A lot of people will throw in the towel when they see rain in the forecast but a little bit of rain can be a kick starter to a good day on the water.
If you ain't afraid of getting a little bit wet, spend more time catchin' and less time fishing with these lures.
#1 Topwater
Whether it be just before, during, or after a rain shower, start thinking topwater.
Where there is rain, there is clouds. Overcast conditions are known to bring fish to the surface which makes a topwater lure a great choice.
Topwater walking lures is the first to come to mind in wet conditions.
These lures are great along banks, weed lines, and flats and create enough of a disruption on the surface to be easily spotted by bass.
TIP: Create more reaction bites when fishing a walking bait by implementing a few pauses throughout your retrieve. Every now and then stop your retrieve for a two or three count before working the lure again. This sudden pause may be all it takes to get a nearby fish to bite.
Another good topwater choice in rainy conditions is a buzzbait.
When you have a weather front come in that calms things down on the surface consider fishing a buzzbait.
Buzzbaits are known for their noise and ability to create a bubble trail which drives fish insane.
There are a few enhancements you can make to your buzzbait as well that's discussed in "3 Must Have Topwater Largemouth Bass Lures" to really help your lure stand out when fishing in rainy conditions.
#2 Spinnerbaits
In cloudy, rainy conditions you want something that will stand out - a spinnerbait does just that.
Spinnerbaits are a go-to for many anglers and a little bit of rain in the forecast should be all the more of a reason to continue throwing this lure.
Spinnerbaits provide 3 key features that work to your advantage when fishing in the rain - flash, noise, and they are great at imitating baitfish.
You have the freedom as an angler when it comes to blade selection (Colorado or Willow Leaf) for which spinnerbait you fish.
Colorado blades (smaller blade shown above) create more drag and can be fished slower whereas willow leaf blades (larger blade shown above) have a faster, tighter spin and provide a bit more flash.
One retrieval method that many anglers overlook is "waking" a spinnerbait. This is accomplished by retrieving your spinnerbait at a speed that keeps it just below the surface to the point that a small wake is created.
If you fish a body of water that receives a lot of pressure from other anglers try waking a spinnerbait and giving the fish a presentation they don't typically see. It very well could result in more bites.
TIP: Missed strikes are common when spinnerbait fishing. If this happens to you a lot consider equipping your spinnerbait with a trailer hook. You can purchase dedicated trailer hooks or take a more homemade route of using a spare straight shank hook with a small piece of rubber tubing to secure the hook.
#3 Crankbaits
Third on the list is a crankbait.
If an area gets a good amount of rain expect to see some water runoff that adds food and nutrients into whatever body of water you are fishing.
This will naturally bring baitfish and bass to these regions of the fishery and make for a prime time to fish a crankbait.
A lot of these runoff areas tend to be the start of underwater ditches and are known for having wooded cover (stumps, brush piles) or a rocky bottom. A crankbait is a lure that really excels in these areas.
Once you have the water depth figured out consider throwing a crankbait that will dive just a little bit deeper to allow for great bottom contact.
If rain and water runoff has stained the water and affected overall clarity opt for something in a brighter pattern or with rattles to help attract more fish.
Consider these 2 retrieval methods for more bites...
1. Reel down to your running depth and stop the lure for a split second every time you come into contact with something before starting your retrieve back up
We covered this retrieval method first in "5 Common Bass Fishing Mistakes" and it can really work to your advantage for triggering more reaction bites.
2. Burn the lure back throughout the entire retrieve
Yes, it seems crazy, but it works.
Some people find this retrieval way too fast and will argue that fish never even get the chance to hit your lure.
However, did you know that bigger bass can swim upwards to 20 Miles Per Hour (MPH) when going after a lure?
That means if a bass really wants your crankbait it will get it!
Time to go catch em'!
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