Lipless Crankbaits

[CTH55]

Tips on lipless'

I've been using the KVD Red Eye shad in a local lake and I have caught numerous bass and even a 28 inch walleye, but every time i switch to a cotton cordell Rat-L-Trap I get no success. I need tips and techniques on how to use the Rat-L-Traps!

[roadwarrior]

Forget about Rat-L-Traps, Red Eyed Shad RULE!

[mikey5string]

While I think the red eye shad is a great looking bait , I haven't caught much on it. I have had better luck with the chrome/blue Cordell.

I fish them in submerged weeds, ripping it through when the lure gets hung up. I try to let the bait free fall as well. I will crank it up then let it fall and repeat.

They seem to catch small schooling fish for me. I haven't gotten any big ones so I usually throw jigs, swim baits or big worms. Not much of a crank bait guy but I have been trying to use it more often.

[WIBassMan]

Love the red eye shad...don't feel the need to use any other lipless

[Darren.]

When you guys "rip" the bait thru weeds, is it upon first feel, then you KVD the rod (whip it) out of the weeds?

I've got a number of lipless cranks, have used the Strike King red eyes, but lost several... Ones I use now are Cotton Cordell.

I say "use", but I rarely fish hard lures anymore. 99% soft plastics.

[NoBassPro]

When you guys "rip" the bait thru weeds, is it upon first feel, then you KVD the rod (whip it) out of the weeds?

I've got a number of lipless cranks, have used the Strike King red eyes, but lost several... Ones I use now are Cotton Cordell.

I say "use", but I rarely fish hard lures anymore. 99% soft plastics.

If I am ripping cranks out of weeds, and I will do it wiht both lipless and shallow cranks, what I am doing is trying to keep the crank just above the level of most of the weeds, then when I hit one rip it off that one. Or, and this something I see more with some cabbage patches, where the weeds are very thin, I won't pay as much attention to depth, but when I hit the occasional weed i then rip it. I hope that makes sense, but at least for me, I am never just letting a crank fall or dive until I hit weeds, then trying to yank it free. I have a little bit of a plan before I cast.

[Primus]

I have a few different baits I fish depending on what I'm looking for...

Striike King RedEye Shad- 1/2 oz is my go to bait if I'm limited to one. The fish love that shimmy on the fall. The one negative is they do a poor job with their metallic finishes, they flake off too easy. That said I keep buying 'em.

Damiki Tremor 80 Silent version- on a couple of occasions when the fish slowed down on the rattling baits this past spring this bait would add a few more fish after I had caught the more aggressive fish with the rattling bait.

Sebile Flat Shad- they make 2 models a gel filled silent model & a painted finish knocker. I like the gel filled bait especially on pressured clear water lakes. Has more vibration than most baits which seems to be a plus at times.

Spro Aruka Shad - the 5/8 oz does very good slow rolling and wiggles well at slow speeds in colder water.

Koppers Live Target Crawfish Trap- because it looks cool and gets bit.

1 oz size Excalibur knocker- been expierimenting with this bait as a sub for deep diver cranks to give the fish a different look and fishing it deeper than I would normally fish a lipless crank. So far I've been pleased with the results but like everything else in fishing it doesn't work every time.

5/8 oz Yozuri - good all around bait, very productive.

[MarkH024]

Forget about Rat-L-Traps, Red Eyed Shad RULE!

x2 I don't buy any other lipless crankbaits really. These are the best in my opinion. They always produce fish for me.

[roadwarrior]

I was always a big fan of the X Calibur XR2 (Chrome & Blue).

After fishing the Red Eyed Shad, it's the only lipless crankbait

I fish anymore.

[Bluebasser86]

Xcalibur XR50 and XRK50 in ghost or rayburn red are about the only traps I use anymore. I have them in several other colors and I have some RES that I use on occasion but they just don't work as well for me as the Xcalibur does.

[iceintheveins]

I still catch lots of bass on Super Spots and Rat L Traps. The Red Eye Shad is a must have bait though as well. It has a bit better action on the drop.