Fishing Lipless Crankbaits for Late Winter Bass

A highly effective bait when fishing for late winter bass is the lipless crankbaits. Lipless crankbaits are versatile lures that mimic the action and sound of a fleeing prey such as minnows and crayfish, thereby enticing bass to strike. 

Advantages of Lipless Crankbaits

Versatility: Lipless crankbaits can be fished in a variety of conditions, including clear and stained water, shallow or deep water, using different retrieve speeds and actions. This versatility makes them a great option for anglers who are unsure of what the conditions will be like on the water.

Attraction: Most lipless crankbaits emit a distinct vibration and rattling sound, attracting bass even in clear to low-visibility water. This makes lipless cranks an effective option when fishing in changing water clarities.

Sinking Ability: Unlike other crankbaits that float, most lipless crankbaits sink to the bottom when not being retrieved, making them ideal for fishing in deep water or reaching bass suspended in the water column.

Tips for Fishing Lipless Crankbaits During Late Winter

Location: Late winter is a time when bass move from deeper water towards the shallows, so focus on fishing breaks and flats near drop-offs, creek channels, weed lines, ledges, and other structures where bass are likely to be hanging.

Speed: During late winter, bass are often sluggish, so it's best to start with a slow retrieve. Try experimenting with different retrieve speeds and actions and let the bass tell you what they want. One of my favorite retrieves is a lift-drop or yo-yo action mimicking struggling prey. 

Depth: Lipless crankbaits can be fished at various depths, so pay attention to the depth you are fishing and adjust accordingly. Late winter bass are often suspended in the water column, so it's important to fish the lipless crank at the right depth to trigger a bite. Use a countdown method to determine the right depth to trigger more strikes when suspended bass are located.

Color: Clear or stained waters may require different colors of lipless crankbaits. In clear water, natural colors such as silver,  gold, baitfish or natural crawfish patterns are often effective, while in stained waters, brighter colors such as Texas red, red crawfish, chartreuse or fluorescent orange can be more successful.

Change hooks: Though most hard baits have decent stock hooks when purchased, a great way to increase hook-up/landing ratio is changing the trebles to a premium brand such as Trokar, Gamakatsu or Owner.

Right Rod/Reel Combo: Since winter bites can be subtle and lipless cranks have treble hooks, it's usually best to use a 6.5' to 7' M/H power, fast action rod with 12 to 20 lb fluorocarbon line to drive the hooks home when the bite is detected.

Lipless crankbaits are a highly versatile and effective tool for fishing for late winter bass. By focusing on the best bass location/depth, retrieve speed/action, and right bait color selection for that trip, you can increase your chance of catching more and bigger late winter bass.