One of my all-time favorite bass fishing lures to throw in the spring and fall is a lipless crankbait. Lipless crankbaits are incredibly versatile lures that can be fished in a variety of different ways and catch fish just about anywhere.
With so many different lipless crankbaits on the market these days, it can be hard to know which baits to throw and invest your hard-earned money and time. So, what is the best lipless crankbait?
If I could only choose one lipless crankbait to use, my top choice would be the Lucky Craft LV-500 (Color: American Shad). I have a ton of confidence in this bait and it absolutely catches giant fish.
However, there are a lot of other great lipless crankbaits on the market that will help you catch a ton of fish. In this article I’ll share with you the best lipless crankbaits, when to use each one, how to select the right colors and some helpful tips to help you catch more fish using this versatile lure.
Make sure to check out My Recommended Bass Fishing Gear and Tackle Guide to ensure you have the right gear for your next fishing adventure.
The Best Lipless Crankbaits
If you are going to spend hours targeting big fish with a lipless crankbait, it’s extremely important to select a bait that you have a ton of confidence in and one that is proven to catch fish.
Below is a list of the best lipless crankbaits on the market that will help you catch a fish regardless of what part of the country you live in and what species you are targeting.
I’ve also included some tips and information on each one that will help you build confidence in these baits and most importantly catch bigger and more fish.
Lucky Craft LV-500
A heavier lipless crankbait in a compact profile, ideal for fishing slow on bottom out in deeper water or burning up shallow.
As I mentioned above the Lucky Craft LV-500 is my all-time favorite lipless crankbait and is a bait that I always recommend to other anglers. This is a special bait that I have a ton of confidence in.
The LV-500 flat out catches them, but in order to get the most out of this bait its important to understand where and how to fish it.
The LV-500 is a heavier bait in a small profile that sinks a lot faster than other lipless crankbaits. This fast fall rate gets you that reaction bite as it falls. When it hits the bottom, I find it best to slow fish it like a jig and lift your rod up until you feel it move toward you and then set it back down. Fishing it this way will get you a ton of bites.
You can also work this bait up shallow by burning it, but because its heavier it tends to get stuck more than lighter baits, but it can still be an effective way to fish it.
If you are just starting out fishing a lipless crankbait or want to add one to your lipless crankbait collection the LV-500 is the number lipless crankbait that I recommend and is a must have.
Strike King Red Eye Shad
An all-around great bait, ideal for burning around cover and fishing in the middle of the water column
The Strike King Red Eye Shad is an extremely popular and effective lipless crankbait that is at the top of my list as well as many other anglers.
This bait comes in two different options the original Red Eye Shad and the Tungsten 2 Tap. These two baits are super similar with the big difference being the type of sound they make.
The Tungsten 2 Tap has a unique double tapping cadence that has more of a knocking sound. The original and more popular Red Eye Shad has a bunch of smaller beads that creates more of a rattling high pitch sound.
In my experience this bait can be effective on the bottom, but where it really shines is when you are burning it around cover and grass in that mid depth water column.
Both the Original and Tungsten 2 Tap Red Eye Shad are extremely effective baits and are one that I have a ton of confidence. The effectiveness and affordability of this bait makes it a must have.
Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap
Excellent bait for covering water and grabbing the attention of any nearby fish. It can be fished out deep best is most effective up shallow. Perfect bait if you are just starting out in the lipless crankbait space.
How could I not include the Rattletrap on a list of the best lipless crankbaits. This is one of the most well-known and famous lipless crankbaits and for good reason, this bait flat out catches fish.
The Rattletrap is one of the best baits to locate and catch bass anywhere in the country. You can fish it out deep or burn it up shallow. This loud and flashy lure is an attention grabber and has some incredible drawing power.
For me where this bait really shines is when cranking it up shallow or around grass flats and deep structure. You can catch fish on a straight retrieve but if you really want to trigger more strikes try adding some jerks, twitches and pauses to your retrieval.
You can’t go wrong throwing a Rattletrap and is a bait that every angler should have in their fishing arsenal. Go check out this bait if you haven’t already.
6th Sense Quake
All around great lipless crankbait ideal for targeting bigger fish.
The 6th Sense Quake lipless crankbait lineup is another proven winner in the lipless space and is a must have bait. They come in some amazing colors patterns as well as bigger sizes to help you upsize the quality of fish you are catching.
The Quake series has three different options to choose from, the original, a suspending version and the Quake Thud. The main difference between these three are sound, fall rate and size. Making it easy to select a bait that is ideal for your fisheries.
One of the things I like about these baits is its unique action that is different from most other lipless crankbaits on the market. It’s has a duel flat back design with two flat spots that grab water and increase vibration and give it a unique swimming motion.
It comes with high quality hooks right out of the package, so you won’t need to do any replacements and is an all-around great bait that I love to use when targeting bigger fish.
Booyah One Knocker
A high quality, versatile lipless crankbait that has a unique sound and comes in a lot of different colors.
Another effective and versatile lipless crankbait is the Booyah One Knocker. This is a killer bait that can take your lipless crankbait skills to the next level.
The shape, color patterns and unique sounds it was makes this lipless crankbait stand out from the crowd. I’ve had success throwing this bait up shallow around grass and out deep in rockpiles. It’s also a great bait for fishing around docks and other types of structure.
