Top 5 Lures for September Bass Fishing: My 24-Hour Challenge

As many of you know, every month brings a new wave of “best lures” recommendations for bass fishing, and September is no different. Instead of just talking about it, I decided to put these lures to the test in a 24-hour challenge—trying to catch fish on all five of the most recommended September bass lures. If I failed, I’d never use those lures again. Spoiler alert: it was a tougher challenge than I expected, but it taught me a lot about these baits and how to make them work.

Here are the top 5 lures I used, how they performed, and why they’re must-haves for your September tackle box.

The Top 5 September Bass Lures

1. Crankbait

The first lure I tackled in the challenge was a crankbait. Crankbaits are known for their ability to mimic baitfish, making them an ideal choice in the fall when bass are actively feeding. Early on, I managed to knock this one out of the way by landing a small fish. It wasn’t huge, but that’s the beauty of crankbaits—they catch fish of all sizes. Whether it’s shallow or deep, the constant wobble and movement make it irresistible to bass, especially around structures or rocky areas.

2. Spinnerbait

I have a love-hate relationship with spinnerbaits, but man, when they’re on, they are on. This lure caught some of the biggest bass for me during this challenge. Spinnerbaits shine in slightly murky water or when you need a bit more flash to draw attention. I also like how versatile they are in covering different depths quickly, and they tend to produce big bites, which is exactly what happened for me.

One of my favorites – and the one that worked on this day – is the Strike King Mini-King. its a great BFS spinnerbait.

3. Paddle Tail Swimbait

If you follow my channel, you know I’m a big fan of BFS (Bait Finesse System) fishing, and paddle tail swimbaits fit right into that. These swimbaits are soft plastics that mimic the subtle movements of baitfish. During the challenge, I got plenty of action with this bait, especially around creeks and areas with a little bit of current. The natural movement of the paddle tail does most of the work for you, making it a great option when the bass aren’t overly aggressive.

Using the Kistler Hunt BFS rod, I could cast lightweight swimbaits with pinpoint accuracy, which is crucial for this technique in the skinny waters I was fishing. The rod’s sensitivity helped me feel even the lightest bites from the dinks I caught, something you can’t overlook when targeting smallmouth in cooler September waters no matter the size of fish.

Sometimes you will simply feel a slight tick, followed by weight on the end of the line. One of the tradeoffs on less expensive rods is less sensitivity, which some days will mean less catches.

My Go-To Paddletal SwimBait is the Keitech 2.8″ Fat Swing Impact. It’s not the most durable, but it just catches fish more consistently than any other alternative I’ve tried.

4. Jig

Jigs are one of those lures that I always feel I should catch a fish on—yet it took me a bit longer than expected during this challenge. Jigs are perfect for flipping and pitching around heavy cover, and they really shine in the fall when bass are hanging close to structure. I was working it slowly across the bottom, and though I had a few nibbles early on, I finally started landing some fish after a while.

The key to jig fishing is patience. It’s a slower, more deliberate technique, but it pays off. A rod with great sensitivity is important, as it allows me to detect even the most subtle bites.

The jig I go to when the bite is tough is the Keitech mono-spin jig. I catch fish on a lot of different brands, but if I had to choose one BFS jig, this would be the one.

Need a rod that can handle jig fishing with finesse? Try my Kistler Hunt 2X BFS rod here!

5. Topwater Walking Bait

Topwater action is what gets my adrenaline pumping, but boy, was this one a struggle during my 24-hour challenge. It was by far the one out of the top 5 September bass lures that I was most concerned about from the start. I didn’t get much interest in the walking bait until the last few hours. When the bite finally came, it was worth the wait. There’s something about watching a bass explode on a topwater bait that never gets old.

But this wasn’t just an ordinary explosion and reel in the fish. no sir. This fish took me into a submerged branch, so I ended up pulling in a decent smallmouth and the branch to finish the challenge – all with my 3X BFS rod! Don’t tell me they don’t have enough backbone!

For those early morning or late evening sessions, topwater baits can be dynamite in September, especially when fish are feeding near the surface. I paired mine with the Kistler Hunt BFS rod, which gave me the control I needed to make long, precise casts and walk the bait effectively. Topwater fishing is all about timing and patience, but when it clicks, it’s one of the most exciting ways to catch bass.

Lately, I’ve been using the Kistler Light N’ Fast rods for topwater. While I love the more moderate action of the Hunt BFS, you can get just a bit more action with poppers or walk the dog type lures with a faster action rod.

Lessons from the Challenge

This challenge wasn’t just about catching fish, but about learning the strengths and weaknesses of each lure in different conditions. September bass fishing requires adaptability, and these five lures give you the versatility to catch fish in various water conditions. Whether you’re fishing clear water or murky creeks, there’s a lure on this list that will help you put bass in the boat.

If you’re into BFS fishing like me, having the right gear makes all the difference. That’s why I use a variety of different BFS combos every year. It shouldn’t be a surprise that many of them feature my signature Hunt BFS Series rods from Kistler.

I designed my Kistler Hunt BFS rods to provide that precision and sensitivity needed for finesse techniques, but they’re versatile enough to handle a wide range of lures, including these five.

So, if you’re gearing up for your next September bass fishing trip, be sure to pack these lures—and don’t forget to grab a Kistler Hunt BFS rod for the ultimate fishing experience!

Shop the Kistler Hunt BFS rod now and get ready for your best bass fishing season yet!

Tight lines,
Aaron Hunt