It’s no secret that 2024 has been the year of the minnow. The jig head minnow technique has truly taken off this year, similar to the Yamamoto Senko in its heyday. While it’s undeniable that anglers are catching giant limits of bass all over the country on jig head minnows, there was a variety of other baits that played a major role in competitive fishing this year. We saw major wins on the Bassmaster Elite Series using a jig, crankbait, hair jig, drop shot, and numerous other techniques.
We’ve compiled a list of the winningest lures that won major bass fishing tournaments in 2024. Some of these baits are classics, while others only became available this year. We narrowed down the winningest baits of 2024 based on tournament wins, tournament consistency, and versatility. This article tells you everything you need to know about the five baits that were the biggest winners of 2024.
DEPS Sakamata Shad
The DEPS Sakama Shad was easily the most hyped up lure of the year, and for good reason. Anglers like Kyoya Fujita and Kenta Kimura initially exposed this lure to the general public, and they did so by catching giant bass and winning major events with it. What makes this lure so effective is its soft material and the protruding wings located near the head. This gives the bait tons of rolling action as you shake it through the water column.
The soft material also allows for an erratic action at high speeds: perfect for the burn and stop cadence. The DEPS Sakamata Shad’s first win came at the Bassmaster Elite Event on Toledo Bend. Fujita ended up winning this event with a total of 100 pounds, 13 ounces. The win caused the bait’s popularity to skyrocket, and it was used to rack up countless tournament wins all over the country.
Roboworm Straight Tail Worm
The Roboworm Straight Tail Worm was another undeniable player in the 2024 competitive fishing season. Although this lure doesn’t receive the same level of hype as the Sakamata Shad, you rarely ever see a professional angler without this one on his deck. Looking back through the tournament results from last season, I couldn’t find an event where the Roboworm didn’t at least score a top-10 finish.
What makes this lure so effective is its versatility and ability to be rigged a variety of ways. While a drop shot is likely the most popular rigging method, light Texas rigs and shaky heads have their fans, too. While the Roboworm has been a staple amongst bass fisherman for years, advancements in forward facing sonar really increased this bait’s productivity. A Roboworm is easily the most effective lure for targeting fish on stumps, brush piles, and other pieces of isolated cover; forward-facing sonar has only made this easier.
Rapala Crush City Freeloader
The Rapala Crush City Freeloader won tons of money this year. This is one of the newest releases from Rapala, and it has quickly become a staple bait for anglers all over the country. It was designed to be fished on a jig head, however it doubles as a fantastic spinnerbait and vibrating jig trailer. Anglers such as Dustin Connel, Jacob Wheeler, and other pros have all won big money events on this lure.
Its ripped body and squared-off profile make it so effective. This bait has completely flat sides, allowing it to roll aggressively as you shake it through the water column. This gives off the impression of a dying baitfish, something most bass can’t pass up. The ribs on the sides of this bait also create a secondary action as it moves through the water, allowing the tail to shimmy and vibrate with very little effort from the angler.
OSP Saikoro “Dice” Rubber Soft Bait
Next is an entirely new style of fishing lure that has taken the United States bass fishing market by storm. The OSP Saikoro “Dice” Rubber Soft Bait consists of a die-sized piece of plastic with various rubber strands sticking out the sides. This bait is meant to be fished on a drop shot, Neko rig, or free rig, and it has already won some major tournaments in the U.S. this year.
Easton Fothergill won the Leech Lake Bassmaster Open on the Dice, and Kyoya Fujita finished second at the Bassmaster Elite event on Lake Seminole on the lure as well.
With the increase in fishing pressure and the advancements in marine electronics, finesse style baits have really excelled in recent years, mostly because there’s nothing else like it and nothing can match its versatility. It’s an entirely new style of bait that can be fished in nearly every scenario you’d throw a jig, worm, or other bottom bait. Plus, bass just aren’t used to seeing it.
Strike King Z-Too Jerkbait
Last but certainly not least, the Strike King Z-Too won an exceptional amount of money this year. This is widely considered the “OG” minnow style bait, and it’s been winning major bass fishing tournaments for the last several years. This bait is made using an extremely durable plastic, allowing you to catch a plethora of bass on one bait. Furthermore, this bait is available in a wide range of sizes, allowing you to rig this minnow in whichever way you see fit.
This lure scored wins at the Bassmaster Elite on Lake Fork and Lake Murray, among others. This lure stands out because of its durability and versatility. Anglers were using the 5-inch version on Lake Fork to chase suspended fish, while other anglers fished it on a drop shot at St. Lawrence. This really speaks to the overall effectiveness of this bait, and it’s something every angler should have in their tackle box.
2024 was clearly the year of finesse fishing; because whether you’re an electronics guru or a bank fisherman, finesse lures will catch fish.
