Best Lipless Crankbaits: Quick Crankin’ in the Shallows

The lipless crankbait is a highly slept-on lure used primarily when fish aren’t biting.

They look exactly like a typical crankbait minus the fact that they’re lacking the square bill you’re used to seeing on the front.

I’ve used quite a few of these hard baits with the Berkley Warpig and Rapala Rippin’ Rap being my two favorites. 

Let’s talk about these interesting lures, which ones work the best, and how we can use the best lipless crankbaits to hook some bass when they aren’t hitting.

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1. Berkley Warpig 

Here’s a bold statement: Berkley’s Warpig has outfished my entire collection of premium lipless crankbaits.

I’ve spent countless hours throwing the Warpig on my local lakes, and I can tell you firsthand – this 1/2 oz lipless crankbait has become my go-to for a reason.

Its natural baitfish shape practically does the work for you. During my latest trip to Lake Travis, I caught three solid bass in an hour just burning it through schools of shad.

The blunt, slightly concave nose design isn’t just for looks – it helps the bait stay true even when you’re reeling fast. Trust me, this matters when you’re trying to trigger reaction strikes in clear water. The internal rattles are loud enough to call fish in without being overwhelming, which I’ve found perfect for both calm and slightly stained water.

Best of all? The price point makes it a fantastic starter lipless crankbait (less than $10). While it only comes in 1/2 ounce, I’ve found this to be the most versatile size for anglers anyway – it’s not too heavy to control but has enough weight to cast well.

2. Rapala Ultra Light Rippin’ Rap

Ever had one of those days where the bass just won’t commit to a full-sized crankbait? That’s exactly why I always keep an Ultra Light Rippin’ Rap in my tackle box.

I’ve spent enough time with this bait to tell you that its deep belly profile isn’t just for show. Rapala designed it to perfectly mimic a shad, and during my testing, I’ve found that the realistic eyes and loud internal rattle make it absolutely deadly in murky water conditions.

You can burn it through the water or rip it through vegetation – the versatility is incredible. I’ve had particular success with the smaller 3/16 ounce size during two specific situations:

• When the water temperatures drop.
• During those brutal midday summer hours when fishing slows down.

The color selection is thoughtfully designed with about 10 different patterns to match any condition you’ll face. Through trial and error, I’ve developed a simple rule of thumb – go natural and lighter on sunny days, darker patterns when it’s cloudy. This has made a huge difference in my catch rates.

Pro tip: If you’re a beginner angler, this is an amazing option because it’s lighter weight makes it much easier to control and keep at the right depth. You don’t need to be an expert to fish this effectively – just a steady retrieve will often do the trick.

Keep this in your tackle box as your “plan B” – you’ll thank me later.

3. Strike King Red Eye Shad

If I can’t prove it to you, maybe Kevin Vandam will. He won the 2010 Bassmaster Classic using this very lure and attributes it to the dying baitfish presentation. 

Every angler worth his or her weight will tell you that if you can make your lure look like it’s injured or dying, you’ll dramatically increase your chances of catching bass.

The red eye shad does this with a variety of different color choices. 

You have at least a dozen different options and they all come with red 3D eyes and a floating internal rattle that generates a lot of attention. 

The action on this lure is erratic and if you pair that with the color bass will immediately think they have an easy meal on their hands and take the bait. 

4. Cotton Cordell Super Spot 

When you’re looking for something a little different you’ll want to look outside the primary brands that I always recommend.

This option from Cotton Cordell has a lot of bonuses that you won’t find in many other lures. 

First, it has a wide profile which actually helps prevent it from getting snagged up. This means you can fish it closer to the weeds to try and pull the big bass out of hiding. 

It also features multiple rattles which create a lot of attention. Pair that with the reflective design and it shines in the eyes of bass when in clear water and the sun is bright. 

It comes in a ½ and ¼ ounce size and 12 different colors so you can cater to the current weather and surroundings. 

This lure is the brainchild of Hall of Famer Cotton Cordell and it’s designed to cut through the air which also makes it a great option for bank fishing. 

5. Booyah One Knocker

I love my Booyah lures and the One Knocker is no exception. This is a great alternative to the Strike King Hard Knocker if you need something lipless. 

It has a rattle with a lower pitch making this a great option when the bass aren’t biting. The Hard Knocker is an aggressive look while this one is a bit more subtle. 

I’d like to pull this out on an overcast morning when there’s a bit of a chill in the air in early Fall.

Lipless crankbaits are great fall lures because they’re more gentle and are designed to imitate injured baitfish with their action. 

Best of all this lure comes in sizes ranging from ¼ ounce to ¾ ounce and a number of colors. This gives you versatility to start high and work your way down if you’re not getting any bites. 

