Berkley has released the first products in its new Lab Series line, and fittingly, it’s a soft bait the company says is its most advanced yet.
Lab Series represents years of research and development at Berkley Labs in Spirit Lake, Iowa, bringing proprietary materials and advanced bait-building techniques together in a way that’s never been done before.
Launching with three purpose-built shapes, the Minnow, Flat Worm and Finesse Worm, the platform is already making its mark, including the Minnow that helped secure the 2026 Bassmaster Classic title.
It’s a clear homage to Berkley Labs in Spirit Lake, Iowa.
This new series of soft baits is the result of a decades-long project to combine the best of the company’s scientifically proven technologies into one soft bait. The Lab Series is the first to capitalize fully on a fish’s senses by delivering uncompromising color, action, scent and taste.
Built to meet the demands of modern fishing pressure, Lab Series baits are engineered to trigger bites from fish that have seen it all.
We believe these new lures are going to send all manner of the 15 U.S. bass species into a frenzy.
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Lab Series Combines MaxScent and PowerBait for the First Time
Through a small-batch layered pouring process, Berkley combines a MaxScent layer, a proven PowerBait taste layer, and a MaxScent Rapid-Release Slime. The slime layer provides an explosion of fish-attracting scent the moment it hits the water.
It is the first time MaxScent and PowerBait have been combined into a single bait, allowing for a myriad of translucent color options. The small batch pouring process allows for the delivery of technique-specific finesse actions.
The result of this combination is a series of baits that is built to get more fish to commit, bite and hold onto the bait.
“Lab Series is the result of a number of projects converging into one singular mission to deliver a bait to anglers that eliminates compromise,” said Berkley’s Nathan Ragsdale, Senior Product Manager, Freshwater Bait.
“For the first time, we’re able to combine the scent dispersion of MaxScent, the proven taste of PowerBait, and new scent activation technology in the same bait while maintaining the exact profile, action and colors anglers demand. It allows us to approach bait designs and techniques that simply weren’t possible before.”
The Platform
At the core of the Lab Series soft bait platform is a multi-stage scent delivery approach that works both immediately and throughout the life of the bait.
A rapid-release powder is applied to the bait at the end of the manufacturing process. This powder is derived from the same fish-attracting formula as the proven MaxScent material.
The powder activates instantly when the bait hits the water, creating a scent-producing slime that begins dispersing scent immediately.
As that slime wears off throughout use, the poured MaxScent layer takes over, providing sustained scent dispersion over time. The PowerBait layers deliver the taste that convinces fish to hold on longer.
Complementing the technology is a premium package designed specifically to protect bait integrity and maintain performance until the moment it hits the water.
Every bait is hand placed in a form tray, ensuring baits stay perfectly formed, scent-rich and ready to fish.
The Lab Series platform launches with three technique-driven soft baits designed around some of the most effective presentations in modern finesse fishing: the minnow, the flat worm, and the finesse worm.
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Berkley Lab Series Minnow
Designed for forward-facing sonar and modern baitfish presentations, the Lab Series Minnow delivers a highly realistic profile and movement pattern that closely mimics natural forage.
Built using Berkley’s small-batch layered pouring process with proprietary Berkley Lab materials, the bait precisely delivers scent, taste, color, and action in a single presentation.
A fast tail quiver combined with a natural body roll creates subtle movement that excels when targeting pressured fish.
An internal air pocket allows the bait to remain perfectly level regardless of line angle, maintaining a natural posture that triggers strikes when fish are following but hesitant to commit.
Minnow Key Features:
- Scientifically engineered to trigger bites: via the four primary proven feeding stimuli - Color. Action. Scent. Taste.
- Proven in the Lab for confidence on the water: small batch, precision layered construction fuses the best of our fish-proven formulas together in one bait.
- Unlimited Color and Action: Lab Series delivers scent dispersion and taste without compromising color and action.
- Rapid Release MaxScent Slime: coating activates on contact with water for immediate scent dispersion.
- Minnow profile with purpose-driven action: fast tail quiver, natural body roll, and an internal air pocket that keeps the bait perfectly level at any line angle.
- Sizes: 5.25” - 6 count | 6.5” - 5 count
- Colors: Acid Shad • Electric Shad • Gizzard Shad • Highland Shad • Limestone • Phantom Herring • Platinum Shad • Silver Shad • Threadfin • Wakasagi
- MSRP: $14.99
- Available: May 2026
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Berkley Lab Series Flat Worm
A staple Berkley finesse profile, the Lab Series Flat Worm refines a proven bait shape. The Lab Series adds the advantage of Berkley’s small-batch layered pouring process and proprietary Berkley Lab materials.
This construction allows the bait to deliver scent, taste, color and action in a single presentation.
The compact 3.6-inch profile imitates a wide range of forage species, from gobies to threadfin shad. It's an ideal option for pressured fish that have grown conditioned to traditional presentations.
The bite-sized Flat Worm design paired with subtle movement creates an easy meal that fish can’t resist.
Flat Worm Key Features:
- Scientifically engineered to trigger bites: via the four primary proven feeding stimuli - Color. Action. Scent. Taste.
- Proven in the Lab for confidence on the water: small batch, precision layered construction fuses the best of our fish-proven formulas together in one bait.
- Unlimited Color and Action: Lab Series delivers scent dispersion and taste without compromising color and action.
- Rapid Release MaxScent Slime: coating activates on contact with water for immediate scent dispersion.
- Flat Worm profile with purpose-driven action: bite sized morsel that imitates forage bases from Goby to Threadfin Shad.
- Size: 3.6” - 10 count
- Colors: Ember Jelly Fusion • Highland Shad • Obsidian Black • Oxblood Red Flake • Platinum Shad • Prism Shad • Tactical • Violet Morning Dawn • Wakasagi
- MSRP: $14.99
- Available: May 2026
Berkley Lab Series Finesse Worm
The Lab Series Finesse Worm was designed specifically for today’s finesse techniques where subtle action and scent can make the difference between a follow and a bite.
Built using Berkley’s small-batch layered pouring process with proprietary Berkley Lab materials, the bait delivers precise scent, taste, color and action in a single presentation.
The sleek profile produces a slow wag on the fall, transitioning into sharp, snappy quivers when worked with the rod tip.
This controlled movement gives anglers an advantage when targeting fish that have become conditioned to common bait presentations.
Finesse Worm Key Features:
- Scientifically engineered to trigger bites: via the four primary proven feeding stimuli - Color. Action. Scent. Taste
- Proven in the Lab for confidence on the water: small batch, precision layered construction fuses the best of our fish-proven formulas together in one bait.
- Unlimited Color and Action: Lab Series delivers scent dispersion and taste without compromising color and action.
- Rapid Release MaxScent Slime: coating activates on contact with water for immediate scent dispersion.
- Finesse Worm profile with purpose-driven action: sleek body profile, subtle slow wag on the fall that transitions into sharp snappy quivers when worked.
- Size: 6” - 10 count
- Colors: Bold Bluegill • Ember Jelly Fusion • Morning Dawn Red Flake • Oxblood Red Flake • Payload • Platinum Shad • Prism Shad • Spectrum • Sunset • Violet Morning Dawn
- MSRP: $14.99
- Available: May 2026
