The Top Five Artificial Lures For Peacock Bass

Let’s dive into the exciting world of peacock bass fishing, where our goal is to equip you with the best strategies to reel in these vibrant and powerful fish. When targeting peacock bass, we utilize loud and erratic lures in order to maximize our best chance of success. Here are the top 5 lures that have proven effective for us in enticing these amazing fish. 

1.  Topwater Prop Baits

One of our go-to lures for peacock bass is the topwater prop bait. These lures feature one or more spinning blades at the front or rear of the bait, creating noise and surface disturbance as they’re retrieved. Peacock bass, known for their aggressive feeding behavior, are often drawn to the commotion caused by prop baits and will attack your prop baits with violence! 

Peacock bass are notorious for their willingness to strike at surface lures. Topwater prop lures create enticing surface disturbance and noise, mimicking the movements of fleeing bait fish.

2.  Jerkbaits

Jerkbaits are highly effective for targeting peacock bass due to several key reasons:

• Mimics Injured Baitfish: Peacock bass are opportunistic predators and often target injured or struggling baitfish. Jerkbaits mimic this vulnerable prey with their erratic darting action, making them irresistible to peacock bass.
• Versatility: You can work jerkbaits at various depths and speeds, which will allow you to adjust your presentation as needed. Whether fishing in shallow flats or deeper waters near structure, jerkbaits can be adapted to different fishing scenarios.
• Triggering Strikes: The sudden stops, pauses, and darting movements of jerkbaits can trigger reflex strikes from peacock bass, even when they may not be actively feeding. This makes jerkbaits effective for eliciting reaction strikes from aggressive fish.
• Covering Water: Jerkbaits allow you to cover a large area of water efficiently, making them ideal for exploring different fishing spots and locating actively feeding peacock bass.

There is no other lure that puts more peacocks in the boat than a jerkbait. You can’t go wrong with a small X-Rap; I bet the crew at Peacock Adventures have caught close to 25,000 peacocks on that bait alone.

3.  Spinnerbaits

Spinnerbaits are definitely a go-to in my tackle box when I’m targeting peacock bass.

For fishing in areas with vegetation or heavy structure, we often utilize spinnerbaits to draw strikes from peacock bass. With their flashy blades and enticing skirts, spinnerbaits can effectively mimic injured baitfish, making it a staple in our tackle box. 

The vibrating action and noise generated by spinnerbaits can attract the attention of these aggressive predators, even in murky or stained water conditions. Spinnerbaits are particularly effective when fishing around vegetation, submerged structure, or along drop-offs where peacock bass tend to congregate. 

Some of my favorite spinnerbaits are made by War Eagle. I prefer the smaller sizes at around a ½ oz in weight, with white and chartreuse as my skirt colors.

4.  Flukes

Flukes can be highly effective for targeting peacock bass. Flukes, also known as soft plastic jerkbaits, have a slender body with a split tail that mimics an injured baitfish when erratically retrieved. In our experience, flukes can catch a peacock bass anywhere they inhabit. Here’s why flukes can help you catch a lot of peacock bass:

• Natural Action: Flukes mimic the swimming motion of injured baitfish, which is a primary food source for peacock bass. The subtle side-to-side movement of the fluke’s tail creates an enticing action that can trigger strikes from peacock bass.
• Versatility: Flukes can be rigged in various ways, including weightless, Texas-rigged, or on a jighead, allowing anglers to fish them effectively in different water depths and structures. This versatility makes flukes suitable for targeting peacock bass in a variety of fishing situations.
• Subtle Presentation: In situations where peacock bass may be wary or in a neutral feeding mood, the subtle action of a fluke can be more appealing than more aggressive lures. The natural-looking profile of a fluke can convince cautious fish to strike.
• Effective in Cover: Peacock bass often inhabit areas with heavy vegetation or structure. Flukes excel in these environments because they can be rigged weedless and worked through cover without getting snagged, allowing anglers to reach areas where peacock bass are likely to hide.
• Reaction Strikes: The erratic darting action of a fluke can trigger instinctual strikes from peacock bass, even when they’re not actively feeding. This makes flukes an excellent choice for eliciting reaction strikes from aggressive fish.

5.  Topwater Walking Baits

Whether you’re fishing in open water or around structure, topwater walking baits can draw explosive strikes from peacock bass, making them a thrilling and effective lure choice.

These lures imitate the erratic movements of injured baitfish or fleeing prey, which can trigger extremely aggressive strikes. The side-to-side “walk-the-dog” action of these baits creates a commotion on the surface that peacock bass find irresistible, especially in the early morning or late evening when they’re actively feeding near the surface. Some popular examples are the Zara Spook and the Rebel Jumpin Minnow. You want to work these lures faster than you would expect in order to best target peacocks.

By adding these top 5 lures to your arsenal and adjusting your presentation based on water conditions and peacock bass behavior, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle this thrilling fishing adventure. So grab your gear, hit the water, and let’s reel in some peacock bass!”