Lee Bailey Jr / Baby Buzzbait

Lee is a retired Bassmaster Elite Series Pro.

How to Fish Creature Baits for Bass

Creature Baits Beyond Basics

Creature Baits Beyond Basics will show you that pitching and flipping Creature baits is a category of lures that consistently works with those techniques. Define them however you want – usually short, stubby, with various appendages, resembling little found in nature – but they’re great for punching mats, probing laydowns, on the back of a wobble head, or as a trailer. I even like them when forced to Carolina Rig. There are now dozens of good ones on the market

Creature and craw baits are popular choices for bass fishing because they closely mimic the look and movement of natural prey. Crawfish, in particular, are a common food source for bass and can be found in many bodies of water. Creature baits, on the other hand, are versatile lures that can imitate a variety of creatures, such as crayfish, insects, and small fish. When fishing with these baits, anglers typically rig them on a weighted hook and retrieve them in a manner that mimics the natural movement of the prey they imitate. This technique can be especially effective when fishing around rocky structures, as bass often hide and feed in these areas. Overall, crawfish and creature baits are great options for anglers looking to catch bass by imitating their natural prey

For me Creature Baits Beyond Basics is my choice for the following techniques. 

How to fish:
  • Jigging Creature Baits
  • Flipping And Pitching
  • Retrieving Creature Baits
  • Carolina Rigging
Where to fish:

My favorite targets to use creature baits is around woody cover like laydowns, brush piles, stumps and cypress trees. I also like to pitch them into tall bladed grass like tules. They are very effective for punching through heavy vegetation like hyacinths due to their slender profile. These baits attract big bass so make sure the bait is rigged correctly and use the right gear. If not, you risk losing the fish of a lifetime.

Equipment:

When fishing with creature baits, it’s important to choose the right gear to get the most out of your lures. A medium-heavy to heavy spinning or baitcasting rod with a fast action is generally best for fishing these baits. The rod should have enough backbone to set the hook and control the fish but also have some flexibility to work the bait and give it a natural look. As for the reel, a baitcasting reel with a high gear ratio is a popular choice for fishing creature baits. The line should be strong enough to handle the weight of the fish and the cover you’re fishing in, but also thin enough to give the bait a natural look. A 20-30 pound test braided line with a fluorocarbon leader is a common setup for fishing these baits.

Tip:

Whether flipping, pitching or punching thick vegetation. hold your line with one finger. The bites on the creature are some of the softest and lightest bites you will ever encounter. When you feel the bite give the fish a second before setting the hook. This will greatly increase your bite to catch ratio.


If you’re not using this versatile big fish catching bait, you are missing out. Creature baits can be used in a variety of situations and are effective almost all year. They are exceptionally effective during the pre-spawn when bass are looking for an easy meal. Tie one on and give it a try this year, you will be glad you did.
“Catch The Dream!”

Fishing’s fun! * Fishing’s explosive! * Fishing’s exciting!