today for a number of reasons”, and that it works from the pre-spawn through the late spring season. Its article does not name a weight, so we grade it as same series; we link the 1/2 oz. Our smallmouth guide links the standard JackHammer, a different line.

Specs (CBSB12-09, Green Pumpkin Shad):

• Linked model: Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer StealthBlade CBSB12-09, 1/2 oz, Green Pumpkin Shad (as the Amazon title abbreviates it), sold by DepartureOutdoors (third-party seller on Amazon)
• Weight: 1/2 oz (Z-Man; Amazon title agrees); length and running depth: not published
• Hook: custom Decoy fluorine coated, size not published (Amazon listing)

Missile Jigs Ike’s Mini Flip, Compact Flipping Jig

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Mike Iaconelli’s blog: Missile Jigs Ike’s Mini Flip in 3/8 or 1/2 oz.

Missile Baits calls the Mini Flip the brainchild of Mike Iaconelli and John Crews, with the weight centred around the hook shank and a compact body and angled weed guard for getting in and out of cover. It sells the jig in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 oz, one per pack. The page shows one price for its default selection, not broken out by size, so the maker’s list price for this size was not published in what we could read; it does not state a hook size either. Missile’s Amazon listing says the jig carries a custom 3/0 VMC hook and is meant for 14 to 20 pound line. BypassBait&Tackle LLC, a third-party seller, holds the buy box for this 3/8 oz Bamer Craw listing, with limited stock at the time of writing.

On his own blog, Iaconelli writes “My choice is a Missile Jigs Ike’s Mini Flip Flipping Jig in either the 3/8 or 1/2-ounce weight”, asks for a jig that is smaller and more compact than a traditional flipping jig with a short, neutral-action trailer, and fishes it slowly around isolated cover, weeds and wood, almost never hopping it. Because he co-designed the lure, we treat this as a brand source, not an independent test. His colour list (green pumpkin, brown, orange, black-and-blue) does not include the Bamer Craw we link.

Specs (MJMF38-BMC, Bamer Craw):

• Linked model: Missile Jigs Ike’s Mini Flip 3/8 oz, Bamer Craw, sold by BypassBait&Tackle LLC (third-party seller on Amazon)
• Weight: 3/8 oz (Missile; Amazon listing agrees); length and running depth: not published
• Hook: 3/0 VMC (Amazon listing); line: 14 to 20 pound (Amazon listing)

Googan Baits Bandito Bug, Creature Bait

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Field & Stream: Googan Baits Bandito Bug (size not stated; 4 in linked).

Googan Squad describes the Bandito Bug as a ribbed creature bait whose four flanged legs create a kicking action like a swimming crawfish or minnow, with salt injected into the body. It sells 4 in and 3.3 in sizes; the 4 in comes seven to a pack, and Googan’s tip is to Texas-rig it on a 4/0 flipping hook. Googan lists the 4 in at $5.99. As a soft plastic it carries no hooks and has no published weight or running depth. The Amazon listing for the Natural 4 in does not state the pack count in what we could read, so check it on arrival. Amazon.com sells it.

Field & Stream quotes Hamilton, a Bassmaster Elite Series angler: “I love the Bandito Bug because it’s a highly versatile soft plastic bait during the spring.” He Texas-rigs it with a 1/4 oz tungsten weight and a 5/0 flipping hook, pitches it around docks and shallow cover, hops it a few times and pitches again, and says most bites come on the initial fall. He also uses it as a jig trailer and on a Carolina rig. The article does not name a size.

Specs (GBB-NAT, Natural):

• Linked model: Googan Baits Bandito Bug 4 in, Natural (GBB-NAT), sold by Amazon.com
• Length: 4 in (Googan); weight and running depth: not published
• Rigging: Texas rig on a 4/0 flipping hook (Googan’s tip); Hamilton uses a 5/0 flipping hook

River2Sea S-Waver 120, Jointed Swimbait

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Field & Stream: River2Sea S-Waver (size not stated; 120 linked).

