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Soft plastic baits are a big deal.
If you’ve shopped for fishing lures much at all, you know what I mean! The store aisles are lined with shelf after shelf of various soft plastic lures in various shapes, sizes, and colors.
In fact, picking a soft plastic lure can feel overwhelming very quickly.
Unfortunately, picking quality molds for making soft baits can feel the same way!
There are dozens of molds for lizards, beavers, craws, dropshot worms, stickbaits, ribbon tail worms, swimbaits, grubs… 😵💫… and the list goes on!
Fortunately, the process of selecting the right bait mold for you can be simplified.
Welcome back to Jig Is Up Lurecraft! Today we are diving into soft plastic bait molds. To be more precise, we will be looking at the best bait molds you can use to create your own unique soft plastic fishing lures!
There are dozens and dozens of quality soft plastic lure molds on the market. But if you are just diving into the world of custom soft baits, there are 12 classic, de facto molds that you should consider first!
Here’s what they are.
List Update for 2025
Since this article was first published, several new molds have hit the market that have caught my eye. In this updated article, I’ve included these standout molds from Epic Bait Molds and Hog Salad Bait Molds. The molds from the original article are still excellent, but these new additions deserve to be included in this updated list for their stellar quality and refreshing innovation.
The Best Soft Plastic Bait Molds
👉 Best Stickbait Mold: Epic Classic Stickbait
The Senko-style stickbait took the fishing world by storm twenty years ago, and remains a bass-catching heavy hitter to this day.
What Epic Bait Molds has done is created a super high quality CNC mold that cleanly and consistently reproduces the timeless stickbait we all know and love.
Texas rig it, drop shot it, punch it, wacky rig it, jig it, Neko rig it… stickbaits are so incredibly versatile, the options are endless.
Give this staple a try, you won’t be disappointed!
Buy the Epic Classic Stickbait Mold ($135) at Barlow’s Tackle.
👉 Best Finesse Worm Mold: Angling AI Bot Worm
Next on our list of worm molds is a beautiful open pour mold – the Bot Worm mold from Angling AI!
At $39, the Angling AI 6” Bot Worm mold is arguably the most bang-for-your-buck worm mold on the market today.
The finesse worms created by the Bot Worm mold are much like the popular Roboworm. You can rig them weightless, on a shaky head, on a dropshot, or even on a Carolina Rig and catch bass anywhere!
Plus, open pour molds such as this one do not require the purchase of an injector to make baits (unlike injection molds).
Arm yourself with a few Pyrex cups, and you can start hand pouring dazzling colors!
It’s a budget-friendly recipe for custom worm success.
Buy the Bot Worm Mold ($39) at Angling AI Molds.
👉 Best Dropshot Worm Mold: Epic Bait Molds Vert Worm
Now an established brand in the bait molds industry, Epic Bait Molds originally sprang onto the scene as a maker of premium, high quality soft plastic bait molds.
The Vert Worm mold is a prime example of the quality products the folks at Epic Bait Molds crank out.
Open pour capabilities ✅
Unique dropshot worm shape ✅
Extremely high quality aluminum ✅
Affordable price ✅
The Vert Worm is your quintessential dropshot worm with a subtle twist – the fine folks at Epic threw a unique sort of spade tail onto the end of the worm!
This specially shaped tail gives the Vert Worm a look very unique to dropshot worms.
Add in the ability to use hand pouring techniques such as skin pouring and capsule pouring, and you have a mold that grants you endless options for dropshot worm customization!
Buy the Vert Worm Mold ($80) at Epic Bait Molds.
👉 Best Action Craw Mold: Angling AI Ecto Craw
Starting off our list of craw molds is a heavy hitter – the Angling AI Ecto Craw!
Most soft plastic craws fall into one of two kinds – realistic, subtle craws and action-oriented flapping craws.
The Ecto Craw is a classic example of the action-oriented craw. This craw flaps aggressively with the slightest movements!
And at 3.4”, the Ecto Craw is also a very versatile sized craw to fish with. You can put it on a Texas rig and hop it along the bottom. Or you can slap it onto a jig and start dragging it or swimming it!
The point is this – if you are looking to make your own action craws, the Ecto Craw is one of the best you can buy. Period.
Buy the Ecto Craw Mold ($133) at Angling AI Molds.
👉 Best Finesse Craw Mold: Epic Ned Craw
Next up is yet another offering by quality mold maker Epic Bait Molds. Enter the Epic Ned Craw!
The Ned Craw is the one-of-a-kind craw finesse anglers dream of.
Each craw has a handful of key features, including
Realistic claws ✅
Subtle antennae tentacles ✅
Lifelike appendages ✅
2.5-inch finesse package ✅
These features combine to provide what I think is one of the best finesse craws on the market today!
At 2.5 inches, the Ned Craw is perfect for Ned Rigs and finesse jigs. It’s even a great bait for a downsized Texas Rig!
If you’ve read this blog for very long, then you know I have a great love for bass fishing with jigs.
I’d looked and longed for a finesse craw sidekick to my Tiny Terror Jig. Few jig trailers fill that void like the Ned Craw.
Let the fun begin 😎.
Buy the Ned Craw mold ($160) at Barlow’s Tackle.
👉 Best Beaver Bait Mold: Hog Salad Ol Buzzard
The Ol Buzzard is the first mold on this list from Hog Salad Bait Molds.
Although Hog Salad Bait Molds is a relative newcomer to the bait molds industry, it has taken the baitmaking world by storm with its high quality molds and innovative designs.
The Ol Buzzard is a perfect example of the exciting designs you will find at Hog Salad!
This bait is unique because it pairs a thick bulky body with extremely thin flappers. This combination creates a chunky underwater presence that paddles its feet with the slightest of movements.
