Been Missing Out On Lipless Cranks All These Years 2025
Toeshots reply :
I spent a bunch of time this winter researching new lures/techniques in order to become a more versatile fisherman. The bulk of that research was done here and I noticed quite a bit of praise given to lipless cranks - a bait which I had never really given a fair shake before due to limited success.
I decided I was going to give it another go this year and bought three 1/2 oz Red Eye Shad in Sexy Shad, Chili Craw, and Gold Black. I also read and watched a few KVD vids discussing the yo-yo technique. I tried this for the first time about a month ago by letting the RES dip just into the weeds then ripping it out. First cast and BOOM chunky 17" largemouth. I was sold. Since then I've still been trying to fish my confidence baits (T-rigged plastics and Jig w/craw trailer) and haven't caught a single thing. The only thing I've caught fish on is yo-yoing the RES. I've been successful with all three colors. My next step is to vary the weights for different fall rates and such.
I must say, it's great to have a place like this with so much good info. To be honest, I don't think I would have gone back to lipless cranks, but I sure am glad I did. Without them, if be off to one heck of a slow start this Spring...
TNBassin' reply :
You certainly selected some good colors. 3 of my favorites, especially chili craw.
hookset on 3 reply :
You mentioned that your preferred baits are mainly slow moving bottom oriented lures. Maybe the bass in your favorite lake or pond got too conditioned to those.
You start throwing a faster reaction lure and wallah!
Keep experimenting, especially with erratic retrieves and you can really get dialed in on the pattern some days or a part of the day.
A-Rob reply :
Thats awesome man...my season doesn't start until after the real good lipless crankbait bite so I never got too into them...but maybe I should try the yo yo technique in the deep weeds this summer.
I love lures that you can fish fast, cover water, and get bites!
lmbfisherman reply :
On 4/16/2013 at 10:54 AM, A-Rob said:Thats awesome man...my season doesn't start until after the real good lipless crankbait bite so I never got too into them...but maybe I should try the yo yo technique in the deep weeds this summer.
I love lures that you can fish fast, cover water, and get bites!
They work wonders in the rivers I fish here in Ontario. I've caught decent size smallies using lipless cranks during the summer. I definitely would add them to your arsenal. I haven't used them much in the lakes though.
Toeshots reply :
On 4/16/2013 at 10:07 AM, TNBassin said:You certainly selected some good colors. 3 of my favorites, especially chili craw.
Thanks. Figured those three would cover just about everything.
Toeshots reply :
On 4/16/2013 at 10:31 AM, hookset on 3 said:You mentioned that your preferred baits are mainly slow moving bottom oriented lures. Maybe the bass in your favorite lake or pond got too conditioned to those.
You start throwing a faster reaction lure and wallah!
Keep experimenting, especially with erratic retrieves and you can really get dialed in on the pattern some days or a part of the day.
Thought about this, but I had quite a bit of success with a T-rigged Blue Fleck Power Worm just last year. I also caught the fish in my profile pic on a 1/2 oz green/brown jig with craw trailer this January before the local waters froze. One of the things I read several times during my research was that Spring is a great time for the lipless crankbait. Maybe it's just the right time of year? But is there really a bad time to yo-yo a lipless crank in and out of the grass? Seems like such a solid technique year-round.
Toeshots reply :
On 4/16/2013 at 10:54 AM, A-Rob said:Thats awesome man...my season doesn't start until after the real good lipless crankbait bite so I never got too into them...but maybe I should try the yo yo technique in the deep weeds this summer.
I love lures that you can fish fast, cover water, and get bites!
I really think you should give them a shot. They cover a ton of water in a short amount of time. Also, the fish seem to always hit on the fall so when you rip it back up, you are already setting the hook, so just give it a little extra pull in the same direction and you will be making a proper hook set. It came pretty naturally for me since, in essence, it's similar to fishing the T-Rig/Jig except at a faster pace.
BobP reply :
There's no bad time to fish rattle baits in grass. As the grass gets thicker in summer, you may get to the point where you can't fish it effectively though.
trailer reply :
I love lipless cranks. I don't see how you can fish without them. You can cover a lot of water and get those reaction strikes.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Don't feel bad about not fishing them. I outfished my buddy from the back of his boat several times one fall with an Excaliber XR50 and he still refuses to fish them because they "don't catch fish." 
Bankbeater reply :
You can catch anything using lipless baits. I have caught bass, muskie, and crappie on a 1/2 rat-l-trap.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 4/16/2013 at 6:35 PM, Bankbeater said:You can catch anything using lipless baits. I have caught bass, muskie, and crappie on a 1/2 rat-l-trap.
One of the biggest channel cats I've ever caught on rod and reel inhaled a red craw LC LV500, little over 15 pounds. Also caught one of the biggest walleye I've ever caught yo-yoing a Excaliber XR50 through some grass. Of course white bass will wear the paint off one if you find them schooled up.
Hooked_On_Bass reply :
Yep, they're are a great tool - I use them all year.
As above, I've caught Muskie and Walleye on them, as well.
