Blog

Updated for 2025 – This guide replaces our previous yearly roundups for 2020, 2021, and 2023.

🎣So, what bass lures do I actually use?

Choosing the best bass lures can make or break your fishing trip. Ever found yourself casting over and over with no takes? 

We’ve all been there, but don’t worry—this guide is going to help you fix that. By the end, you’ll have a much clearer idea of which bass lures work best in UK waters, no matter the conditions.

Bass are unpredictable, and picking the right lure is all about giving yourself the best possible chance of hooking one. From surface lures to soft plastics, we’ll cover everything you need to know to stock your tackle box with the perfect selection.

 And don’t worry if it feels like a lot to take in—there’s no need to overthink it. The best way to learn is by getting out there and fishing!

Section 1: understanding bass fishing conditions

Before you even think about which lure to use, you need to consider the conditions you’re fishing in. Bass are highly responsive to their environment, so factors like weather, water clarity, tides, and time of day all play a big role in whether they’re in the mood to bite.

Key Factors To Consider

• Weather Conditions: Overcast skies or bright sunshine can affect the fish’s activity levels. On a dull day, they may be more active near the surface, while bright, sunny conditions might push them deeper.

• Water Clarity: Clear water calls for natural-coloured lures that blend in with the local baitfish. In murky waters, you’ll want something brighter or with a strong profile to stand out.

• Tides: Tidal movement is huge in bass fishing. As the tide rises or falls, bass will follow the baitfish. Knowing the tide patterns can help you time your session for when the fish are feeding.

• Time of Day: Early morning and late evening are prime times for bass, especially in the summer months. If you’re fishing at night, different lure colours and styles come into play.

  
  

Don’t let all this overwhelm you. The best way to learn how these conditions affect your fishing is through experience. Keep it simple at first, and as you start to recognise patterns, you’ll adjust your lures and techniques accordingly. 

Bass fishing in the UK demands a versatile collection of lures, ready for any scenario the conditions might throw at you. Having the right tools for the job increases your chances of success, whether you’re targeting bass on the surface or diving deep. Let’s break it down:

Section 2: The Best Bass Lures For Uk Fishing

SURFACE LURES

Fishing with surface lures is about as thrilling as it gets. There’s nothing like watching a bass explode on the water, chasing your lure. Surface lures are best for calm, millpond-like conditions, and early morning or late evening when bass are hunting near the top of the water.

Top 5 surface lures

•  Xorus Patchinko 125: If you had one surface to choose from it would have to be the Patch 125, just awesome.
• Savage Gear Surf Walker: Casts like a missile and mimics a sand eel perfectly. Ideal for long casts and ‘walk-the-dog’ action.
• Tackle House Vulture: A favourite, especially in white. Its belly fin is unique—no one really knows why, but it works!
• Duo Realis Pencil: A versatile lure that works well even in tougher conditions.
• Xorus Frosty: Once you get the hang of its action, this one is a must-have for your tackle box.

The Retrieve

When fishing with surface lures, a slow, steady retrieve with gentle rod taps (the ‘walk-the-dog’ action) tends to attract those takes. But remember, the conditions need to be right—calm water, early or late in the day, or even a bit of cloud cover.

Surface lure fishing for bass has to be one of the most exciting ways to fish out there. Just casting your lure out, waiting for that swirl or tail slap, will get your adrenaline buzzing.

I have seen bass literally explode out of nowhere, taking my lure with them. If you check out our YouTube channel. You can witness this for yourself. Look at the clip on the intro to nearly all the videos. Click here to view.

Sub-SURFACE LURES

Sub-surface lures are your go-to when the bass aren’t hanging around the surface but aren’t too deep either. These lures are great for covering more water and tend to dive just below the surface, staying out of reach of snags while tempting bass to take your lure.

The great thing with subsurface lures like the IMA Komomo II is that you can fish in relatively shallow water, which is great for chasing the tide out.

You never know what time of the tide that a bass is going to chomp on your lure, that’s why it pays to take a wide selection of lures to cover all basses.

Top 5 Sub-surface Lures

• IMA Komomo II: Perfect for shallow waters, with a subtle, lifelike action.
• Tackle House Feed Shallow: Great for clear water and a personal favourite for its glow belly that makes nighttime fishing a treat.
• IMA Hound 125f Glide: Known for its casting distance and ability to dive a little deeper, this one’s a winner.
• Samson Shad: Simple design but deadly, especially in clear water or murky.
• Duo Tide Minnow 120 Slim: Great sub-surface bit of kit, this lure has been known to save the session when the bass are playing hard to get.