River2Sea says its S-Waver has a natural S-action swimming motion from a pin-and-tenon hinge and a soft PVC tail; with the rod tip held up it is a surface lure, and allowed to sink slowly the action continues under water. Its table lists the 120S at 15/16 oz, 4-3/4 in, hooks of River2sea black nickel treble #4 and #4, and a sub-surface action of 1 ft. River2Sea shows a price range across models rather than for the 120, so its list price for this size was not published in what we could read. The Amazon listing says “120” and 120 mm without a weight; a different 120 listing says 1 3/16 oz, which disagrees with River2Sea’s 15/16 oz, and we give the maker’s figure. DepartureOutdoors, a third-party seller, holds the buy box for this Abalone Shad listing, with limited stock at the time of writing.

Field & Stream quotes Pierson: “I like the S-Waver because it catches big fish, and I can use it as a search bait, too.” He casts it to shallower points, docks or trees leading into spawning pockets and bays, and across points in 5 to 10 feet of water, letting it sink to the bottom before a slow retrieve with at least two pauses and twitches. He does not name a size, and our pike guide links the larger S-Waver 168.

Specs (120S, Abalone Shad):

• Linked model: River2Sea S-Waver 120 (120S), Abalone Shad, sold by DepartureOutdoors (third-party seller on Amazon)
• Length / weight: 4-3/4 in / 15/16 oz (River2Sea); the Amazon title says 120 (mm)
• Running depth: sub-surface, 1 ft (River2Sea); hooks: treble #4 and #4 (River2Sea)

Matching Lures to Cold Water

Slow, quiet baits for colder water

Iaconelli says the colder the water, the shorter and lighter the jerkbait twitches should be and the longer the pauses, and Game & Fish’s Russell says the general rule is that the colder the water the longer the pause, up to 10 seconds in some conditions. Mystery Tackle Box, a tackle retailer, writes that a jerkbait’s pause is irresistible to pre-spawn bass in water below 50 degrees. Douglas Outdoors says to slow down your retrieve and downsize. Picks: Rapala Shadow Rap, Rapala Shallow Shad Rap, Missile Jigs Ike’s Mini Flip.

Covering water and bumping cover

Duckett, in Field & Stream, uses a Rat-L-Trap from 2 to 8 feet in cold water, and Northwest Fishing’s John Kruse says a lipless crankbait can be fished in cool water but really starts to prove itself at 55 degrees. Russell ties squarebills to around 55 degrees, and Field & Stream’s Fred Roumbanis goes to a swimbait as soon as water temperatures reach the mid 50s. Picks: Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap, Yo-Zuri 3DB Squarebill 1.5, River2Sea S-Waver 120.

Jigs and soft plastics for cover

Field & Stream’s Casey Ashley says at 55 degrees or below he targets deeper structure like rock, brush and deeper docks, and above 55 shallower cover, which is his guide, not a rule for every lake. Mystery Tackle Box’s Tim Baker adds that rocks, docks and other hard cover warm quickly in the sun, so bass gravitate there early in the year. Picks: Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer StealthBlade, Googan Baits Bandito Bug. For river fish, see our river smallmouth lures guide, and for plastic worms see our bass fishing worms comparison.

Related guide: Best Bass Lures for Beginners: 8 Picks Compared

How We Chose These Lures

The criteria we applied

• On brief: a lure that a bass guide, a tournament pro or a ranking bass forum thread names for early spring or the pre-spawn
• Several brands and a distinct action for each pick; the four same-family overlaps with other Outgearly guides (Rat-L-Trap and Shad Rap with the winter guide, JackHammer with the smallmouth guide, S-Waver with the pike guide) are labelled in each review
• One specific size and colour per pick, with the maker’s length, weight, running depth and hook size where published
• In stock on Amazon with a new offer; any seller other than Amazon.com is named in the review

