All lures can be effective. There is no really bad lure. The same applies to hard lures which today come in a multitude of sizes, weights, colors and shapes. This diversity brings a lot of versatility to fishermen, but it can sometimes be hard to make a choice. Whether for fishing for pike, perch, zander, black bass or trout, each brand offers its version of the best lure. Some brands like Rapala, Illex, Megabass, Duo or Daiwa have made a mark in fishermen's minds, but do they really make the best hard lures?
The characteristics of each lure allow them to target certain species under certain conditions. Depending on their size, color, swimming depth, a lure will be more or less effective. Indeed, changing fishing conditions do not allow isolating the best hard lure among all the versions of each brand offered to us today.
Here is our selection of the 10 best hard lures on the market in 2024 for fishing all predators!
1. The Vatalion from Megabass
Often copied but never equaled, this hard lure that looks like an articulated lipless is formidable for pike fishing. This hybrid lure between a swim and a lipless comes in several sizes: 7cm, 11.5cm and 19cm.
This hard lure is used linearly and along the breaks. Thus, it adopts a formidable S-shaped swim that you can see in video. In spring, do not hesitate to retrieve it quickly and to apply lively animations such as jerks or twitches to trigger reflex attacks. The Vatalion has been specially designed for European fishing. It is based on the morphology of a small bream, a prey beloved by zander and pike.
2. The swimbait BBZ-1 by Spro
Initially designed for fishing for black bass (like many swimbaits on the market), the BBZ-1 is formidable for pike fishing. This lure is divided into 3 parts. It is equipped with a soft tail and multiple fins for more realism.
The BBZ from the SPRO brand is characterized by its formidable S-shaped swim even at slow recovery speeds. Its trout profile has proven its effectiveness with black bass in the United States. Indeed, many USA lakes are stocked with rainbow trout.
These fish therefore represent an important and accessible food source. In France, pikes have retained their hunting instinct and opportunistic character. They will therefore not hesitate to attack your BBZ-1!
3. The must-have D-Contact
It's a must-have for trout fishing. This small hard lure is in all trout angler's boxes. The D-Contact from Smith is a sinking jerkbait known for its ability to maintain an attractive swim even in strong currents.
This minnow sinks very quickly. It therefore allows you to reach an adequate water depth more easily than a slow sinking minnow. This small trout lure comes in several sizes to fish different rivers, from the small Breton stream to the Dordogne.
Smith has also developed a Salt Water version designed for sea bass fishing.
4. For the beginning of the season, the I Jack from Megabass
How to talk about the best hard lures without mentioning the I Jack? This subsurface lure is extraordinary at the start of the season for pike fishing. It is characterized by its loud and deep sound, known to trigger the predatory instinct of the largest predators.
This Megabass lure is used mainly in linear motion near obstacles such as deadwood, reeds or beds. Its ability to launch over long distances and to fish almost on the surface makes it an ideal choice as soon as the season opens to explore wide areas.
5. A versatile surface lure, the Whopper Plopper
Perch, pike, black bass, catfish, sea bass... there are many predators in freshwater or in the sea that fall for this propbait. The Whopper Plopper from River2Sea is a surface lure that makes a lot of disturbances on the water. Thanks to its propeller located on the rear treble, it generates a trail of attractive bubbles that allows predators to target their attack.
The large disturbances it causes aim to mimic a fish in difficulty on the surface. Predators are opportunistic predators who therefore do not hesitate to attack the slightest prey in difficulty.
This lure comes in several lengths. Thus, you can adjust the size of the Whopper depending on the species sought.
6. The mythical Buster Jerk
No need to introduce it, the Buster Jerk is THE lure to have for pike fishing. With its 15cm and 75g, it is easy to cast. So you can use it from the shore or the boat and reach considerable casting distances. Capable of swimming up to 3m deep, it is very versatile. Its emblematic swim continues to charm pikes worldwide.
Yes, its effectiveness is global! Unlike many renowned lures for their effectiveness, the Buster Jerk from CWC remains an affordable lure. Moreover, it is very resistant even after many catches. In addition, its variety of colors allows you to adapt to different water and light conditions, thus increasing the chances of catching a big pike.
7. The king of big baits, the Balam
Its price puts off more than one, but its smooth and seductive swim has overcome many fishermen and record fish. In France, the Balam from Madness became known thanks to the Charlie and Tom Couchoud brothers who were able to prove, through their numerous large pikes caught on this lure, that a swimbait of 25cm and more could be formidable even in competition.
In large alpine lakes or in rivers, this 4-part articulated swimbait presents an S-shaped swim that never fails to attract the attention of the biggest predators, particularly pike.
Some colors stand out, like the Odorya Chart which emits a halo of light around it or the Red Fin Perch which takes on the colors of a perch. Balam is a floating lure to which you can add weight in order to fish deeper areas.
8. The Countdown from Rapala, a classic
The brand Rapala, despite its 88 years, continues to shine for its effectiveness with predators and trout. In 2024, Rapala continues to innovate and offer lures like the Super Shadow Rap Glide or the Shad Rap Elite.
However, one of its best lures remains one of the first, the Countdown. This small sinking hard lure has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness on trout. It gets its name "Countdown" from the "countdown" technique.
The Countdown technique allows fishermen to determine exactly at what depth the lure is, which is ideal for reaching fish that are in specific layers of water.
9. The Pointer SP from Lucky Craft
This hard lure created by Lucky Craft is the embodiment of versatility. Whether for fishing for sea bass, perch, trout, zander, pike, or black bass, the Pointer SP (also called B Freeze) will always be a good choice! This minnow jerk works just as well linearly as with lively animations like jerks or twitches.
The Pointer SP is a suspending hard lure. You can therefore make long pauses during retrieval in order to decide the finicky and following fish. This lure is equipped with brass inserts placed very low that allow it to vibrate and oscillate even when stopped, thus perfectly mimicking an injured fish.
To target perch, the Pointer 65 SP is the best size. For more versatile use, opt for the Pointer 100 SP. This last jerkbait size is formidable for shallow water sea bass fishing.
10. The Chubby 38 F, a small crank from Illex
<img src="https://www.leurredelapeche.fr/img/cms/jackall-chubby-38f.png" alt="The chubby from Illex" width="550" height="354