No Luck with Lipless Crankbaits 2024

FL Knifemaker reply :

For some reason, I NEVER have any good results fishing lipless crackbaits around central Florida. I can bring them up to my buddies lake in MS and catch bass from the dock with no problem Here at home, I can't make them do anything for me.

In tournaments, I can fish right next to someone having good results with one and still nothing but maybe a dink or two >

Any tips, lures, colors, tactics, patterns would be much appreciated. I'm Rattletrap challenged

microman reply :

i think i might know your problem... your fishing a lipless crankbait, like a crankbait. a lippless crank can do anything, use it as a jig, crankbait, just cast and retrive, vary your retrives, and try clipping a safty clip spinner to it.

and read the articles

JohnnyBigger reply :

Fish it in cover like Hydrilla dont just fish it in open water and change your retrieve, where in central Florida are you fishing, as for colors Black/chrome-blue/chrome and my favorite black/gold all are universal florida baits

FL Knifemaker reply :

Quote
Fish it in cover like Hydrilla dont just fish it in open water and change your retrieve, where in central Florida are you fishing, as for colors Black/chrome-blue/chrome and my favorite black/gold all are universal florida baits

I'm in Lakeland. I've tried ripping them over, through and around hydrilla! Honestly, I've tried all the techniques the pros use on TV. I've even tried techniques the local pros use and have good results with. It's like a curse!!

What would you suggest as the best lure in the best color that's IDIOT proof for my location?? I can make any other lure or technique work........at least to the point where I'm happy with the results. Lipless baits are by far the weak link in my arsenal. It will be my focus this year to improve this!!

EDIT: Sorry, I missed you're color recommendation.

roadwarrior reply :

Send George Welcome a PM and ask him

for a suggestion.

http://www.imaginationbassin.com/

8-)

JohnnyBigger reply :

Quote

Quote
Fish it in cover like Hydrilla dont just fish it in open water and change your retrieve, where in central Florida are you fishing, as for colors Black/chrome-blue/chrome and my favorite black/gold all are universal florida baits

I'm in Lakeland. I've tried ripping them over, through and around hydrilla! Honestly, I've tried all the techniques the pros use on TV. I've even tried techniques the local pros use and have good results with. It's like a curse!!

What would you suggest as the best lure in the best color that's IDIOT proof for my location?? I can make any other lure or technique work........at least to the point where I'm happy with the results. Lipless baits are by far the weak link in my arsenal. It will be my focus this year to improve this!!

EDIT: Sorry, I missed you're color recommendation.

It's kind of a feel bait, you have to stick with it and once you get a a fish to bite remember how you were fishing, If you ever want to come to the west coast let me know and Ill take on lake tarpon and I can show you some stuff.

FL Knifemaker reply :

I really should spend a day with my son and George at the Stick Marsh! Lipless crankbaits only, all day!!

JohnnyBigger reply :

also with all the different brands out there like Spro and Strike King red eye shad, I like to stick with a trusty 1/2 ounce Rattletrap

FL Knifemaker reply :

Quote

Quote

Quote
Fish it in cover like Hydrilla dont just fish it in open water and change your retrieve, where in central Florida are you fishing, as for colors Black/chrome-blue/chrome and my favorite black/gold all are universal florida baits

I'm in Lakeland. I've tried ripping them over, through and around hydrilla! Honestly, I've tried all the techniques the pros use on TV. I've even tried techniques the local pros use and have good results with. It's like a curse!!

What would you suggest as the best lure in the best color that's IDIOT proof for my location?? I can make any other lure or technique work........at least to the point where I'm happy with the results. Lipless baits are by far the weak link in my arsenal. It will be my focus this year to improve this!!

EDIT: Sorry, I missed you're color recommendation.

It's kind of a feel bait, you have to stick with it and once you get a a fish to bite remember how you were fishing, If you ever want to come to the west coast let me know and Ill take on lake tarpon and I can show you some stuff.

I appreciate the offer and would love to pay you a visit some time!

After looking at Georges website I realized another thing that doesn't ever seem to work for me is the fire tiger colors. I had much better results fishing that color when I lived in NY years ago :-/

Taylor Fishin 4 life reply :

yeai have the same problem here in south south georgia. But i have foound using smaller rattletraps seems to work better for some reason 1/8 ounce

bilgerat reply :

Maybe the bass are telling you they don't want a rattle....notice how most hardbaits sold rattle ? Give 'em something different.

DINK WHISPERER reply :

All you need IMO.................

http://www.***.com/descpageXCALLPSCRNK-XCRB.html

FL Knifemaker reply :

Quote
All you need IMO.................
http://www.***.com/descpageXCALLPSCRNK-XCRB.html

I have one of those in the somewhat flashier "Blue Shiner" color. My buddy got it at ICAST somehow I need to take it out of the box and get it wet

FL Knifemaker reply :

I'm deadicating a full time rod to a lipless crankbait this season. I always say that I'm only going to take one rod out with me but I always change my mind at the last minute ;D I appreciate the suggestions. I'd really like to catch a 5lb+ on one or just have a productive day with a defined pattern and I'd be very happy.

JohnnyBigger reply :

man a 5 pounder on a rattletrap will top your heart and about take the rod out of your hand!!

Kenny418 reply :

JohnnyBigger do you live on Tarpon? I got to fish it when I was on vacation with the family last year. Nice lake.

