As exciting fishing experiences go, lure fishing for bass comes pretty high up.
There’s no better feeling than watching a big-mouth bass tear into a lure swimming on the surface.
I really want to help you share the excitement, so today, I will go through some of the best bass lures for pond fishing and show you a few lures in my own box.
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
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Buying Guide to Bass Lures for Pond Fishing
The hardest part about choosing good bass lures for ponds is that there is so much variety! Knowing what to choose and what to avoid can be a little fraught.
So, here’s the answer.
This is what I look for when I am choosing the best bass lures for pond fishing.
Movement
Sure, you could go for a standard spoon or jig… But that’s just a little vanilla.
Why not take advantage of all the great technology out there? Nowadays, you can find lures that are practically indistinguishable from the real thing.
Want to know what’s so great about them?
It is all about the swimming action. Generally, you’ll have more success if you choose a lure with as much movement as possible.
Anything with a flappy tail, kicking legs, a wobbling action, or a spinning blade will help you catch fish! If you can find a lure with all of the above, then you are on to a winner!
Color
Listen.
I’m not going to tell you a particular color to go for.
Why?
Because ‘the best color lure’ varies daily. I’ve spent the week catching on green, only to come the next day, and the bass won’t go near it.
But what I will say about lure color is this…
Make sure you take a good selection. That way, if the fish seem to be turned off a certain color, then you can simply tie on a different color lure and see if you can tempt them.
There are tried and tested colors, so make sure you have a few of these in your box:
- Greens (particularly chartreuse)
- Black lures
- Silver/Fish colored lures
- A white lure
- Bloodheads
Weed Free?
If you are fishing around ponds, you will already know that there is a distinct possibility of encountering snags.
Especially in the summer, you’ll find that ponds accumulate more weed than a 1960’s hippy convention.
You’re going to have two options.
1) Don’t fish (yeah, right).
2) Deal with it.
I’m all about option 2… And to do that, I fish with weed-free lures.
However, the best bass lures for mossy ponds will have a feature or two well worth looking out for. Either the hook sits on top of the lure’s body, or, in the case of soft plastics, you can sometimes bend the body and cover the hook point.
Frogs and bass love weeds. Why not take advantage? Check this out… Exciting or what?
Weight?
This is a biggie.
If you can’t cast the lure to where the fish are, it doesn’t matter how good it looks.
It just isn’t going to happen.
Pay careful attention to the weight of the lure. What dictates the optimum weight is your bass fishing rod and reel setup. Go too heavy, and you’ll overstress your rod, go too light, and you’ll struggle to get any distance.
You’ll tend to find the optimum weight for lures is around half an ounce, but check what your rod is rated to cast.
Cost
We don’t all have money to burn. Lures can become surprisingly expensive, and there’s a good chance you won’t buy just one.
Keep an eye on the price.
The way I look at it is to consider how many fish I will catch. Brands like Rapala aren’t a budget option, but they do tend to catch more fish, so in my opinion, they are worth it.
There are countless types of lures. If you want to know your shads from your plugs, I’ve got a detailed guide right here.
Top 6 Best Bass Lures for Pond Fishing 2024
RUNCL Topwater Frog Lures
Aside from fish, what do you tend to find in a pond?
The answer?
Frogs!
Remember how I talked about movement?
This is what I mean.
These lures, as the name would suggest, are designed to be fished in the top layer of the water. You have several options, go for realistic swimming ‘legs’ or pick the option with colored rubberized streamers.
As to which is best?
Ask the bass. Both will catch fish, and big ones at that.
One great feature I love is the fact that the hooks point upward. This keeps them well clear of moss, weed, and other detritus that would normally foul up your lure.
Pros
- They are available in a range of colors.
- They look pretty realistic.
- They should be really durable.
Cons
- If the bass aren’t eating frogs, you are going to have to change it up.
- The hooks are barbed. I can imagine these are fiddly to unhook.
Takeaway
Want the bottom line? These work and they work well! Sure, they might take up a bit of room in your box, but when you are fighting an 8lb Bass, are you going to care? Some of the best bass lures for summer pond fishing, hands down.
Rapala Original Floating Minnow
Sometimes you just want something that is a proven bass catcher.
You won’t go wrong with this.
Rapala has been in the game for as long as I can remember. Most hard plastics you’ll buy? Yeah, chances are they are a copy of something by Rapala.
This minnow is super durable and looks pretty realistic.
Remember how I talked about taking a selection of colors? You’ve got so many options right here. Whether you want to mimic a tiny trout fry or something more generic, Rapala has produced a whole range, both in terms of color and size.
My advice to you is to remove the middle treble. You’ll save time when fishing as they clutter up your box less, and it also makes unhooking your fish so much kinder and easier.