Subsurface lures let you cover ground quickly, so keep moving until you find where the bass are lurking. Try varying your retrieval speed—sometimes a slow, steady approach works, while other days they might want something more erratic.

Soft Plastic Lures

Soft plastics are incredibly versatile and one of the best options for UK bass fishing. These lures can mimic baitfish, crabs, and other forage. Paired with weighted or weedless hooks, soft plastics can be fished in shallow or deep water, giving you lots of options.

TOP 5 Soft Plastic Lures

Soft plastics are deadly when fished slowly, especially at night. Let them sink near the bottom, and retrieve with occasional twitches to mimic distressed baitfish.

• Savage Gear Sandeel: A must-have. This one’s been known to catch when nothing else works. 
• Megabass Dark Sleeper: Realistic and sneaky, especially good for fishing tight to the bottom. Keep it slow.
• Fiiish Black Minnow (Combo): Its weedless hook design means you can fish confidently over rough terrain.
• Skerries Eel: Very popular around the Channel Islands. The subtle action on this is irresistible to bass.
• Westin Sandy Andy: Durable and buoyant, great for surface presentations in shallower waters.

WEEDLESS LURES

Weedless lures are an absolute game-changer for fishing in rocky or weedy areas where traditional lures get snagged. Their hook design keeps them from getting tangled, making them ideal for those tricky spots where bass love to hide.

Top 5 Weedless Lures

• Fiish Black Minnow: mentioned earlier, but the weedless design makes it stand out when it comes to rough ground.
• Pirate Teaser 150: Great fished in strong tides over weedy rocky ground.
• Megabass Spindle Worm: The Spindle Worm is another great lure for fishing around structure and rough ground.
• Albie Snax: Tough and durable, fished dead slow at night, it’s a killer.
• Savage Gear Sandeel V2 Weedless: A must-have. This one’s been known to catch when nothing else working.

Weedless lures give you more freedom to fish areas that would otherwise be impossible, and bass love hanging around those spots. Just be patient and slow down your retrieve to maximize your chances of getting a hit.

Metal Lures

Metal lures are perfect when you need distance on your cast or when the bass are feeding deep. They’re great for windy conditions or when you need something that cuts through the water quickly.

Top 5 Metal Lures

• Savage Gear Surf Seeker: Has to be one of the most productive metals out there
• Dexter Wedge: This is a golden oldie but a timeless classic nevertheless.
•  ABU Toby: Probably one of the most popular metals out there, not just for bass.
• Tronix Wave Pirk: Excellent casting, especially for those windy days.
• Westin Salty: Casts a mile, and there are plenty of options for patterns.

When fishing with metal lures, a steady retrieve with occasional pauses or jigs can mimic injured baitfish, which bass find hard to resist. These lures excel when fishing deeper water or when conditions aren’t perfect.

Medium & Deep Diving Lures

When the bass are hanging out in deeper water, medium and deep diving lures are your best bet. These lures are designed to get down quickly and stay at the target depth, ideal for fishing in gullies or over submerged rocks.

Top 5 Medium & Deep Diving Lures

• Megabass Zonk 120: This is one of my all-time favourites. It dives deep, has a great action, and catches big fish. Just be careful—this lure can get snagged if the water’s too shallow.
• Rapala X-Rap: A classic that works well in deeper waters, with a strong diving action and a rattle that attracts bass from afar.
• Blue Blue Bloowin: Known for its versatility and range, this lure is great when bass are hanging deeper.
• Duo Tide Minnow: Perfect for medium depths and casts well. It’s an all-around performer.
• IMA Sasuke 120: A deep diver that’s become a favourite for many, great for working in rougher conditions.

When fishing with medium and deep diving lures, it’s all about finding the right depth. Bass tends to sit just above structure or along drop-offs, so you’ll want to get your lure down to where they’re holding. A steady retrieve with occasional pauses works well to imitate a wounded baitfish.

