Best Wood Floating Fishing Lures of 2025

Luke Dobson Avatar
Luke Dobson
Last Updated: 6 Feb 2025

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Wood floating fishing lures are a type of fishing bait that is designed to float on the surface of the water. These lures are made of wood, which makes them lightweight and easy to cast. They are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours, and can be used to catch a wide range of fish species. The buoyancy of these lures makes them ideal for use in shallow water or areas with a lot of vegetation. They are also environmentally friendly, as they do not contain harmful chemicals that can pollute the water. Overall, wood floating fishing lures are a great option for anglers looking for a versatile and eco-friendly fishing bait.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Rapala Original Floater Bait for Freshwater Fishing Cover #TOP 1
Rapala Original Floater Bait for Freshwater Fishing
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Rapala Countdown Balsa Wood Fishing Lure Cover #TOP 2
Rapala Countdown Balsa Wood Fishing Lure
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Rapala CountDown Balsa Wood Fishing Lure Cover #TOP 3
Rapala CountDown Balsa Wood Fishing Lure
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Wood Floating Fishing Lures

#TOP 1

Rapala Original Floater Bait for Freshwater Fishing

F5-TRL
Live Brown Trout
Taille 5cm / 3g
Rapala Original Floater Bait for Freshwater Fishing Cover
Rapala - Artificial Fishing Bait Spinning Original Floater - Simulation Bait for Freshwater Fishing in Balsa Wood - Swimming Prof. 0.9-1.5m - 5cm/3g - Made in Estonia - Live Brown Trout

The Rapala Original Floater is an exceptional artificial fishing bait designed to enhance your freshwater fishing experience. Its realistic fish-like appearance, crafted from balsa wood, allows you to target various water layers effectively. You can attract aggressive fish with its unique swimming action, which mimics that of a wounded live bait. Moreover, the bait is equipped with three reliable VMC hooks, ensuring secure catches while making it easy for you to unhook them once landed.

What We Like
Realistic fish design
Versatile water layer fishing
Attracts aggressive fish
Easy to unhook
#TOP 2

Rapala Countdown Balsa Wood Fishing Lure

CD3-MD
Muddler
3 cm
Rapala Countdown Balsa Wood Fishing Lure Cover
Rapala Unisex Adult Countdown Fishing Lure Fishing Accessories Balsa Wood Freshwater Spinning Bait Running Depth 0.6-0.9 m Fishing Lure 3 cm 4 g Made in Estonia Muddler

The Rapala Countdown Lure is a compact 3 cm fishing accessory weighing 4 g, designed for effective freshwater fishing. Its sinking action allows you to reach depths of 0.6 to 0.9 metres, making it ideal for targeting fish that are slightly deeper in the water. The lightweight balsa wood construction ensures a natural presentation, which can attract more bites. With its vibrant colour code MD, you can easily spot it, enhancing your fishing experience.

What We Like
Effective for deeper fishing
Lightweight and easy to handle
Natural presentation in water
Vibrant colour for visibility
#TOP 3

Rapala CountDown Balsa Wood Fishing Lure

CD05 ATR
Artistic
Standard
Rapala CountDown Balsa Wood Fishing Lure Cover
Rapala Unisex Adult Countdown Fishing Bait Fishing Accessories Made of Balsa Wood Freshwater Spinning Bait Running Depth 0.9-1.8 m Fishing Lure 5 cm, 5 g Made in Estonia Artistic, Standard

The Rapala CountDown Lure is designed for effective deep fishing. Its controlled sinking and rising action allows you to explore various water depths, making it easier to catch fish no matter where they are. The lure's aerodynamic shape facilitates long, precise casts, enhancing your fishing experience. Additionally, it features reliable hooks that ensure a secure catch, so you can focus on reeling in your prize without worrying about losing it.

What We Like
Excellent depth control
Long casting capability
Effective for predatory fish
Hand-tuned for realistic action

Rapala Original Floater 03 Brown Trout Lure

F03TR
Brown Trout
Size 3, 1.5-Inch
Rapala Original Floater 03 Brown Trout Lure Cover
Rapala Original Floater 03 Fishing lure, 1.5-Inch, Brown Trout

The Rapala Original Floater 03 is a well-crafted fishing lure made from balsa wood, providing a natural minnow profile that attracts fish effectively. Its VMC black nickel hooks ensure superior strength and durability, giving you confidence on every catch. Available in both classic and bleeding patterns, you can choose the best option to match the fishing conditions. Additionally, each lure is hand-tuned and tank-tested, ensuring it performs flawlessly in water, making your fishing experience more successful.

What We Like
Balsa wood construction
Natural minnow profile
Durable black nickel hooks
Available in various patterns
Hand-tuned and tested
#TOP 5

Rapala Countdown Elite Balsa Fishing Lure

CDE55
Parrot
Standard
Rapala Countdown Elite Balsa Fishing Lure Cover
Rapala - Countdown Elite Fishing Lure - Fishing Tackle Made of Balsa Wood - Freshwater Spinning Bait - Sinking - Running Depth: 0.9m - Size: 5.5cm / 5g - Made in Estonia - Gilded Parrot

The Rapala Countdown Elite Lure is crafted from balsa wood, allowing it to sink slowly and mimic the movement of a real fish. This realistic action enhances its effectiveness, making it a must-have in your tackle box. Made from high-quality materials, it offers durability and resistance to corrosion, ensuring longevity during use. Furthermore, its versatility means it works well in both freshwater and saltwater, catering to various fishing environments and enhancing your fishing experience.

