I like the XCaliburs. One knockers 50 size. Others work too.

For me it's the Xcalibur/Booyah XR series. I also use Cotton Cordell's. I have a handful of others that are in my box, but those two are the ones I reach for the most. 

1.  Strike King Red Eyed Shad Line of Lipless Crankbaits

2.  Original Rat-L-Traps

 

Both work for me.

Strike King Red Eye Shad - Sexy shad color.

Agree with Xcalibur fans as the # 1, red eye shads, #2.

 

But give the new Rapala Rippin Raps a try.  A friend had one on this fall and it really seemed to work well for smallmouths.  Reviews indicate they even work well through the ice, vertically jigged.

 

I have found that even within a brand set of lipless cranks, some sizes work much better than others.  I've never had much luck on the smaller ones, about 1/4 oz or less, and the bigger ones, those larger than about 5/8 or 3/4 oz.  Seems like a sweet spot for most brands (at least for bass) in the 1/2-5/8 range.

1.)  Xcalibur.  The best.  I've bought everyone I've seen for the last 6 months and now have a TON of them.

2.)  Cotton Cordell.  They work well and are cheap

3.) Rat-L-Trap

 

Had BAD luck with the stock hooks on Rat-L-Traps so I'm in the process of changing them all out.  Generally my last choice but I have some and do throw them.

"BEST LIPLESS CRANKBAIT"

 

You don´t think you're going to come and ask such a thing and get away with just getting the "best" do you ?

 

In this hobby there is no such thing as "the best", there are productive baits, less productive or non productive and that does´t mean productive are so all the time, it means that you need to have several styles and sizes because as usual, one day one style/size works or works better than another.

 

The lipless cranks I fish the most are:

 

Heddon Sonic and Super Sonic ( discontinued )

Bill Lewis Rat L-Trap

Rapala Rattlin Rap

Bomber Rattlin´ RRR ( discontinued )

Heddon Bayou Boogie

Depends on the situation, if the water is cooling I tend to throw a rattle-trap. When the water warms I throw a red eye shad. My mental justification is that the rattle-trap's tighter wobble appeals to fish in cooling water. At the end of the day though, I feel the system works because I convinced myself it's the proper lure to throw at that time so I don't put it down, and less because that's how the fish feel.

I'm an original Bill Lewis guy myself. 

 

 

 

 

Walleye like 'em too.

I like the Excalibur One Knockers and the LC lipless cranks. This year in the early fall I burned a gold LC lipless bait back as fast as I couod with a 8.0:1 ratio reel and had a bass hit it. Amazed me how fast bass can be when they really want a bait.

I can't believe no one mentionned the Rapala Rippin Rap ...by far my most productive rattler 

 

I like the Sebile Seeker too

Like many other posters here, I have a handful of brand name lipless cranks. The SPRO Aruku Shad does something many others don't and that is stand up when sitting still on the bottom, looking more natural. A Sebile Flatt Shad has worked wonders a few times when others didn't. Same can be said about One Knockers, and the benchmark Rat-L-Trap has certainly outfished a Cordell Spot.  I doubt there is a single "best" answer. 

You might do what so many of us do and that is try various brands, colors and sizes because one will certainly outshine another on any given day.

The moral of this story is they all work.  The BEST one is the one that is catching you fish and that you have the confidence in.

Not every brand / model lipless bait has the same action, rattle sound & fall rate.

 

Each may have it's time & place where it might shine over another.

 

Day in & day out I have quite a bit of confidence in a 1/2 oz SK Red Eye Shad - both rattle & Silent.

 

The 6th Sense bait is good as is a couple of the Lucky Craft models and the Xcaliber One Knock is a solid producer.

 

Of course the industry standard will forever be the original Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap.

 

And though I haven't tried it yet, the Duo Realis G-Fix Vibration Tungsten Lipless Crankbait looks like it has potential.

 

A-Jay

I think this says it well.

Rapala rattlin rap

I can't believe no one mentionned the Rapala Rippin Rap ...

 

That's because I picked up a set of them back in 2013, and still have yet to try them...

 

 

WolfyBrandon

I catch them with all the brands but rats are my favorite,i have about 7 brands all work and i aint paying over $5 for any of them.even discontinud pogo shads and suger shads work.

 

WolfyBrandon

WOW, I'm impressed! I wasn't expecting this many responses! Thanks to everyone who contributed something! I think I'm gonna try the XCalibur's and the Strike King Red Eye.

Cordell Super Spots, and Rat-L-Traps is about all I ever use anymore.

I always keep a few Rat-L-Traps stocked in different colors, and always have one within arms reach.

I have some Red-eye shads that I like but I still find myself reaching for the "old Rattle Trap" the most--have caught a lot of bass on the rattle-traps over the years

What nobody uses the Spro Aruku Shad? I like the Spro Aruku Shad.

Has anyone tried the Bill Norman ScorpioN weedless model?  Looks interesting...  I picked up a couple to try next season.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

I Love Yo-Zuri , i've bought a few 6th Sense i've not used them much but they really look good,i love their colors.