Section 3: Choosing Lures Based on Time of Day and Season

The time of day and season can make a big difference when it comes to bass fishing. The same lure that works at sunrise might be completely ignored at noon, and what works in the summer could be useless in the colder months. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to adjust your lure selection depending on the time and season:

Daytime Lure Choice

During the day, especially when the sun is high, bass tend to retreat to deeper water or take shelter around the structure. In these conditions, diving lures, soft plastics, and weedless lures work best.

• Clear Water: Natural-colored lures that imitate baitfish will be your best bet, especially in bright, clear conditions.
• Murky Water: Go for brighter colours, something with a bit of flash or rattle to catch the attention of bass in low visibility.

Nighttime Lure Choice

Nighttime fishing can be incredibly rewarding, but the lure game changes when the sun goes down. Bass rely more on vibrations and contrasts to locate their prey, so darker lures or those with a strong profile tend to work best.

• Clear Skies and Moonlight: Dark-colored lures like black or deep blue stand out against the sky, making them easier for bass to spot.
• Cloudy Nights: White or chartreuse lures are great choices when there’s little light, helping bass see the silhouette of your lure against the dark water.

Seasonal Considerations

• Spring and Summer: Bass are more active in warmer months, so surface and subsurface lures tend to perform well. Early morning and late evening surface lure fishing is especially productive during these times.
• Autumn: As temperatures start to drop, you’ll want to slow down your presentation. Diving lures or soft plastics fished near the bottom can help entice less active fish.
• Winter: Bass are less active in the colder months, so slower, finesse presentations are key. Soft plastics fished with a slow, steady retrieve tend to be most effective.

Adapting your lure choice based on the conditions will help you get more bites, no matter when or where you’re fishing.

Section 4: Special Lures and Techniques for Unique Scenarios

Different fishing spots demand different approaches, and the UK has a variety of environments that can challenge even the most experienced anglers. Whether you’re fishing off a rocky shore or in an estuary, having the right lures for the job will give you a serious advantage.

Rocky Shores

Bass love hanging around rocky shores, but these areas can also be a nightmare for snags. Weedless lures are ideal for this scenario because you can fish them confidently around rocks and kelp without worrying about getting stuck. Surface lures can also be highly effective when the tide is in and the water is calm.

Best Lures for Rocky Shores:

• Savage Gear Sandeel (V2 Weedless Version)
• Fiiish Black Minnow (Anything Weedless)
• Tackle House Feed Shallow
• Shallow-running lures like the IMA Komomo II

Estuaries

🎣 Weighted Soft Plastics

Weighted soft plastics like sandeels and paddle tails are great for getting down where the bass are holding. Match them with a jig head and bounce them slowly along the bottom, especially in moving water.

🎯 Jig Heads in Tide Flow

Jig heads come into their own when there’s some tidal movement. A slow lift-and-drop retrieve can work wonders, particularly around features like drop-offs or channel edges.

🌊 Medium and Deep Divers

Don’t forget diving lures for working mid-water or deeper marks. Just make sure you know the depth you’re fishing—there’s no point crashing a deep diver into a 2ft reef!

Section 5: Final Tips and Recommendations

Sometimes, no matter what you throw, the bass just aren’t biting—or even there. That’s when you’ve got to think like a hunter. It’s part of the game. Frustrating at times, yes, but also what makes it addictive.

Here are a few things that keep me on track:

• Try Different Retrieve Speeds: Sometimes slow and steady works; other times, a sharp, erratic action triggers a strike.
• Keep on the Move: If it’s dead where you are, move. Bass don’t sit still—why should you?
• Don’t Get Overwhelmed: You don’t need 50 lures in your bag. A few proven ones fished with confidence beats a tackle shop’s worth of maybes.

🎣 Top Tip from the Shore: When the tide’s pushing hard in an estuary, bass are on the move. Change your lure depth and cast angle as the tide shifts—it’s all about adjusting.

🌙 Night Fishing for Bass

Fishing lures at night can be magical, and productive. Use surface lures like the Patchinko when it’s calm, or go subsurface with something like a Komomo II when there’s a ripple. Keep noise and movement to a minimum, and let the lure do the talking.

Final Thoughts

Lure fishing for bass is a journey – some days are quiet, and others are unforgettable. Stick with it, stay mobile, and trust your instincts. I’ve blanked more times than I care to admit, but every cast is a lesson.

This guide gives you a starting point, but the real knowledge comes from getting out there.

Tight lines, and if you’ve got any favourite lures or tactics of your own, feel free to share them below or check out our other bass fishing blogs.