Bass behavior changes with water temperature, food availability, and seasonal patterns — so the best lure is always the one that matches what bass are feeding on right now. This guide shows exactly which lures to throw in each season, how to work them, and what adjustments make the biggest difference.

Whether you’re a weekend angler, a tournament fisherman, or teaching someone new to fish, this seasonal approach will increase your consistency and catch quality.

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🌱 Spring (Early Spring → Spawn)

Bass Priority: Recover from winter + fuel up before spawning
Behavior: Slow metabolism early → aggressive feeding as temps rise

✅ Best Lures for Spring

Lure	Why it Works in Spring	How to Fish It
Twister Tad	Bass actively feed on real tadpoles this time of year	1.Slow hop & pause along the bottom 2.pull and pause. bass hit on the fall.
Squirm	Mimics dying baitfish and easy calories	Drag or jig slowly across bottom
16″ snake	looks like a big easy meal for bass getting ready for the spawn.	1.Slow bottom bouncing with weight (very effective early). 2. weightless work slow to look like a snake.
XL Tadpole	Big, easy meal during pre-spawn feeding	Cast near staging areas and secondary points. use as a jerk bait.

🎣 Pro Tip

Early spring is not about speed — it’s about matching vulnerable prey.
The 16″ snake and Twister Tad look exactly like what bass are already hunting in shallow warming water.

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🌤️ Post-Spawn to Early Summer

Bass Priority: Recover, regain strength, selective feeding
Behavior: Bass rest near shade and vegetation edges

✅ Best Lures Now

Lure	Why	How to Fish
6″ Weedless Worms & 6” 3-Hook Worms	Classic slow “confidence bait”	Texas rig → slow steady retrieve
Twister Tail	Year-round bass staple	Swim it or hop it depending on cover
Bass Witch (Summer Mode)	Provides an action nobody else is throwing	1.Increase retrieve speed — triggers reaction bites 2. wacky rig the unrigged version this time of year.

🎣 Pro Tip:

Increase lure movement speed as the water warms. In summer, presentation style matters more than shape.

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☀️ Summer (Grass, Pads, Surface, Shade Lines)

Bass Priority: Ambush feeding + energy conservation
Behavior: Topwater window opens — vegetation becomes key

✅ Best Summer Lures

Lure	Best Use	How to Work It
16″ Snake (weightless)	Work weedlines, pads, shallow grass	Glide → stall → twitch — bass crush the pause
Twin Tail	Can cross heavy vegetation where most baits fail	Drag across pads, let fall into holes
Dragonfly	When topwater bite is active	Slow flutter retrieve → pause → flutter
Weedless Tadpole	When weeds are too thick for the twister tad.	Swim or hop through vegetation pockets

🎣 Pro Tip:

The key in summer is vertical movement.
The best bites happen when the lure falls into openings in pads and grass.

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🍂 Fall (Baitfish Season)

Bass Priority: Gain weight before winter
Behavior: Aggressive chase feeding

✅ Best Fall Lures

Lure	Why It Works	Retrieve Style
Twister Tail	Matches minnows & shad schools	Fast retrieve + occasional drop
Bass Bucktails	Covers water fast + triggers chase response	Steady retrieve in open water
XL Tadpole / Squirm	Big easy meals when bass bulk up	Drag, hop, or swim slow along bottom

🎣 Pro Tip:

Fall is the search-and-trigger season.
Use the bucktail to find active fish, then switch to Squirm or Tadpole to boat the heavier ones.

Not sure which color works best in your lake or water conditions?
Check out our Soft Plastic Color Selection Guide to match lure color to clarity and light conditions.

need more help with your set up?

• Water clarity
• Vegetation (None / Sparse / Heavy)
• Depth you normally fish

We’ll recommend exact lure + color + retrieve settings based on what anglers have told us from around the country. just email at sales@delonglures.com or call 234-788-9308 with any questions.