Finding the best swimbaits for bass in spring can be difficult. There are hundreds if not thousands of soft and hard baits to choose from as well as countless brands of fishing rods. What’s worse is finding a swimbait that doesn’t break the bank! Rainbow trout, shad and bluegill are commonly foraged by big bass in spring, which allows for a ton of options. However, many of the baits on the market run north of $100!
Some of the swimbaits are so effective that retailers can’t keep them in stock. But the truth is that beginner baits that are affordable can be just as effective as their pricey counterparts. You don’t need to run out and burn a whole in your wallet just yet. I’ve narrowed down to a list of affordable swimbait lure that run naturally through the water with alluring action that get bit. Check it out and give them a try!
G- Ratt’s Sneaky Peet Glide Bait
The Sneaky Pete is designed for premier action and life-like appearance. It comes equipped with swivel hooks, changeable tail, and a rattle system. It’s easy to use and versatile and perfect for new anglers to try out. You can do a walking-cadence, flip it backwards, let it sink, all with little effort. It’s a perfect glide for beginners and seasoned anglers. Whether you’re bass fishing for large mouth, stripers, or other game fish, the Sneaky Pete should be part of your arsenal. It performs well at both slow and fast retrieve speeds, making it perfect for various fishing conditions across North America. The high-quality build ensures durability, even after repeated use, while the lifelike paint job holds up well in harsh environments. Available in a range of colors, it’s easy to match the local forage.
Best thrown on 7’9 -8’0 heavy power fishing rod with 24-30lb fluorocarbon fishing line. Some anglers will use braid as a main line but be aware that braid can result in a backlash easier than fluorocarbon.
Keitech Fat Swing Impact 2.8
A finesse soft plastic swimbait on a jig head can be deadly in spring as bass begin feeding up before spawning. The Fat Swing Impact 2.8 has a unique, ribbed body that mimics the movement of small baitfish. Its wide paddle tail produces a smooth, swinging action in the water, creating vibrations that draw fish in. This tail action, even at slow retrieve speeds, makes the bait highly effective in different fishing conditions, including colder water when fish are less aggressive. Its compact size makes it suitable for finesse presentations, and it can be used on light tackle, which is a plus for anglers targeting finicky fish.
This bait excels in a variety of fishing techniques, including Texas rigs, drop shots, and even on a small jig head. The compact size allows it to be presented in a subtle, realistic way, making it ideal for pressured fish or when you need a smaller profile. Whether you’re fishing in shallow or deeper waters, the Keitech Fat Swing Impact 2.8 performs well, making it a must-have in any tackle box for finesse fishing applications.
Savage Gear Magnum Shine Glide
If you like throwing glide baits on a heavy swimbait rod, the Magnum Shine is a great, hard body swimbait for spring.  One of the standout features is the gliding action itself — it’s incredibly smooth and natural, which is key for tempting larger bass and other predator fish. The bait can be worked with a slow, steady retrieve or with pauses to create erratic movements, making it an incredibly versatile tool for both active and passive fish. Made from high-quality materials, the lure is built to last, even after repeated use. The joints are solid, and the bait’s paint job is detailed and resistant to chipping, even when used in harsh conditions. Whether you’re casting it over rocks, submerged structure, or through heavy cover, you can expect the Magnum Glide to hold up. Check the full review of the Magnum Shine Glide.Â
Best thrown on an 8′ heavy swimbait rod that can handle at least 4 oz of weight with 24-30lb fluorocarbon or braid to leader.
Best Affordable Swimbaits: Huddleston Deluxe
Huddleston’s are the best swimbaits on the market today (if you’re targeting giants, that is). Perfected in Southern California by legendary trophy angler Butch Brown, these giant soft swimbaits have impeccable detail and a robust body profile that isolate large bass on your home lake. With a wedge style tail, these lures are best thrown in colder water when bass are less active. Anglers will slowly creep the bait along the bottom providing big fish a calorie-rich meal. But you can fish this bait yearlong in lakes that stock trout. Fish it around boat docks, marinas, and creek channels. The body detail on this lure is unrivaled by any big swimbait. Each one is hand painted they have a variety of different base colors to match the trout in your home lake. Huddelston produces a variety of models ranging in weight length, and color.
Best thrown on a medium heavy or heavy power swimbait rod with fluorocarbon.
Bacca Burrito Swimbait
The Bucca Burrito swim bait has a reputation of drawing in big fish. It has a body type that imitates shad and comes in a variety of colors perfect for all environments. Â The weight of this lure is designed to keep the bait deep in the strike zone. This is the heavy hitter you throw on when you’re targeting that 10 – 20ft depth, which is perfect for offshore, suspending bass. Try fishing it around ledges, rock piles, and deep-water humps. Use colors that pop out like the tactical chartreuse for stained water and natural colors when clear.
Best Affordable Swimbaits: River2Sea S Waver
The River2sea S Waver is perfect in clear water where trout are stocked. But it excels with imitating most bait fish as it has premier body detailing and good action. It’s a slow sinking glide and easy to twitch side to side with your reel handle, which makes it a great beginner’s glide bait. You can fish it fast or slow and it saunters well from side to side. Its durable with a strong treble hook design. The fall rate and subsurface action is perfect throwing around boat docks, fallen trees, logs, and grass lines. The lure comes in a 5/16 oz, 1 5/8 oz, and 3 3/8 oz. Â It has solid hardware and hooks and good body detailing which makes it one of best baits for the price. If you’re new to glide bait fishing, the s waver is a great place to start.
Best swimbait rods:
S Waver 168 – Dobyns Fury Series 795
S Waver 200 – Dobyns Fury Series 805
Best Affordable Swimbaits: Megabass Magdraft
The Magdraft is one of the best bass lures with size and versatility to catch bass in almost any environment. You can choose from sizes that range from a six-inch model that can be skipped around docks on lighter tackle. You can also grab an eight-inch model designed for heavy gear as well as 10-inch bait for the bruisers of your lake. The Magdraft emits a thumping action with a primary and secondary body and tail movement. You can trigger fish of all sizes strike using a medium-slow retrieve. The greatest advantage is the drawing power – bass of all sizes will follow the seductive movements of the Madgraft for several yards. This allows anglers to locate bass and return with a different presentation such as a Senko or dropshot.
The six-inch model can be thrown on a standard bait caster, but the 8-inch and 10-inch model should be used on a heavier set up like an 8ft heavy power. I always say – less light, switch to white. The Magdraft comes in a pearl white color that works well in stained water or cloud cover.
Final Thoughts
If you’re on a budget and looking to do some swimbait fishing this spring, check out these options. Each one brings a unique quality from color to movement. If you’re new to bass fishing or trying to pick up new bass fishing techniques, start small with a Strike King or Keitech swimbait. Once you swing back on your first big bass on a swimbait, you’ll be hooked.
Another good one. You’ve been getting after it lately man!