The 7 Best Lures for Snakehead (and How to Fish Them)

Snakehead are ambush predators that live in thick cover, so the best lures are the ones you can fish over, through and around grass without fouling. Here are seven that earn their spot in the box.

1. Hollow-body frog

The undisputed king. Walk it slowly across matted vegetation and hang on. Upgrade the hooks and add a trailer hook if you're getting short strikes.

2. Buzzbait

A steady, noisy retrieve along grass edges at first light draws violent blowups.

3. Chatterbait (bladed jig)

Deadly along the outside weed line and over sparse grass. Add a paddle-tail trailer.

4. Weightless fluke

For pressured or finicky fish in open pockets — twitch it and let it glide.

5. Swim jig

Compact and weedless; swim it through cane and pads with a craw or paddle-tail trailer.

6. Weighted creature bait (punch rig)

When fish are buried in the thickest slop, punch through with a heavy tungsten weight.

7. Topwater walking bait

Over open flats near grass, a walk-the-dog bait covers water and calls fish up.

Whatever you throw, use heavy braid and strong hooks — snakehead hit hard and dive straight into cover. New to the species? Start with our Snakehead Fishing 101 guide.