MarkH024 reply :
On 4/16/2013 at 6:35 PM, Bankbeater said:You can catch anything using lipless baits. I have caught bass, muskie, and crappie on a 1/2 rat-l-trap.
x2. I love lipless cranks and have caught multiple species on them as well.
thehooligan reply :
I didnt use them when i was younger and now i always have a lipless crank tied on a rod. Totally agree with bankbeater, ive caught so many different fish on them including bass, muskie, perch, pickerel, crappie....
I love the the owner lipless cranks and excaliburs
Goose52 reply :
My favorite, and most used, hard bait. They work...
Toeshots reply :
Can't argue with that! Nice bass!On 4/16/2013 at 10:53 PM, Goose52 said:My favorite, and most used, hard bait. They work...
What color is that lipless?
MarkH024 reply :
On 4/16/2013 at 11:25 PM, Toeshots said:Can't argue with that! Nice bass!
What color is that lipless?
Orange Belly Craw I believe...
Goose52 reply :
On 4/16/2013 at 11:25 PM, Toeshots said:Can't argue with that! Nice bass!
What color is that lipless?
Yup - Red Eye Shad in "Orange Belly Craw" - a good winter color. That bass was 8.4lbs and caught on New Years Eve 2011 in 46 degree water. OTOH - the bass in my avatar is my 9.5 PB and was caught in August in 82 degree water with a blue over chrome lipless crank.
Lipless cranks work year-round... 
roadwarrior reply :
What's red hot on the Tennessee Reservoirs?
Red Eye Shad
The Rig
Smithwick Rogues
Primus reply :
I'm also a huge fan of the Red Eye Shad along with some other select brands as the better ones each have their time to shine. For a yo-yo retrieve try the Rapala Rippin' Rap, this bait is the best I have ever used for this type of retrieve. The only thing I don't like about the bait is that the hooks are too small in my opinion so I switch them for #4 KVD Mustad Short Shank hooks.
TNBassin' reply :
The RES in citrus shad is obviously a crappie magnet, as the past 2 days that's all I've caught on that color. Got so tired of catching them, I had to switch to sexy shad.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 4/16/2013 at 10:54 AM, A-Rob said:love lures that you can fish fast, cover water, and get bites!
That would describe a lipless. A very versatile lure. Ripping weeds is one way, but try burning one -just aobut as fast as you can reel. Sometimes varied speed, that is slowing then short accelerations is what it takes. It's still a "fast" water covering technique. In colder water that yo yoing, a short rip and drop, really triggers strikes and allows you to cover water as fast as a jerkbait. There's something you can do with them year round.
The only downside to lipless is that they are prone to snagging, esp in wood.
A-Rob reply :
On 4/18/2013 at 11:11 PM, Paul Roberts said:That would describe a lipless. A very versatile lure. Ripping weeds is one way, but try burning one -just aobut as fast as you can reel. Sometimes varied speed, that is slowing then short accelerations is what it takes. It's still a "fast" water covering technique. In colder water that yo yoing, a short rip and drop, really triggers strikes and allows you to cover water as fast as a jerkbait. There's something you can do with them year round.
The only downside to lipless is that they are prone to snagging, esp in wood.
On 4/16/2013 at 11:25 AM, lmbfisherman said:They work wonders in the rivers I fish here in Ontario. I've caught decent size smallies using lipless cranks during the summer. I definitely would add them to your arsenal. I haven't used them much in the lakes though.
On 4/16/2013 at 12:02 PM, Toeshots said:I really think you should give them a shot. They cover a ton of water in a short amount of time. Also, the fish seem to always hit on the fall so when you rip it back up, you are already setting the hook, so just give it a little extra pull in the same direction and you will be making a proper hook set. It came pretty naturally for me since, in essence, it's similar to fishing the T-Rig/Jig except at a faster pace.
Thanks guys,
I fish it a bit but not nearly as much as I should b/c I switch to a deeper diving crank after the spawn....But based on your advice I better get on that train! Thanks for the tips!
Bassguytom reply :
I never leave home without it. I'm a Aruku Shad fan in the ghost color. They are the bees knees man.
senile1 reply :
Aruka Shad, Red Eye Shad, and Rat-l-traps are what I use. They do catch just about everything at one time or another. In reference to the yo-yo technique in cooler water, I have found them to be very useful in lakes with grass when the water temperature is in the mid-40s to mid-50s. I have one tied on on most trips.
On 4/16/2013 at 11:40 PM, Goose52 said:Yup - Red Eye Shad in "Orange Belly Craw" - a good winter color. That bass was 8.4lbs and caught on New Years Eve 2011 in 46 degree water. OTOH - the bass in my avatar is my 9.5 PB and was caught in August in 82 degree water with a blue over chrome lipless crank.
Lipless cranks work year-round...
That "orange belly craw" is an excellent bait for heavily stained to muddy water as well.
Nick49 reply :
I love to fish lipless cranks - great search bait and also effective with schooling bass (white bass as well). My favorite is the floating RatLTrap. I have found that one out of every three floating RatLTraps fail to float. I like to skip a silver floating trap around/under docks. They slap and skip on the surface alot like a shad being chased and trigger alot of reaction bites.
jignfule reply :
Use them often, though they are one of my least favorite ways to fish.
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