4 Top Lures for Offshore Bass | Seth Feider’s Approach

When bass are no longer on the bank, they’re offshore, and when they’re offshore, they’re often schooled up and susceptible to a handful of key lures. Pro bass angler Seth Feider shares his confidence lures for offshore largemouth bass and the order that he fishes them to systematically work and catch as many fish as possible before moving on.

FEATURED TACKLE

• HAIR JIG – OutKast Tackle Chicken Jig
• CRANKBAIT – Rapala DT Series Crankbaits (8- to 20-foot zone)
  • Rapala DT 8
  • Rapala DT 10
  • Rapala DT 16
  • Rapala DT 20
• NEKO RIG SETUP
  • Z-Man Bang StickZ
  • VMC Crossover Ring
  • VMC Crossover Pliers
  • VMC Neko Hook, size 2
  • Z-Man Neko ShroomZ weight

“Milking” a school requires using different lure categories to appeal to all fish moods. Some bass are hot and willing to chase big baits; others will chase and engage smaller offerings, while more neutral to negative fish may respond best to slow bottom-contact presentations or finesse setups. Without further ado, here are Feider’s top offshore bass lures:

1. A big hair jig or swimbait. Feider starts at the beefy end of the spectrum, with big baits, big line, and powerful rod setups. His rationale here is that he might as well attempt hooking and boating the biggest and most aggressive fish from the school out of the gate, then refine from there. He uses a big hair jig (preacher jig) or paddle tail swimbait rigged on a jighead. Both are proven big fish triggering baits with an excellent hook-to-land ratio.
2. Mid-depth to Deep-Diving crankbaits. Feider firmly believes that a crankbait is the best lure for firing up a school of fish. And unlike a hair jig or swimbait, he’ll invest more time fishing it to contact and capitalize on an active school. Choose a crankbait that runs a little deeper than the depth you’re fishing. For Feider, this means an 8- to 20-foot diving crankbait. He favors balsa crankbaits here, as they’re quieter and less likely to spook the school when making multiple casts.
3. Slow-moving bottom-contact baits. Think football jigs, Carolina rigs, and big worms. Some tubbies just aren’t willing to chase. Slow and big-profiled bottom-contact baits fill a crucial void here and consistently produce numbers and big fish.
4. Neko rig and other finesse setups. It’s mop-up time, which means Ned rigs, drop shot rigs, and Seth’s current favorite, the Neko rig. Lastly, slow, on the bottom, and more morsel-sized offerings coax bites from bass unwilling to chase or eat a big meal. Finesse setups call for light line but often account for the most fish. Feider details his go-to Neko rig setup and some innovative new products to keep you fishing instead of re-rigging.

FISH FINDERS and BOAT EQUIPMENT

• FISH FINDERS – Humminbird HELIX 12 MEGA SI+ G4N
• 360 SONAR – Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging
• TROLLING MOTOR – Minn Kota Ultrex Trolling Motor
• SHALLOW WATER ANCHORS – Minn Kota Raptors, 8′
• MOTOR – Mercury Pro XS 250hp
• BOAT – Ballistic Boats 204