What We Like
Slow sinking mimics real fish
Durable balsa wood construction
Effective in freshwater and saltwater
High-quality, resistant materials
#TOP 6

Rapala Original Floater 07 Fishing Lure in Gold

F07G
Bleeding Hot Olive
7 UK
Rapala Original Floater 07 Fishing Lure in Gold Cover
Rapala Original Floater 07 Fishing lure (Gold, Size- 2.75)

The Rapala Original Floater 07 is expertly crafted from balsa wood, providing a lightweight and buoyant design that enhances its natural minnow profile. This feature is useful for attracting fish effectively, making your fishing experience more successful. The lure is equipped with VMC black nickel hooks, ensuring a strong and reliable catch. Additionally, it comes in both classic and bleeding patterns, allowing you to choose the best option for your fishing conditions. Each lure is hand-tuned and tank tested, guaranteeing high performance when you need it most.

What We Like
Lightweight balsa wood construction
Effective natural minnow profile
Durable VMC black nickel hooks
Variety of attractive patterns
Hand-tuned for optimal performance
#TOP 7

Rapala Shad Dancer Balsa Wood Fishing Lure

Albino Shiner
Standard
Rapala Shad Dancer Balsa Wood Fishing Lure Cover
Rapala - Shad Dancer fishing lures - balsa wood fishing accessories - freshwater trolling bait - running depth 3-4.2 m - fishing bait 7 cm, 15 g - made in Estonia - live metallic roach

The Rapala Shad Dancer is designed for effective trolling, featuring a lively action that entices predatory fish. Its one-piece balsa wood construction ensures a strong and aggressive performance, making it ideal for long casts. The lure’s design mimics the swimming motion of real fish, attracting species like pike and trout. With reliable VMC triple hooks, you can expect secure catches and easy handling when reeling in your prize. This lure offers an excellent fishing experience, enhancing your chances of a successful outing.

What We Like
Lively and aggressive action
Strong balsa wood construction
Mimics real fish movement
Reliable triple hooks
Ideal for long casting
#TOP 8

Rapala Original Floater 11 Lure (Vampire)

F11V
Multi-coloured
One Size
Rapala Original Floater 11 Lure (Vampire) Cover
Rapala Original Floater 11 Fishing Lure (Vampire)

The Rapala Original Floater 11 is a top-quality fishing lure crafted from balsa wood, providing a natural minnow profile that attracts fish effectively. The VMC black nickel hooks ensure a strong and reliable catch, while the availability of classic and bleeding patterns offers versatility for various fishing conditions. Each lure is hand-tuned and tank tested, guaranteeing optimal performance for your fishing adventures. With these features, you can enhance your fishing experience and increase your chances of a successful catch.

What We Like
Balsa wood construction
Natural minnow profile
Strong VMC hooks
Versatile patterns available
Hand-tuned for performance

Rapala Shallow Shad Rap 05 Fishing Lure

SSR05S
silver
Rapala Shallow Shad Rap 05 Fishing Lure Cover
Rapala Shallow Shad Rap 05 Fishing lure (Silver, Size- 2.5)

The Rapala Shad Rap 05 is an exceptional fishing lure designed to attract big fish. Crafted from balsa wood, it features stunning finishes that make it irresistible to fish. Its shallow running lip design allows it to glide effortlessly through the water, making it perfect for targeting fish in shallow areas. Additionally, the classic "wounded-minnow" wobble mimics the natural movement of injured prey, increasing your chances of a successful catch. With this lure, you can enjoy a more effective fishing experience.

What We Like
Irresistible to big fish
Shallow running for easy use
Realistic "wounded-minnow" action
Durable balsa wood construction
#TOP 10

Rapala Floating Magnum Lure with Hooks

FMAG18RH
Red Head
Rapala Floating Magnum Lure with Hooks Cover
Rapala Floating Magnum Lure with Two No. 4/0 Hooks, 2.7-3.3 m Swimming Depth, 18 cm Size, Red Head

The Rapala Floating Magnum Lure is crafted from super tough Abachi wood, ensuring durability during your fishing adventures. The rugged rust-resistant hardware adds to its longevity, allowing you to focus on catching fish without worrying about wear and tear. With natural and stimulator patterns, this lure is designed to attract a variety of fish, making your fishing trips more successful. The VMC Perma Steel hooks provide reliable performance, ensuring your catches stay hooked. This combination of features makes the lure a great addition to your fishing gear.

What We Like
Durable Abachi wood construction
Rust-resistant hardware
Attractive natural patterns
Reliable VMC Perma Steel hooks
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do wooden fishing lures work?

"Wood isn't consistent at all," Powers said. "Build 10 identical lures out of it, all of them will work and probably better than plastic, but only three of them might work exactly the way you want them to in the water."

2. What is the best wood to make a fishing lure out of?

Basswood is probably the most popular wood used for carving fishing lures. Basswood is a creamy white colored, fine grained wood that is easily carved with hand tools. Basswood cuts easily both with and across the grain. Our basswood is kiln dried so there is little shrinkage and accepts paint well.

Editor's Notes

During our wood floating fishing lure research, we found 76 wood floating fishing lure products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 10,178 customer reviews through our big data system to write the wood floating fishing lures list. We found that most customers choose wood floating fishing lures with an average price of £10.72.

The wood floating fishing lures are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of wood floating fishing lures, including Rapala and more. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 214 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Luke Dobson Avatar

Luke is a runner, a climber, hiker, hunter, and a lot more. Luke Dobson is Celtic-born and has lived most of his life in Scotland. However, his sporting endeavours have taken him to several countries around Europe. He serves as a tour guide for countless companies and owns a couple of gyms and recreational centres in Scotland. Luke Dobson is proficient in 7 different languages. He maintains many sport article columns where he shares his wealth of experience in the sport industry.