Lipless cranks in clear waters

[xxmurrxx]

Looking for some info on lipless cranks.

I fish pretty clear waters, I have never had great success with these baits

Tried various brands, Just picked up some natural colour xcalibur ones to try this year.

Couple questions,

1. Are these fished the same as cranks (basically hit some cover / bottom to get a bite?)

2. Do these usually produce as good in clear waters as stained? i usually don't throw baits with rattles, just wondering if it spooks fish in clearer waters

Info will be appreciated.

[A-Rob]

I have caught a few largemouths with a silver or chrome lipless crank. I fish extremely clear waters up north. Don't have as much look with smallies on it just yet.

I like the chrome as it matches the sky a bit, gives a little flash, just keep the lure moving so the bass don't get a good look at it and you will get some reaction strikes.

[Matt Kremers]

fish it over weeds. when it starts to get stuck in the weeds, rip it free like you are setting the hook. This can often get a reaction bite

[Boogey Man]

I use them in clear water quite a bit. Try lighter colors like shad. As mentioned above, try ripping them through grass or if fishing open water try burning them with an occasional pause/twitch.

[simplejoe]

Natural colors are best with clear lakes, If I'm in open water I like to yo-yo my lipless cranks back to the boat. If I'm fishing close to the bank, I'll throw it close to the bank and rip it out of the shallows and into deeper water, the drop-off from shallow to deeper water is usually where it gets hit.

8-)

[roadwarrior]

Well, my collection is large, both brands and

color. However, this is the only one you need!

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

You don't need to hit anything, but the best

bet is always ticking or ripping through grass.

Fish it as fast as you can, the lure is strictly

a reaction bait.

8-)

[ww2farmer]

I have become fond of the Strike King Red Eye Shad, I fish clear water almost exclusively, and this is what works for me:

On cloudy days with wind go with a 1/2 oz bait that has good visability like a Redcraw, firetiger, Gold, etc... if the wind is not blowing much down size to a 1/4 oz bait.

On sunny days when it's windy, go with your 1/2oz. chrome/blue back, a sexy shad pattern, or natural bait fish colors, if it;s sunny and the wind ain't blowing.........put the lip less cranks away there are better ways to put fish in the boat.

Also remember in clear water fish can see your bait from a long ways off, even if the water is cold you'll have to pick the retrieve speed up to get bit. I always start with what seems like a " faster than I should be cranking" retrieve in cold water, and let the fish tell me what to do. If I get solid strikes and hookups I change nothing, if I get alot of short strikes I slow down.

I like a few different types of retrieves as well. Early on when the water is cold I like to crank the bait right above the tops of emerging grass when it hangs on a stalk I pop it free. Or I let the bait sink and yo-yo it out of the grass back to the boat. In warmer water I do the same, but I really burn it back.

[roadwarrior]

Well, my collection is large, both brands and

color. However, this is the only one you need!

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

You don't need to hit anything, but the best

bet is always ticking or ripping through grass.

Fish it as fast as you can, the lure is strictly

a reaction bait.

8-)

[OkobojiEagle]

  Quote

this is the only one you need...

the lure is strictly a reaction bait.

I agree they are reaction driven, so what makes this bait better than the others available today?

[roadwarrior]

I don't know...Maybe it's magic!

[zach t]

clear water and clear skies,  I steer clear of lipless rattle baits. It's just too much going on.

clear water and overcast skies, chrome and blue. If its more clear than cloudy, downsize to the smaller mini traps.

stained water and clear skies-natural colors for me.

all other times-most obnoxious bait you have. Royal Red XR75s, slow retireve with hard jerks thrown in followed by pauses. 

[xxmurrxx]

Thanks for the info, ill get em a solid try this season, See how it goes.

[Primus]

I've got to disagree a little with Roadwarrior on color, there are times when chrome colors will work well in clear water but I've been a lot more consistent using transluscent  or natural colors in  the clear water lakes I fish and I think at times chrome colors have too much flash in some situations. I think the right mix of colors are going to get you bit, that said you don't need every color under the sun.

What I would suggest are a few crawfish patterns which really shine during the spring and at other times in certain lakes. During the summer  RW's Excalibur bait and similiar models by other good rattle bait makers like Strike King , Jackall, Yozuri and Spro will produce well. These brands also offer Sexy Shad & Ghost type of patterns, definetely put some of these into your  tacklebox. Last fall they were absolutely choking on the Strike King Red Eye in the Japanese Shad color in one particular lake by my house.

The last factor that should be considered is sound, with regular billed cranks I usually prefer silent baits, lipless baits I normally prefer rattling baits. That said there are times when the fish are skittish and especially when there are clear skies that silent models will fair better such as the Sebile Flatt Shad in the Hollow Mullet color. I also like to use it as a follow-up bait after I've picked off a few of the more aggressive fish with the rattling models. Some of the Japanese models from compaies like Daiwa & Evergreen are also offered in a silent version.