Best Hard Body Lures, Cicadas & Crankbaits for Australian Bass (2026)
Hard body lures, topwater cicadas, and diving crankbaits represent the most thrilling and effective artificial presentations for Australian bass. Surface paddlers and crawling cicadas produce heart-stopping surface strikes during low-light hours, while deep-diving crankbaits extract fish from sunken timber during the heat of the day. Matching lure buoyancy and diving depth to the environment is essential for consistent success.
Surface cicadas and paddlers (35mm to 50mm) are essential for summer river and dam fishing. Their soft wings or bibs create a rhythmic paddling crawl that mimics a struggling insect on the surface. Long pauses of 5 to 10 seconds between subtle rod twitches often trigger explosive strikes from wary bass lurking below.
Deep-diving crankbaits with wide polycarbonate bibs are standard tools for probing rock bars, drop-offs, and timber laydowns. The diving bib protects the treble hooks by deflecting cleanly off submerged wood and boulders. Pausing the lure immediately after a deflection allows it to float up slightly, preventing snags and triggering reaction bites.
All factory hardbody lures intended for bass should be fitted with sharp, fine-gauge to medium-wire treble hooks. Upgrading split rings and hooks to high-carbon trebles (such as BKK or Owner) ensures instant penetration without tearing soft lip cartilage on violent strikes.
🎣 Need the Master Strategy? Read full regional maps, seasonal movements, legal closures, and sounder tactics in our comprehensive species pillar.
| Best Rods | Best Reels | Soft Plastics |
| Vibes & Jigs | Lines & Rigs | ★ Masterclass |
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Model | Category | Class | Construction | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiemco Soft Shell Cicada 40mm | Surface Soft Foam Cicada | 40mm / 4.0g | Soft Floating Foam / Soft Wings | Best Overall Surface Cicada Lure |
| Megabass Siglett / Grand Siglett | Winged Surface Cicada | 36mm (4.5g) / 42mm (7.0g) | Hard ABS / Flexible Duralumin Wings | Best High-Action Winged Cicada |
| Jackall Chubby 38 Deep / Diving | Diving Crankbait | 38mm / 4.2g – 4.7g | High-Impact ABS Plastic | Best Snag & Timber Crankbait |
| OSP Bent Minnow 76F | 3D Surface Stickbait | 76mm / 4.3g | Clear ABS Resin | Best Dying Baitfish Surface Lure |
| Taylor Made Bass Cicada | Custom Timber Surface Lure | 45mm / 6.0g | Handcrafted Timber / Polycarbonate Wings | Best Custom Australian Timber Lure |
Top Rated Breakdown
1. Tiemco Soft Shell Cicada 40mm
Top Performer
The undisputed #1 surface cicada lure in Australia. Features a soft foam body that lands silently like a real insect and soft wings that paddle on the slowest retrieves.
|
Length: 40mm |
Weight: 4.0g |
Buoyancy: Floating Foam |
Action: Surface Crawl / Flutter |
- Soft foam body lands with a natural, silent splash that does not spook shallow fish
- Fish strike repeatedly on missed bites because the soft body feels authentic
- Light 4.0g weight requires light braid and a responsive rod to cast in strong winds
🇦🇺 Support Aussie Tackle Shops
2. Megabass Siglett / Grand Siglett
Top Quality
Japanese engineered topwater cicada with flexible translucent wings and an internal tungsten rattle. Generates high-pitch acoustic chirps on every twitch.
|
Lengths: 36mm / 42mm |
Weights: 4.5g (Siglett) / 7.0g (Grand) |
Wings: Flexible Duralumin Wings |
Sound: Internal Acoustic Rattle |
- Flexible wings produce an incredible crawling commotion at slow speeds
- Acoustic internal rattle calls territorial bass from deep river caves
- Wings can occasionally foul around the leader on aggressive casts
🇦🇺 Support Aussie Tackle Shops
3. Jackall Chubby 38 Deep / Diving
Top Crankbait
The benchmark deep-diving crankbait for Australian bass. Features a wide wobbling action and steep diving angle that reaches 2.0m to 2.5m rapidly.
|
Length: 38mm |
Weight: 4.2g (Deep) / 4.7g (DDR) |
Buoyancy: Floating |
Depth: 2.0m – 2.5m |
- Steep diving bib gets the lure down to the strike zone instantly near timber
- Deflects cleanly off submerged logs, keeping hooks snag-free
- Fine wire factory trebles should be inspected after heavy snag recoveries
🇦🇺 Support Aussie Tackle Shops
4. OSP Bent Minnow 76F
Top Innovation
Features a unique 3D curved body that darts erratically in three dimensions. Perfectly mimics an injured, dying baitfish struggling on the surface.
|
Length: 76mm |
Weight: 4.3g |
Buoyancy: Floating (Bent Body) |
Action: 3D Erratic Dart |
- 3D bent body produces an unpredictable darting action that fools educated bass
- Sits naturally on the surface with one flank exposed like a dying minnow
- Requires practice to master the rhythmic twitch-and-pause cadence
🇦🇺 Support Aussie Tackle Shops
5. Taylor Made Bass Cicada
Top Custom Bait
Handcrafted Australian timber surface cicada. Features custom polycarbonate wings that emit a distinctive hollow paddling sound on dark river pools.
|
Length: 45mm |
Weight: 6.0g |
Body: Handcrafted Australian Timber |
Hooks: Heavy Duty Trebles |
- Natural timber buoyancy produces a unique deep hollow paddling acoustic
- Dense 6.0g weight casts exceptionally well across wide river pools
- Limited boutique availability compared to mass-production plastic lures
🇦🇺 Support Aussie Tackle Shops
Technical Selection Criteria
1. The Cicada ‘Twitch-and-Freeze’ Cadence
Cast your surface cicada within 2 inches of the riverbank beneath overhanging trees. Let the lure sit completely motionless for 5 to 8 seconds. Impart two subtle wrist twitches to make the wings paddle in place without moving the lure forward, then pause again. Bass will inhale the lure during the pause.
2. Crankbait Timber Bumping & Floating
Cast your deep-diving crankbait past a sunken tree. Retrieve at a medium pace until the bib strikes the log. The instant you feel contact, stop winding immediately for 1 second. The buoyant lure will float backward out of the snag, triggering a reaction strike as it clears the wood.
3. Monofilament Topwater Leader Rigging
Always connect a 2-metre length of 8lb to 12lb monofilament leader to your braid mainline when fishing surface lures. Monofilament floats, keeping the cicada’s nose riding high on the surface. Tie the lure with an open Lefty’s Loop knot to give the lure full freedom of movement.
