Crankbaits are one of the most useful tools in bass fishing because they let you cover water, reach different depths, and trigger reaction strikes without overcomplicating the presentation.
But choosing the right crankbait is not just about picking a color that looks good.
The shape of the lure, whether it has a lip, the length and material of that lip, and even whether the body is solid or jointed can all change how the bait behaves underwater.
Some crankbaits are built to run just beneath the surface. Others are designed to reach deeper structure. Some produce hard vibration, while others rely on a wider wobble or more natural body movement.
Understanding those differences makes it much easier to choose the best crankbaits for the water in front of you.
In this guide, we'll break down the most important crankbait designs, explain how each one works, and show you when each style makes the most sense for bass fishing.
What Is a Crankbait?
A crankbait is a hard-bodied fishing lure designed to imitate baitfish, crawfish, or other prey moving through the water.
Most crankbaits are worked by casting them out and retrieving them with the reel. During the retrieve, the lure may wobble, vibrate, dive, flash, rattle, or deflect off structure.
Those movements are what make crankbaits so effective for bass.
Unlike slower bottom-contact baits, crankbaits are usually designed to move continuously through the strike zone. That makes them especially useful when you want to search for active fish.
Depending on the design, a crankbait may use:
A diving lip
A lipless body
Internal rattles
Floating, sinking, or suspending construction
A solid body
A jointed body
Each of these features changes how the lure fishes.
| Crankbait Feature | What It Affects |
| Lip or no lip | Diving behavior and depth control |
| Lip shape | Water resistance and cover interaction |
| Lip length | Potential diving depth |
| Lip material | Rigidity, durability, and startup response |
| Solid or jointed body | Type and amount of body movement |
| Rattle system | Sound and vibration |
| Buoyancy | Floating, suspending, or sinking behavior |
Before choosing a crankbait, it helps to understand what each of these design elements actually does.
Lipped vs. Lipless Crankbaits
The most basic way to separate crankbaits is by whether they have a diving lip.
That difference affects how the lure reaches depth and how it moves during the retrieve.
What Is a Lipless Crankbait?
A lipless crankbait has no diving bill extending from the front of the lure.
Instead, most lipless crankbaits use a sinking body and a line tie positioned higher on the lure. As the lure is retrieved, the body produces strong vibration.
Because there is no diving lip controlling the running depth, the angler has more freedom to decide where the lure swims.
Let it sink before starting the retrieve and you can fish deeper.
Begin retrieving immediately and the lure will stay higher in the water column.
This makes lipless crankbaits particularly versatile.
When to Use a Lipless Crankbait
Lipless crankbaits are often effective around:
Grass flats
Open water
Submerged vegetation
Wind-blown banks
Baitfish schools
Transition zones
Deeper water
They are also excellent search baits because they can be cast a long distance and retrieved quickly.
One of the most common techniques is ripping a lipless crankbait through grass. When the lure catches vegetation, a quick snap of the rod can free it and create a sudden change in speed.
That burst of movement often triggers a reaction strike.
Another useful approach is a yo-yo retrieve. Allow the lure to sink, lift it sharply, and then let it fall again.
The TRUSCEND Lipless Crankbait Rattling Vibration Fishing Lure is one example of this style, using a sinking profile, internal rattles, and strong vibration for covering water efficiently.
What Is a Lipped Crankbait?
A lipped crankbait uses a protruding bill, or lip, at the front of the lure.
As the lure moves forward, water pushes against that lip.
The resistance created by the lip drives the lure downward and causes the body to wobble.
In other words, the lip acts as the crankbait's primary water-cutting surface.
The length, angle, shape, and material of that lip all influence how the lure behaves.
Some lipped crankbaits barely run beneath the surface.
Others are designed to reach much deeper water.
This is why looking at the body alone does not tell you how a crankbait will fish.
Square Bill vs. Round Bill Crankbaits
Square bill and round bill crankbaits are mainly distinguished by the visible shape of the diving lip.
Unlike lip length or lip material, this category begins with appearance.
However, the shape of the bill can still affect how the crankbait interacts with cover.
What Is a Squarebill Crankbait?
A squarebill crankbait uses a bill with squared edges rather than a rounded front.