Pros
- One of the greatest bass lures of all time.
- Super durable construction from a trusted brand.
- Great variety.
Cons
- The main one? The cost. A box full of these won’t leave you with much change.
Takeaway
Listen, if you want quality, then you are going to have to pay for it. This lure is great as it is available in various colors, sizes, and casting weights. Go on, treat yourself. It’ll be well worth it!
Frog Soft Swimbait
I like frogs so much that I’ve featured some more.
What drew my eyes to these was the color and look. They look supremely realistic. The manufacturer has been really clever in their choice of body materials. These are made from really durable PVC.
That’s a good thing…
Bass smash these really hard.
The frogs feature little spinning feet to the rear of the lure. As they are pulled through the water, they make a real commotion. I’m really impressed by the size of these lures and the attention to detail.
At 13g, they are just the right weight to cast on a light spinning rod too!
Pros
- Super realistic looks.
- Very durable.
- Weed-free design.
Cons
- Just the color. Don’t get me wrong, the natural look works. But when it doesn’t, you are out of options.
- Frogs aren’t a year-round bait, so don’t expect these to work in winter.
Takeaway
Bass love eating frogs. If you’ve timed your session right, then these can be an absolutely lethal lure. You won’t need a box full. A couple should do it!
Rapala Jointed Shad Rap
Injured fish get no mercy from hungry bass. In fact, bass will go out of their way to take advantage of a sick or injured fish.
This is what makes this lure so effective.
It is the ideal choice when the bites are a little slow. The hinged body wriggles and causes the lure to swim erratically in a manner that any predatory fish will find hard to resist!
This is a great lure if the fish are down deep. The substantial diving vane on the front allows this lure to penetrate really deep.
I particularly like the different variations in color. For example, fire tiger can work exceptionally well on bright days.
And it isn’t just about looks.
The jointed body is hollow and includes a substantial bead. When pulled through the water, this emits a rattle. This is like a dinner bell for hungry bass.
Pros
- For the money, one of the best lures on my list.
- Ideal for cloudy conditions or bass fishing at night!
- Realistic finish.
Cons
- Over time you might find that the double joint starts to show signs of fatigue.
Takeaway
Shad raps are one of the most effective bass lures around. You should be able to feel the difference in quality between the Rapala version and fake imitations. This is made with quality parts and should be pretty durable.
Soft Googan Baits with Lure Hooks
Listen.
I know that not everyone wants to spend fortunes on lures. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t catch fish.
Check these out.
For the money, you are getting a lot of bang for your buck. With 10 lures per pack, they are really good value.
And here’s the thing.
They look pretty realistic, and the bass will love them. If you are fishing in weedy ponds, then these are ideal. The hook point is upward facing, keeping the lure clear of snags.
I really like the lifelike 3D eyes, and the rubberized paddling tail looks just like a tiny baitfish running for its life.
Pros
- With 10 in a pack, that’s good value for money.
- Various colors give you lots of options.
Cons
- While they will last a while, eventually rubberized lures tend to get damaged.
- They are very lightweight so won’t cast well into the wind.
Takeaway
I always take a pack of these as a good option if my more traditional lures aren’t working. It’s a cheap and easy way to work your way through a few colors until you discover what works.
Megabass Dark Sleeper Swimbait
So, I took all of my criticisms of the above soft baits and tried to find an answer.
This is what I came up with.
These swimbaits offer lots of good stuff.
Such as?
A paddling tail, 3D eyes, and a lifelike appearance… the key difference is that they are pretty big and heavy. As a result, they are a good all-rounder and are much easier to cast.
When lure fishing, you need a lot of variety. These lures are the answer. My personal favorite is ‘hanahaze’, which looks a little like a perch fry with its green body and orange fins. (I suspect it is designed to look like a baby bass… Yes, they are cannibalistic!)
The standout feature of these lures is hidden. The laser sharpened hook is hidden within the body, making it my go-to solution when I try to avoid getting snagged up on weeds.
Pros
- An ideal lure for crawling bottom features.
- Lifelike movement and appearance.
- Great casting action.
Cons
- For soft plastic, it isn’t as cheap as I would like.
Takeaway
I can’t tell you how much I love these lures. If they were only a few dollars cheaper, I would say they were absolutely perfect.
But, aside from the price, they pretty much are. You won’t find a more effective bass lure.
So, get a couple of colors and give them a try, you won’t be disappointed!
Summary
So, there you have it, 6 of my best bass lures for pond fishing. Go for something that looks realistic, has plenty of movement, and is weed-free.
From then on, it’s up to the fish as to whether they take it or not.
If you are struggling with bass, why not have a try at catching catfish on ponds instead? What’s your ‘secret weapon’ when it comes to bass lures? Let me know in the comments.