JohnnyBigger reply :

Not on it but about 20 min away. I fish there as often as I can, which is about twice a month during the summer when im not doing tournaments. How did you do when you were down?

Kenny418 reply :

We caught some decent fish. I think the air temp was about 100 degrees and the water was in the 90's . I went out with a guide from Tarpon Tom's. I had fun and learned some new things.

JohnnyBigger reply :

Yeah it gets hot and unfortunately Tarpon Toms closed their doors a couple months back. Do you come down often?

etommy28 reply :

Quote
yeai have the same problem here in south south georgia. But i have foound using smaller rattletraps seems to work better for some reason 1/8 ounce

THere is some good advise, I used a 1/4 oz red eye in sexy shad or chrome and blue 80% of the time. I do use 1/2 to 3/4 oz traps in the Fall when the shad get big in the same colors. but thats just me.

Kenny418 reply :

Quote
Yeah it gets hot and unfortunately Tarpon Toms closed their doors a couple months back. Do you come down often?

That was my first trip. We may come back down this year for family vacation again. Got to see what cash flow does.

JohnnyBigger reply :

gimmie a shout when you come down and we can go fishing

roadwarrior reply :

Quote
All you need IMO.................
http://www.***.com/descpageXCALLPSCRNK-XCRB.html

EXCELLENT choice!

8-)

HoldemHook reply :

Try the Xcalibur xr75 and the xr75k(one knocker) in the royal shad and royal red colors......the xr75 works best on any steady type retrieve and the one knocker works best with a jigging or ripping out of the grass type retrieve...best of luck hope this helps

RoLo reply :

It's like anything else, after the first one the rest will come easy.

We've found lipless cranks to be star performers in central Florida.

Between mid-February and mid-March, we've had years

when the Spro Aruku Shad would outfish soft-plastics and even live shiners.

This winter is far from normal, and Florida-strain bass detest coldwater.

I can't remember a year when water temperatures were in the low 40s!

Be a little patient, and when water temperatures get back up to 60 degrees,

I'm sure your rat-t-traps will break the ice

Roger

Under the Radar reply :

Quote

It's like anything else, after the first one the rest will come easy.

We've found lipless cranks to be star performers in central Florida.

Between mid-February and mid-March, we've had years

when the Spro Aruku Shad would outfish soft-plastics and even live shiners.

This winter is far from normal, and Florida-strain bass detest coldwater.

I can't remember a year when water temperatures were in the low 40s!

Be a little patient, and when water temperatures get back up to 60 degrees,

I'm sure your rat-t-traps will break the ice

Roger

FL Knifemaker reply :

Quote

It's like anything else, after the first one the rest will come easy.

We've found lipless cranks to be star performers in central Florida.

Between mid-February and mid-March, we've had years

when the Spro Aruku Shad would outfish soft-plastics and even live shiners.

This winter is far from normal, and Florida-strain bass detest coldwater.

I can't remember a year when water temperatures were in the low 40s!

Be a little patient, and when water temperatures get back up to 60 degrees,

I'm sure your rat-t-traps will break the ice

Roger

Thanks again for the info. As I mentioned earlier, I have pretty good results on them, just not in central Florida I'll be focusing on improving my florida lipless skills this season!!

BigEbass reply :

I know where you were coming from with this post - I started fishing just under 2 years ago - started with mainly focusing on soft plastics which worked - my neighbor would intermittantly whip out one of these lipless cranks and work it....so I bough a few rattletraps, but failed to gain any confidence in using them....I tried to use them more consistently for a while here and there, but I was just like you - he would catch on em, and I wouldn't. I would vary my retrieve and such, but what I think I was doing wrong before was not paying as much attn to depth of the lure, proximity to cover or underwater grass or structure (that goes to say with any lure I think). I had my first breakthrough lipless crank day fall last year - we were on a small pond in west alabama - there is a large submerged tree - I thew that strike king lipless right next to it and just let it free fall around limbs the pick up on it gently, and I caught 10 bass in perhaps 30-45 minutes - it was a brown/black strike king - neighbor has the same lure in a shad color and he got aboslutely nothing while I hauled em in (one of the few times I skunked him ;D) - was is because of the color difference? Or was it my specific countdown or retrieve? I am not sure, but I now have much more confidence in them in my Alabama waters and manage to do pretty good with these on some days - I love them because they are so versatile and can eaily fish the entire water column with one.

Stick with it, you will have the same breakthrough - but I would not stick to one all day necessarily - still switch it up, I use it on many spots as a fish finder - can cover alot of water in a good spot quick...

Oh and I use small ones and big ones with good success, my neighbor the same. I have not done all that well so far with the tiger colors myself - but many other colors have worked for me - I think its more about finding the fish and the presentation.

I am just a relative newB so take that with a grain of salt....hope you have that breakthrough soon

Taylor Fishin 4 life reply :

i used to do good by just nosing diveing it slowly into the ground, i would reel just fast anough to keep it moving but letting it still touch the bottom

roadwarrior reply :

The lure class that everyone fished at The Classic.

Maybe you ought to stick with it for awhile. It's all

about location and the mood of the fish.

8-)

FL Knifemaker reply :

Quote
The lure class that everyone fished at The Classic.
Maybe you ought to stick with it for awhile. It's all

about location and the mood of the fish.

8-)

Ya...........

I thought the water had to be warmer. I have a dedicated rod, about 20 varous baits. This will be the year of the "LCB" for me!!

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No Luck with Lipless Crankbaits 2024

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