Squarebills are especially popular for shallow-water bass fishing.
They are commonly used around:
Stumps
Laydowns
Riprap
Rocks
Docks
Shallow wood
Grass edges
The squared bill is well suited to deflecting off hard cover.
That deflection is one of the biggest reasons squarebills catch bass.
A crankbait moving in a straight line may look like normal prey.
A crankbait that hits a stump and suddenly changes direction looks vulnerable.
That moment of unpredictability can trigger a fish that was only following the lure.
For that reason, anglers often intentionally make contact with cover instead of trying to avoid it.
The TRUSCEND Craz Squarebill Crankbait, rated for roughly 0–5 ft, is one example of this shallow-cover style.
What Is a Round Bill Crankbait?
A round bill crankbait uses a diving lip with a more rounded front edge.
Round bills are found across a wide range of crankbait designs and diving depths.
Some run shallow.
Others are built for deeper water.
Because of that, bill shape alone should not be used to determine running depth.
Round-bill crankbaits are often used where a more traditional diving action is desired, especially around open water, edges, and structure that does not require aggressive deflection.
A useful way to think about the difference is this:
Squarebill: often chosen for shallow cover and deflection.
Round bill: often used for more traditional crankbait presentations across a wider range of depths.
Neither is automatically better.
The right choice depends on where and how you are fishing.
Long-Lip vs. Short-Lip Crankbaits
Lip length is one of the most important features affecting crankbait diving depth.
In general, a longer diving lip gives the lure more surface area to catch water.
That additional resistance helps drive the crankbait downward.
A shorter lip usually keeps the lure higher in the water column.
That said, lip length is only one part of the equation.
Actual running depth also depends on:
Lip angle
Body buoyancy
Body shape
Line diameter
Casting distance
Retrieve speed
Rod position
So while a long lip usually indicates more diving potential, it does not guarantee a specific depth.
Short-Lip Crankbaits
Short-lip crankbaits are commonly designed for shallow water.
They are especially useful when bass are relating to shoreline cover or feeding in the upper part of the water column.
Typical situations include:
Shallow flats
Shorelines
Grass edges
Shallow rock
Wood cover
Spawning areas
Because the lure does not dig as aggressively, it is easier to keep it above vegetation or shallow structure.
Short-lip crankbaits are also useful when baitfish are staying close to the surface.
Long-Lip Crankbaits
Longer lips generally allow crankbaits to reach farther down into the water column.
As the lure is retrieved, the larger lip catches more water and creates stronger downward force.
This can make long-lip crankbaits useful around:
Drop-offs
Points
Channel edges
Offshore rock
Deeper structure
Suspended fish
However, anglers should still rely on the manufacturer's stated running depth rather than judging a lure only by the size of its bill.
A lure with a visually long lip may still be designed for relatively shallow water depending on body buoyancy and lip angle.
The TRUSCEND Diving Crankbait is one example of a pronounced-lip design, although its stated running range remains approximately 0–5 ft. It is a good reminder that bill length should always be considered together with the rest of the lure's construction.
Plastic Lip vs. Metal Lip Crankbaits
Another useful way to compare crankbaits is by the material used for the diving lip.
Most modern crankbaits use plastic or polycarbonate bills, while some designs use metal.
The difference is functional rather than purely cosmetic.
Plastic Lip Crankbaits
Plastic lips are widely used because they are lightweight and easy to mold into different shapes.
That makes them suitable for everything from shallow squarebills to deep-diving crankbaits.
Common advantages include:
Lightweight construction
Flexible design options
Consistent shaping
Wide range of diving profiles
Easy integration with molded lure bodies
Plastic lips are not a lower-performance option.
Many proven bass crankbaits use plastic bills because they offer predictable resistance and can be designed for a very specific swimming action.
Metal Lip Crankbaits
Metal lips offer a different combination of hardness and thickness.
Because metal is more rigid, it can remain strong at a relatively thin profile.
That allows the lip to move through the water with less material flex and can help the crankbait engage quickly once the retrieve begins.
In practical terms, this can create a fast startup response.
Metal lips can also offer strong durability when repeatedly contacting hard structure.