Its productivity, unique sound and color patterns is why this bait makes the top lipless crankbaits list and is why you should consider adding one to your tackle box.
Cotton Cordell Spot
A light weight, inexpensive bait that’s effective for fishing around and at the top of grass.
When bass are active and around grass, there isn’t anything more efficient and productive than burning a Cotton Cordell lipless crankbait. This bait is extremely inexpensive but still gives anglers high quality performance.
One of the best things about this bait is that it has a slow sink and is an ultra-light weight. This combination makes this bait ideal for fishing in the middle of the water column.
Where this bait really shines is in grass. It’s not a bait that you want to use on the bottom. It’s going to be the most effective when fished around and at the top of grass. This is a killer spring lipless crankbait that comes with a very affordable price tag.
Jackall TN 50 & 70
Ideal lipless crankbait when you are fishing in deeper water, has a unique and enticing sound.
The Jackal TN series (both the 50 & 70) are another phenomenal lipless crankbait that can put the hammer down on any school of fish.
If your fish are out deeper than the Jackall TN 50 or 70 is a great option. It has a great fall rate that sinks well, but also stays down well during your retrieval. Making it an ideal bait when targeting fish that are in deeper water.
This bait also has a unique sound, it’s not too high pitch but also not super deep it is somewhere in the middle and is unlike other lipless crankbait sounds.
The proven history, great colors and overall craftsmanship of this bait will give you the confidence you need to go out and catch some big bass during the pre-spawn when the fish are out deeper.
Damiki Tremor
Ideal lipless crankbait for imitating dying baitfish like shad and ripping through grass.
If you are wanting a bait that perfectly imitates a dying shad or bait fish as it falls through the water, then Damiki Tremor bait is for you.
This is a bait that I find to be the most effective when its ripped through grass and is most productive as is flutters down on the fall.
It comes in both a rattling version for extra drawing power and a silent version for those tough and highly pressured fishing conditions.
The Damiki Tremor is an all-around great lipless crankbait that will help you catch a ton of bass this spring or fall. This bait is a winner and is worth adding to your tackle box.
Best Lipless Crankbait Colors
There are a lot of color options and patterns you can choose from when selecting a lipless crankbait. I have found that you only need a handful of colors that will cover almost any fishing application you’ll ever face.
The best lipless crankbait colors are red (especially in the spring), a ghost color, chrome, white & chartreuse and a bluegill pattern. Having a few baits in each color will keep you covered and help you catch fish in any condition.
For more in-depth information about choosing the right crankbait color check out one of my other articles called: Best Crankbait Colors That Catch More Fish
When & Where to Throw Lipless Crankbaits
You can catch fish on a lipless crankbait pretty much anywhere in the country on any fishery at any given time. However, where this bait really shines is during the spring and fall. When the bass are chasing baitfish there is no better way to catch them than with a lipless crankbait.
Here are some of my favorite areas to throw a lipless:
- Grass Flats
- Around Docks
- Around Heavy Cover
- Deep Rock Piles
- Primary and Secondary Points
- Around Vegetation
Lipless Crankbait Fishing Tips
A lipless crankbait is well known for being an effective bait that allows you too fish fast and cover a lot of water. There really isn’t a wrong way to fish it, but there are some things you can do to dramatically increase your odds of catching more fish.
Here are some key tips that will help you be more productive and successful as you target fish with a lipless crankbait.
Change your hooks (If needed)
A common reason why many anglers don’t believe in a lipless crankbait is that fish can easily shake them off. This is because they aren’t using the proper hooks.
Depending on the bait you might need to swap out you hooks for a sharper hook that has tipped points. These hooks will dramatically increase you catch rate and keeps the fish pinned as you are reeling them in.
Target High Percentage Areas
To give yourself the best shot at catching fish with a lipless crankbait target high percentage areas like grass flats, coves, points, docks, rockpiles and other types of structure vegetation and structure.
Cover Water
Most lipless crankbaits are made to be fished fast and will allow you to cover a lot of water. Don’t waste too much time in unproductive areas. Fish fast and when you do get bit, you can slow down and pick apart the area.
Mix up Your Retrieval
You can catch fish on a lipless with a simple straight retrieval, but if you want to catch bigger and more fish, mixing up your retrieval speed and cadence can make a world of difference. Try adding some rod twitches and jerks mixed in with some pauses. This will help you generate more strikes and catch more fish.
Experiment with Colors
Don’t be afraid to mix up your colors but also remember to keep it simple at the same time. In sunny clear conditions try throwing chrome or reflective colors to get more bites. If you are fishing in low light conditions bright bolder colors will be the most effective. Matching the hatch is also a great bet as well.
For more information on how to fish a lipless crankbait check out this article.
Final Thoughts
In this in-depth lipless crankbait guide we have gone over what the best lipless crankbaits are, how to fish with them and some tips and tricks that will give you confidence as you target fish in the spring and summer with these baits.
A lipless crankbait is an incredibly versatile and effective lure that will catch bass and other species anywhere in the country. I’d highly recommend giving these baits a shot and using the tips we discussed in this post. You’ll have a lot more fun and success throwing these versatile lures.
