Lipless crankbaits are a versatile type of crankbait that every angler should have in their tackle box. Generally considered an exceptional style lure for targeting largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, lipless crankbaits can also catch northern pike and muskies in freshwater or redfish, speckled trout, striped bass, snook, and tarpon while inshore fishing.
Lipless crankbaits are enjoyable to fish and highly effective (if you know how to use them!). Keep reading to understand:
- What is a Lipless Crankbait?
- Why Fish a Lipless Crankbait?
- How to Fish a Lipless Crankbait?
- When to Fish a Lipless Crankbait?
- Best Rod and Reel for Lipless Crankbaits?
- Best Lipless Crankbaits?
- Lipless Crankbait Frequently Asked Questions
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
What is a Lipless Crankbait?
Lipless crankbaits are a style of crankbait, a hard plastic bait in the shape of a baitfish or crawfish, that has no bill (or lip). This means lipless crankbaits do not aggressively dive when reeled in like crankbaits with bills would. Lipless crankbaits are weighted, which let’s the angler control depth of the lure by the speed of the retrieve. Slow retrieves give more time for the bait to sink, where fast retrieves will rip the lure along just below the surface of the water.
Lipless crankbaits are slimmer in shape than other crankbaits and have flat sides that give the bait a tight wiggle swimming action in the water that fish just can’t resist. They may also have built-in rattles to create more ‘interest’ to hungry fish. The line connection is located on the forward top of the lure instead of at the nose like other crankbaits.
Why Fish a Lipless Crankbait?
Lipless crankbaits are one of the most versatile hard plastic lures available. Their main pros are:
- Great depth control in the 1-10′ depth range. Slower retrieves let the bait sink deeper in the water column.
- Easy to fish for all skill levels (will catch fish on both straight and varied retrieves)
- Easy to cast long distances
- Excellent searchbait to cover water until you find fish
- Effective for catching prime target species (largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskies, redfish, speckled trout, snook, etc)
How to Fish a Lipless Crankbait?
Lipless crankbaits are generally fished with either a mostly straight retrieve or with periodic pauses. Cast the lure out, and reel in with a constant pace. Try mixing up the retrieve with periodic pauses. Fish frequently strike on a pause. Slower retrieves let the bait sink further in the water column, and fast retrieves will keep the bait near the surface.
Try to keep the bait close to some kind of structure, like the edge of a weed bed. Don’t be afraid to rip the lure over the top of submerged grass to draw the attention of nearby lurking fish.
Your best bet for catching fish is to cast shorelines or shallow structure. Lipless crankbaits are not effective in water depths deeper than roughly 10 feet. For fishing deeper structure, you might switch to a Carolina Rig or some type of fishing jig.
When to Fish a Lipless Crankbait?
Lipless crankbaits can catch fish all year, but tend to work better when fish are up shallow during the spawn or active feeding periods. Spring and fall are considered the best times to use lipless crankbaits because many of the target species are shallow and aggressively feeding.
During the dog days of summer, or the middle of winter, fish may either be sluggish or in deeper water and unwilling to chase a lipless crankbait. That said, I’ve caught plenty of fish on lipless crankbaits all times of the year!
Best Rod and Reel for Fishing Lipless Crankbaits
A medium duty setup is perfect for fishing with a lipless crankbait. Lipless crankbait fishing tends to target decent sized fish (largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, redfish, speckled trout, etc) and you want enough backbone in your rod and reel to pull in your prey. Longer rods can help with casting distance.
My current go-to lipless crankbait setup is a St. Croix Mojo-Inshore rod in medium power, 7′ long, with a fast action paired with a Curado baitcasting reel. For me, this rod and reel setup hits that perfect mix of high quality equipment that will last in both saltwater and freshwater environments without breaking the bank.
I prefer to purchase saltwater rated equipment because I fish both fresh and salt water. If primarily fishing for bass in freshwater, St. Croix’s Mojo Bass rods are another great option for lipless crankbait fishing. No need to overcomplicated it – get a medium sized rod and reel in your favorite brand and you’ll be catching fish on lipless crankbaits in no time.
Our article on the best bass fishing rods and our article on the best baitcasting reels provide additional information that could be helpful to picking a rod and reel to pair with lipless crankbaits.
Best Lipless Crankbaits?
I am partial to Rat-L-Trap lipless crankbaits. They have good build quality, have a modest rattle, and solid wiggle action in the water.
What are you waiting for? Get out there and catch some fish with a lipless crankbait! They are a fun, versatile type of lure that anglers of all skill levels can enjoy.
Make sure you have the right fishing pliers and fillet knife to handle the big fish you reel in on your lipless crankbait!
Lipless Crankbait Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best color for a lipless crankbait?
The best color choice for lipless crankbaits is to pick a color that matches the color of local forage. Fish are feeding on shad? Pick a flashy silver lipless crankbait. Feeding on crawfish? Go with a more natural red or green.
Water clarity also plays a factor. Lipless crankbaits are a ‘loud’ bait by the nature of their natural action plus built-in rattle. Adding a flashy visual presentation on top of their loud nature in clear water can sometimes make fish think twice about striking. In clear water conditions, think about natural, muted colors, and in low visibility conditions lean into the flash and colors that pop.
What is the best size lipless crankbait?
The best size lipless crankbait matches the size of the local forage. The most common size lipless crankbaits are 1/2 oz which is a great place to start on most bodies of water. Size up or size down if you have trouble getting to the depth you want to fish or if the local forage is a different size.
How deep do lipless crankbaits go?
Lipless crankbaits can be fished to depths up to 10 feet but perform best between 1 and 6 feet. Slower retrieves let the bait sink further in the water column, and fast retrieves will keep the bait near the surface.
What are lipless crankbaits good for?
Lipless crankbaits are great searchbaits that excel at covering water to find actively feeding fish. They work best in 1 to 6 feet of water. Lipless crankbaits are excellent for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass but will also catch northern pike, muskies, redfish, and speckled trout.
Written By: Andrew Juran
Andrew is a seasoned angler with over 25 years of experience fishing across the United States. He has caught hundreds of fish using various techniques and mentored many in the art of fishing. An advocate for sustainable fishing, Andrew is an active member of the Coastal Conservation Association, an organization committed to marine conservation.
For frequent fishing tips, behind-the-scenes looks, and real-time catches, connect with Andrew on Instagram
