Lure selector

Lure selector

Three things decide what to tie on: the fish you are after, what the water looks like, and the season. Set them here and the site's lure guide answers for that combination. Every answer changes the address, so it can be bookmarked or sent to whoever is meeting you there.

Bass / Clear water / Spring selected

Target fish
Water clarity

You can see the bottom

Season

Start with soft plastics.

Bass / Clear water / Spring

The widest range of lure options of any freshwater fish, and no single one wins everywhere. Soft plastics are the most versatile place to start.

What to tie on

  • Soft plastics Read the guide

    Texas-rigged worms, creature baits, and swimbaits. The most versatile option for bass, and it fishes the same across seasons

  • Crankbaits Read the guide

    Hard baits with a diving bill. Square bills run about 1 to 4 ft, medium divers about 5 to 10 ft, and long-bill deep divers 10 to 20 ft or more

  • Spinnerbaits Read the guide

    A rotating blade and a soft-plastic trailer, weedless by design, and the family to reach for when you want vibration in low visibility

  • Topwater Read the guide

    Frogs, poppers, and the rest of the surface lures, at their best in low, warm light

  • Jerkbaits Read the guide

    Rip, pause, rip. They make vibration in cool, slow water, which is what the pre-spawn window wants

  • Swimbaits Read the guide

    Paddle tails that hold a level in the column once you have counted them down

What they are doing
Fish move shallow to spawn, and they are territorial near their beds.
Colour and size
Green pumpkin Watermelon Motor oil Natural baitfish Smaller sizes. Fish can see well here, so realism matters. Subtle colours and slower retrieves beat flash, because fish in clear water are warier.
Retrieve
Shallow-running lures in smaller to medium sizes, fished slower early in the season, then faster and larger as the water warms.
Where to put it
Shallow water and the first warm flats. Topwater can be very effective while fish are sitting on nests.

The guide's own example Green pumpkin jig or slow-rolling crankbait

If nothing is biting

  1. 01 Change colour before you change lure type Swap a green pumpkin worm for a white or chartreuse one without changing the presentation.
  2. 02 Change retrieve speed before you change depth Slow down first. If you are already slow, try a stop-and-go rhythm instead of a steady pace.
  3. 03 Try a smaller size before you switch categories If nothing is getting bitten, the lure may simply be too large for what the fish are comfortable eating.
  4. 04 Reassess the water clarity Conditions change during the day, especially after rain. Runoff can make a natural colour invisible.
  5. 05 Check the zone, not just the lure The lure may be right and the depth wrong. Cover water with a search lure to find where the fish are holding.

Bass by water temperature

Temperature moves fish between those zones faster than the calendar does, and it is the one reading worth taking before you choose anything. These are the bands the site publishes, and what it says to do in each.

Below 50 F Winter mode

Behaviour
Lethargic. They hold tight near structure and will only eat something small and easy to catch.
Where
Deep water: flat bottoms, deep channels, and thick cover such as standing timber and brush piles.
Throw
Jigs, slow soft plastics on a Carolina or drop-shot rig, and blade baits with a slow wobble.
Move it
Slow down. Drag the bait along the bottom and let it sit, with long pauses.

50 to 55 F Pre-spawn awakening

Behaviour
Waking up and starting to feed, but still cautious.
Where
Transition zones: flats beside deep water, creek channels, and points that push out into the main lake.
Throw
Jerkbaits, buzzbaits, and slow craw baits on a Ned or Texas rig.
Move it
Pick the retrieve up a little, but do not rush it.

55 to 65 F Peak feeding window

Behaviour
Aggressive and willing to move, either pre-spawn or just after it.
Where
Main lake points, creek mouths, and shallow flats near deep water.
Throw
Medium-diving crankbaits, chatterbaits, and swimbaits.
Move it
Mix it up: loud and fast for the aggressive fish, then subtle and slow if they do not react.

65 to 75 F Optimal zone

Behaviour
High energy. They chase topwater and hit reaction lures without hesitation.
Where
Almost anywhere: shallow cover, points, flats, and transition zones.
Throw
Lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater frogs, and poppers.
Move it
Fast, aggressive retrieves. Make it noisy and create flash.

75 to 85 F Summer patterns

Behaviour
Still feeding, but more targeted. They want comfort rather than action.
Where
Deeper structure, shaded areas, drop-offs, and heavy cover, especially through the afternoon.
Throw
Texas-rigged plastics, punch baits for heavy cover, and deep-diving crankbaits.
Move it
Slow down and fish with precision. Work one spot instead of covering water.

Above 85 F Hot water

Behaviour
Not inactive, but they move to deeper, cooler water to regulate.
Where
Deep structure, cool-water inflows such as springs and creeks, and heavy shade.
Throw
Deep-diving crankbaits, slow-pitch jigs, and drop-shot rigs.
Move it
Vertical presentations and slow retrieves, early or late rather than at midday.

Where this comes from

Every answer on this page is read from a guide that CastDepth has already published. The tool sorts and applies it, and the reasoning stays in the writing.