Potential advantages include:
Thin, rigid construction
Fast startup
Efficient water cutting
Strong durability
Consistent response under load
That does not mean metal is always better than plastic.
It simply gives lure designers another way to control how a crankbait interacts with water.
The TRUSCEND Metal Lip Crankbait is one example, using a stainless steel lip together with a weight-transfer system and internal rattle.
Jointed vs. Single-Body Crankbaits
The body itself can also change crankbait action.
Traditional crankbaits use a single solid body.
Jointed crankbaits use two or more sections connected by hinges or joints.
That difference changes the way the lure moves through the water.
Single-Body Crankbaits
A single-body crankbait moves as one rigid unit.
Most of the swimming action comes from water pushing against the lip and forcing the entire body to wobble.
This creates a predictable and repeatable action.
Advantages include:
Stable tracking
Consistent wobble
Direct response
Good feedback through the rod
Effective power-fishing performance
Single-body crankbaits are especially useful when anglers want to cover water quickly or make repeated contact with structure.
Jointed Crankbaits
A jointed crankbait adds movement between body sections.
Instead of the lure moving as one solid piece, the connected sections can articulate independently.
This can create:
Wider swimming movement
More tail action
Additional body roll
More natural motion at slow speeds
This is the biggest functional difference between a jointed crankbait and a traditional solid-body design.
A normal crankbait creates most of its action by wobbling around the resistance created by the bill.
A jointed crankbait adds body articulation on top of that wobble.
That can be especially useful when bass are pressured or when you want to slow the retrieve without losing visible movement.
The TRUSCEND Jointed Crankbait Suspending Lure is one example of this approach, using hinged body sections to add movement while remaining in the strike zone during pauses.
How Crankbait Design Changes the Action
The easiest way to understand crankbaits is to think about what each design changes underwater.
| Crankbait Design | Main Effect | Common Use |
| Lipless | Strong vibration and flexible depth control | Grass, open water, searching |
| Lipped | Diving and wobbling action | General crankbait fishing |
| Square Bill | Deflection around cover | Wood, rock, docks |
| Round Bill | Traditional diving profile | Open water and structure |
| Short Lip | Shallower running depth | Banks, flats, shallow grass |
| Long Lip | Greater diving potential | Deeper structure |
| Plastic Lip | Lightweight, versatile design | General crankbait fishing |
| Metal Lip | Thin, rigid, responsive lip | Fast startup and durability |
| Single Body | Stable and predictable wobble | Power fishing |
| Jointed Body | More articulation | Slow retrieves and natural movement |
There is no single crankbait design that works best everywhere.
The goal is to match the lure to the depth, cover, and behavior of the bass.
How Deep Do Crankbaits Dive?
Diving depth is one of the most important factors in crankbait fishing.
Bass do not always move several feet to intercept a lure.
If the fish are holding around 8 feet and your crankbait only reaches 3 feet, you may be fishing above the strike zone for the entire retrieve.
That is why choosing the correct running depth matters so much.
What Affects Crankbait Diving Depth?
Lip Length
Longer lips generally give a crankbait greater diving potential.
Lip Angle
The angle of the bill changes how water pressure is transferred into downward movement.
Body Buoyancy
A floating crankbait naturally wants to rise.
A suspending or sinking crankbait behaves differently under the same amount of water pressure.
Line Diameter
Thicker line creates additional resistance and may cause the lure to run shallower.
Thinner line can often help a crankbait reach more of its rated depth.
Casting Distance
A longer cast gives the lure more time to dive and more distance to stay near maximum depth.
Retrieve Speed
Speed affects how quickly the lure reaches its working depth and how strongly the bill interacts with water.
Rod Position
Holding the rod tip higher can help keep a lure shallower.
Lowering the rod tip can help maintain a deeper running angle.
As a general rule:
Longer lip = usually deeper
Shorter lip = usually shallower
But the manufacturer's rated diving range should always be your main reference.
Best Crankbait Colors for Bass
Color is important, but it should come after depth and action.
A perfectly matched baitfish color does not help much if the lure is running five feet above the fish.
Once you have the correct crankbait style, use water clarity and forage to narrow down color.
Clear Water
Natural patterns are usually a good starting point.