How the sources are graded, what the r/bassfishing thread says and seller and stock checks

How the sources are graded

Each review shows an Evidence line. “Independently reviewed, exact model” means a guide names that lure and size; “same series” means a guide covers the lure family or does not name the size; “Retailer review (sells it), not independent” is the label we use for a source tied to the lure’s maker, here Iaconelli’s blog: for the Rapala Shadow Rap and Shallow Shad Rap (he is a Rapala-sponsored pro) and for the jig he co-designed. We used Field & Stream, Tackle Village, Game & Fish, Mike Iaconelli’s blog, Douglas Outdoors, Northwest Fishing and two Mystery Tackle Box articles (a tackle retailer, used for general advice only). Maker figures come from Rapala, Yo-Zuri, Z-Man, Missile Baits, Googan Squad and River2Sea pages, and from Bill Lewis’s page as shown in its search listing because the page itself blocked our reader. Where a page omitted a figure, the review says which listing the figure comes from or that it is not published.

What the r/bassfishing thread says

The thread, from February 2023 with 33 points and 16 comments, has the top reply, at 7 points, naming spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Other replies name lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits, chatterbaits, football jigs, Texas-rigged worms and squarebills, and several suggest crawfish colours. It names no single lure family as the answer.

Seller and stock checks

Outgearly’s policy accepts any Amazon seller, with Amazon.com and reputable sellers preferred. Five picks are sold by Amazon.com and three by third-party sellers (DepartureOutdoors twice and BypassBait&Tackle LLC) at the time of writing, and each review names its seller. Stock and prices change; the review box shows the live Amazon price. The Picasso Shock Blade Pro, which Field & Stream’s Aaron Martens picked, is not a pick: its listing could not be matched to the maker’s page.

Frequently Asked Questions

The sources do not agree on one. Field & Stream’s 10 pros named eight different baits, Tackle Village lists 14 baits, and the r/bassfishing thread names spinnerbaits, crankbaits, lipless baits and jerkbaits among others. Pick by water temperature, clarity and cover, not by one name.

These are the figures the sources give. Iaconelli defines the pre-spawn as the middle 40s to the upper 50s and says suspending jerkbaits are hard to beat in water no warmer than 55 degrees. Russell says squarebills begin to shine around 55 degrees. Kruse says lipless crankbaits can be fished in cool water but prove themselves at 55 degrees. Roumbanis goes to a swimbait once water reaches the mid 50s.

Douglas Outdoors says to consider downsizing and thinking finesse. Iaconelli says he wants a jig smaller and more compact than a traditional flipping jig and a short trailer. Hamilton uses a Texas-rigged soft plastic with a 1/4 oz tungsten weight.

Iaconelli says fish jigs slowly and almost never hop them; for jerkbaits he shortens and lightens the twitches and lengthens the pauses. Russell says the colder the water, the slower the squarebill retrieve and the longer the jerkbait pause. Duckett yo-yos a Rat-L-Trap slowly and says the bites come as it falls on a tight line.

The sources do not single one out for beginners. Iaconelli’s pre-spawn list opens with crankbaits, lipless crankbaits and suspending jerkbaits, but he does not frame any of them as a beginner pick. Our beginner bass tips cover rods, rigs and a simple first day.

The bottom line

Final Verdict

For cold, clear water start with the Rapala Shadow Rap (check price), add the Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap (check price) to cover flats and ditches, and keep the Googan Baits Bandito Bug (check price) for slow pitching around docks. Add the Rapala Shallow Shad Rap (check price) or Yo-Zuri 3DB Squarebill 1.5 (check price) for balsa and squarebill crankbait work, the Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer StealthBlade (check price) for pressured or clear water, the Missile Jigs Ike’s Mini Flip (check price) for a compact jig and the River2Sea S-Waver 120 (check price) for a jointed swimbait. Check the size, weight and seller shown in each review before you buy.

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.