Lipless crankbaits come in a variety of sizes, colors and sounds. Most have the same general profile, with a slender body that is longer than it is tall, but there are a few lipless crankbaits now that weigh as little as 1/8 ounce up to 1 and 1/2 ounces. While most of us will rarely have need for a lipless that’s outside the 1/4- to 3/4-ounce range, there are still tons of options in that window when it comes to color and sound.

Thus, deciding which lipless crankbait to go with can be a little bit intimidating. We’re here to help with that today though. We’ll start by talking about the size you’ll need depending on a couple key variables. And then move to the sound that’s best for your situation. Lastly we’ll talk through color selection. Let’s get to it.

Selecting the right size -

You’ll want to base your size choice on two main criteria: the depth you’re fishing and the forage you’re fishing around. For instance, if the bass in the area are primarily relating to smaller baitfish in less than 3-feet of water, you will not want to go with a large and heavy lipless crankbait. Instead, a 1/4-ounce bait is better suited for the conditions.

However, say you want to fish your lipless down around submerged vegetation that tops out 5 feet below the surface. A 1/2-ounce bait is better for this scenario, because it can get deeper faster than the 1/4-ounce bait. Even still, the 1/2-ounce lipless may be too light to fish in the deeper parts of the grass that have 10 feet of water over them. If this is the case, then you’d want to swap to a 3/4-ounce bait.

Selecting the right sound -

Though lipless crankbaits are on average some of the loudest baits you can fish with, there are also versions that are silent. And then there are the different sub categories of those that do have rattles; Some baits have multiple smaller beads in them to generate a sharper noise (like the MONSTERBASS Incision Lipless Crankbait) while others have one large bead that creates a solid thump (like the Booyah One Knocker).

None of these sound signatures are inherently better or worse than others, it’s more that one is often better than another situationally. For instance, it’s typically best to start fishing a lipless crankbait that has a “normal” rattle that’s more traditional in sound, like the Incision. But, if you’re fishing around a lot of other boats or you know there are fish in your area and you’re not getting bit, then it’s a good idea to change things up a bit and go with the One Knocker or even a silent lipless to trigger the more pressured fish into biting.

Selecting the right color -

When it comes to the color selection of lipless crankbaits, it’s usually best to use the “match the hatch” mentality. This simply means that you’ll want to pick a color that closely resembles the natural forage in the area. So, if the bass are relating to shad, go with a bait that has a shad pattern—like Blue Chrome in the Incision. But, if the bass are keying in more on crawfish in the spring, you’ll usually find better success throwing something like a Candy Apple Craw or Crawlicious (also in the Incision).

However, water clarity should also play a part in your color section. Duller colors that give off more of a glow (like the Sexy Blue Back Herring in the Strike King Redeye Shad lineup) work really well in the fall, when the water isn’t muddy but isn’t really all that clear either; Instead, it often has a bit of a dingy green color to it then, and the baits that have that glow to them work really well.

Two-tone colors (like gold with a black back) often work well in more stained water, since the rocking bait’s contrasting colors create a flash. Then again you may find success in clear water with anything from a bright chrome bait to a translucent pattern to a red craw color. This is why it’s important to remember that color selection should primarily be determined by the bait in the area, and then you can refine your selection based on the water color or visibility. 

Final thoughts -

Lipless crankbaits are fantastic fish catchers year round. These baits can be fished from mere inches of water out to 10 plus feet with relative ease. Selecting the right size is critical though; To do so, consider how deep you’re fishing and the size of the forage in the area. Then you can really play around with the sound of the bait until you get that dialed in, but remember it’s likely to change day to day. So, keeping a few different baits on hand with different sound signatures is a good idea.

Lastly, choose your colors primarily in an attempt to closely replicate the real thing. There are rare instances where you’ll want to use something off the wall. But, most of the time, you’re best bet is picking a bait that looks like what the bass are already eating. Then narrow down your selection based on which colors show up well, but not too well, depending on the water clarity. If you take these things into consideration, you should be able to dial in a lipless crankbait that will work well for you almost any time of the year on any body of water.