Consider:
Shad
Silver
Translucent colors
Bluegill patterns
Natural baitfish finishes
When bass can see well, subtle colors often look more realistic.
Stained Water
Slightly brighter colors can help the lure stand out.
Consider:
Chartreuse
White
Orange accents
Brighter shad patterns
You still want the lure to resemble prey, but additional contrast can make it easier for bass to locate.
Muddy or Low-Visibility Water
When visibility drops, sound and vibration become increasingly useful.
Consider:
High-contrast finishes
Fluorescent colors
Strong-rattle crankbaits
High-vibration designs
This is one reason lipless crankbaits are commonly used when anglers want a lure that makes its presence obvious underwater.
How to Fish a Crankbait
Crankbait fishing can be as simple as cast and retrieve, but small changes in presentation often make a major difference.
Use a Steady Retrieve
A steady retrieve is the simplest approach.
Cast beyond the target, begin retrieving, and allow the crankbait to reach its working depth.
If bass are actively feeding, a consistent retrieve may be all you need.
Try Stop-and-Go
Pause the lure briefly during the retrieve.
Depending on its buoyancy, the crankbait may rise, suspend, or sink.
That sudden change can trigger a bass that was following behind the lure.
Make Contact With Cover
This is particularly important with squarebill crankbaits.
Do not assume hitting a stump or rock means you made a bad cast.
In many cases, that contact is exactly what makes the lure effective.
The crankbait hits the cover, changes direction, and briefly looks off balance.
That can trigger an immediate reaction strike.
Rip Lipless Crankbaits Through Grass
When a lipless crankbait catches vegetation, pull or snap it free.
That rapid acceleration can imitate a baitfish escaping from cover.
Bass often strike immediately after the lure breaks loose.
Change Retrieve Speed
Do not retrieve every cast at exactly the same speed.
If bass are active, a faster retrieve may trigger reaction bites.
If they are less aggressive, slowing down or adding pauses may produce more strikes.
Let the fish tell you which speed they prefer.
Quick Crankbait Comparison
| Crankbait Type | Typical Depth | Vibration | Cover Ability | Best For |
| Lipless | Variable | High | Medium | Grass and searching |
| Squarebill | Shallow | Medium-High | High | Wood and rock |
| Short-Lip | Shallow | Medium | Medium | Banks and flats |
| Long-Lip | Medium to deep, depending on design | Medium | Medium | Deeper structure |
| Metal-Lip | Varies | Medium-High | Medium | Fast startup and durability |
| Jointed | Varies | Medium | Medium | Natural swimming action |
| Single-Body | Varies | Medium | High | Consistent power fishing |
FAQs
When should I use a lipless crankbait?
Lipless crankbaits are useful when covering open water, fishing around vegetation, targeting active bass, or working different depths with one lure. They are also effective for ripping through grass and using yo-yo retrieves.
What color crankbait is best for bass?
Match color to water clarity and forage. Natural baitfish patterns are usually a good starting point in clear water. Brighter colors can help in stained water. In muddy conditions, stronger contrast, vibration, and sound may become more important than exact color matching.
Should a crankbait hit the bottom?
It can, but it does not always need to. On rock or gravel, bottom contact can make the crankbait change direction and trigger strikes. In other situations, the goal may simply be to keep the lure at the same depth as the bass. The important thing is keeping the crankbait in the strike zone.
Final Thoughts
The best crankbaits for bass are not defined by one specific shape or one specific feature.
They are defined by how well they match the fishing situation.
A lipless crankbait gives you strong vibration and flexible depth control.
A squarebill is useful around shallow cover.
A longer diving lip generally gives a lure more potential to reach deeper water.
A metal lip can provide a thin, rigid surface with quick response.
A jointed body adds another layer of movement.
Each design does something slightly different.
When choosing a crankbait, keep the process simple:
Depth → Cover → Action → Color
Figure out where the bass are first.
Then look at what they are holding around.
Choose a crankbait that can reach that zone and move the way you need it to.
Once those decisions are made, color becomes much easier.
Crankbait fishing becomes far less confusing when you stop asking which lure is “best” and start asking which design fits the water you are fishing today.