Look to catch big bass on the Ol Buzzard by putting it on a Texas Rig, weightless rig, or even threaded onto a bass jig!
Buy the Ol Buzzard mold ($150) at Barlow’s Tackle.
👉 Best Grub Mold: Epic Bait Molds Whipwad
Next up is a fresh take on a classic bait – the Whipwad Grub by Epic Bait Molds!
The Whipwad Grub is a simple bait consisting of a ribbed body and a textured curly tail. Although a simple bait, the Whipwad is incredibly versatile for catching all kinds of species!
You can rig it on a swim jig and drag it on the bottom to mimic a crawfish. Or you can swim it through the water to replicate a swimming bluegill!
You can even rig the Whipwad weightless on a worm hook and throw it into thick cover.
Regardless of your style of fishing, the Whipwad has you covered.
Buy the Whipwad Mold ($240) at Barlow’s Tackle.
👉 Best Lizard Mold: Angling AI Lizard
The Zoom Lizard is a bass fishing staple for many anglers. When thrown on a Carolina Rig, it is an incredibly deadly bait!
Angling AI took the classic Lizard profile and gave it a bigger curly tail with more underwater thump. The result is a hard-hitting 6-inch Lizard mold loaded with action!
If you like to target bass deep with Carolina Rigs…
If you like to fish for bass on beds during the spawn…
Then this bait mold is for you.
Buy the Lizard mold ($139) at Angling AI Molds.
👉 Best Creature Mold: Hog Salad Gilley
One of the newest baits right now in the baitmaking industry is the bluegill creature bait. These big teardrop-shaped baits resemble the pesky panfish that invade bass’ nests during the spawn and that attract hungry bass the rest of the year.
Needless to say, these gilly-style baits have become extremely popular among anglers for catching bass during the spawn.
But if you want to make your own?
The Hog Salad Gilley mold has you covered.
This mold is the only one I am aware of that allows you to make your own gilly-style baits!
Even better, you have a wide variety of sizes to choose from – everything from 2″ micro gills to jumbo 4.8″ gills!
Flip it, punch it, thread it onto a jig… you simply can’t go wrong with this unique creature bait.
Buy the Gilley mold ($140) at Barlow’s Tackle.
👉 Best Injection Swimbait Mold: Epic Bait Molds Slay Bait
The Epic Slay Bait is a super popular swimbait mold with a subtle twist.
The fine folks at Epic Bait Molds originally designed it to be a premium, unique trailer for chatterbaits.
And a unique trailer the Slay Bait is!
Whereas many swimbaits have a big boot-tail that give it a swimming action, the Slay Bait employs a split kicker tail that rapidly vibrates on the retrieve.
This tail design is fantastic at mimicking the natural swimming motion of shad, one of bass’s favorite snack species!
The Epic Slay Bait mold is available in four different sizes, so you can quickly and easily inject your own in whatever size you please!
Buy the Slay Bait mold ($240) at Epic Bait Molds.
👉 Best Open Pour Swimbait Mold: Angling AI 4” Swimbait
Anyone who has ever watched how to hand pour swimbaits for bass knows the legendary status of the Angling AI swimbait molds.
Fact is, the Angling AI Swimbait is the mold of choice used by soft bait making guru Chris Jones in many of his online videos!
Angling AI packed a ton of features into this relatively affordable mold.
Hook slot (if desired) ✅
Machined scale details ✅
Deep full body (perfect for hand pouring) ✅
6 mm cavities for 3D eyes ✅
There may be more unique looking swimbait molds on the market, but few embody the classic swimbait shape as well as the Angling AI Swimbait does.
Get one and try it out, you won’t be disappointed.
Buy the 4” Swimbait mold ($69) at Angling AI Molds.
👉 Best Jerkbait Mold: Angling AI Open Pour Jerkbait
The last mold on our list is another favorite of mine – the Open Pour Jerkbait by Angling AI!
There are many injection molds for jerkbaits, across many soft bait mold companies.
But this is the only CNC aluminum open pour jerkbait mold on the market that I know of, and it is a dandy.
It comes equipped with an adjustable hook slot, so you can make your jerkbaits with more or less body with ease.
It also has eye cavities that you can attach 3D eyes to, or even fill with hand poured plastic.
Add in the beautiful scales and the broad paddle-style tail… and now you have a deadly bait jam-packed with gorgeous details.
And the best part? It costs only $39. 🤯
Buy the Open Pour Jerkbait mold ($39) at Angling AI Molds.
“These soft bait molds look awesome! Which ones should I start with?”
We’ve covered some serious ground in this article. If you are new to soft bait making, you might feel overwhelmed about where to start!
Here are my tips for choosing the right soft bait molds for you.
Determine what baits you fish most with 👇
First, think about which soft baits you fish with the most. These will naturally be the baits you are the most interested in.
For me, I enjoy fishing the most with soft jerkbaits and finesse craws, so the Ned Craw and the Open Pour Jerkbait are the first baits on my list!
Look over the soft bait molds in this article 👇
Once you consider the soft baits you use most, look over the molds in this article to see if any fit the bill.
For instance, if you like to Carolina Rig, you might like the Angling AI Lizard Mold.
Or if you like to throw chatterbaits, you might like the Epic Slay Bait Mold!
Simply start with the molds listed here, and see if any tick all the right boxes for you.
Check out the lure mold companies feature in this article 👇
If all else fails and you don’t find a mold in today’s article that meets your needs, then check out the other molds offered by these companies!
Angling AI Molds, Hog Salad Molds, and Epic Bait Molds are all amazing companies pumping out fantastic products. I’m not sponsored by any of them, I just think their products (and customer service) are that great!
Use the links below to browse through a more exhaustive list of all they have to offer.
Soft Bait Mold Companies I Recommend
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