6. Yo-Zuri 3D Slow Sinker

Yo-Zuri is not exactly a mainstream brand but they pump out some good products every now and then.

A lot of the crankbaits reviewed in this guide are divers which mean they’ll sink well beneath the surface if you work them quick enough.

This one on the other hand is a suspended twitchbait so it’s designed to stay right beneath the surface. 

It has a rolling and twitching action so it will essentially spin through the water as you retrieve it. This presentation again, goes back to the injury or erratic nature of these baits. 

The goal is to make a bass think that something is wrong and if they believe that the baitfish is unable to defend itself for whatever reason, it’ll strike the bait. 

This one also has a super realistic 3D presentation with all natural flat sides and an almost transparent bottom half.

It’s also designed to prevent damage in saltwater so you can use it for inshore fishing for stripers as well.

I’d compare this to a quality stickbait like the Hydro Pencil from Yo-Zuri. 

7. Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap

Here’s another popular floating lipless crankbait with a super realistic presentation. This one is designed to wobble like an injured baitfish. 

Again, the erratic action is what does this and makes it look like an easy meal for a bass that may be stalking nearby. 

This lure is a staple for Professionals in shallow grass and dense cover.

Since it stays above the cover in the column it won’t get snagged or pull in too many weeds and you can really clean house with a twitching presentation. 

Let it sink every so slightly and then twitch it. You could also use the yo-yo technique. 

This lure is not as beginner-friendly as some of the other options because you’ll have to hook it yourself with treble hooks and get the weight right to ensure you stay at the right depth.

This takes a little experience and some trial and error. Keep that in mind. 

How to Choose Lipless Crankbaits for Bass

Finding the best lipless crankbaits comes down to a gametime decision based on conditions. This is why I preach the importance of having enough options. 

If you have a few choices based on color and size then you’ll never starve on the lake. 

In the following sections, I want to outline some of the important considerations to keep in mind when choosing the best lipless crankbaits. 

Color 

Choosing the best lipless crankbait colors is simple because the rules never change. 

You choose the color based on your conditions. If the water is clear and the sun is shining, go for something bright and natural like chartreuse, bluegill, or shiner. 

If the water is murky and the sky is overcast, go with something more subtle and maybe a louder rattle because the bass can’t see the lure.

In some cases, murky water when the sun is shining is a great time to fish something bright. You can try and gather what little light reflection you have. 

In the spring, bass tend to feed on crawfish so go with a red craw color.

In the early fall, bass tend to feed more aggressively in the shallow water and it’s usually clear, mimic the baitfish and minnow colors. 

It’s simple but having the best color lipless crankbait will give you a sharp advantage. 

Size

I’ll say it again and again, “match the hatch.” Match the size of the prey you’re encountering in the water. If you see shad and they’re about 2-3 inches in length, throw something similar. 

Try to always keep your lures sized to the prey you’re seeing and if you can’t see anything, start bigger than you think you should be and work your way down. 

Keep fishing pressure in mind as well. If it’s a busy day on the lake or you’re tossing from the shore and you’re surrounded by other anglers, a big 4-inch crankbait isn’t going to cut it.

You need to size down in this situation. 

The best crankbait for bass is whatever the bass are eating at the time! 

Action

A lipless crankbait is designed to be aerodynamic. They remove the lip to force them to dive deeper into the water column. This is what you want them to do. 

A crankbait with a lip prevents it from diving so it sits right beneath the surface and it’s why we call them “suspended crankbaits.” 

Most lipless crankbaits have a rattle and depending on the type of bb inside, you could have a high-pitched screeching sound or a low-pitched gurgling sound. Each has their time and place. 

All lipless crankbaits are also designed to imitate an injured fish. This is true in both color and presentation. Using a fluorocarbon leader can even enhance this. 

The reason they do this is because it makes bass think they have an easy meal option.

Would they rather chase a worm for 50 yards or chow down on this bleeding shad they have right in front of them? 

Keep the action and presentation of your choice in mind before getting it wet. I’ve provided a wide variety of options above but I recommend the Warpig or Rattlin’ Rap if you’ve never fished a lipless crankbait before.

These have the most traditional presentations. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Final Thoughts 

I hope you enjoyed this breakdown of the best lipless crankbaits for bass and some of the fishing tips that went along with it. 

Remember the golden period of early Spring and Fall when fishing these bad boys. 

Lipless cranks are a great option when the bass aren’t biting and they’re a heck of a lot of fun to throw. 

The Berkley Warpig is easily my favorite option but I wouldn’t sleep on the Strike King Red Eye Shad either. 

Do you have a good lipless crankbait story? Feel free to tell us about it in the comments! 

Good luck out there!