Crankbait help.

[Bamajoker]

I am kinda new to bass fishing so bear with me. Where and what situations would you use a lipless or a normal crankbait.

Ive never liked them because i always get hung on something and waist 5.00 or more lol.

Should they run to the bottom? or where in the water should they run.?

Also what are good brand and color to use for murky and fair water.

[Luke at Gouldsboro]

lipless cranks, like a rattlin rapala would be used more in cold water, because of the tight wobble. Spring, summer and fall I use regular cranks. One good method of fishing them is to make the bait bang off submerged structure (like trees, rocks, the bottom) . Fish usually can't resist striking after it bumps off something, but you run the risk of getting caught up.

[whoopbazz]

Not saying who's right or wrong...it's all preference.

But I feel the opposite. Cold water...lipped crankbait. This allows for a slower retrieve and some stop and go suspending actions. I feel the slower presentation and a wider wobble is better.

As far a a lipless...over the weeds shallow water.  You can buzz these over weedbeds in the summer. Another thing I have foundis in warmer months when the fish are deeper...I count down the lipless and fish it in like 15 feet or more.

[florida strain]

i like both types throughout the year. i use a lipless to cover more water or ripping ..and use the traditional for active fish..i fell i get a reaction strike from both. i look for lanes to throw them in when fishing grass cover ..try a square bill or coffin bill around the wood cover

[bassman31783]

I tend to go with whatever the bass are biting on that particular day  .  Sometimes the bass can only be caught by using a lipless crankbait trying to get a reaction strike.  Other days you need to use a suspending jerkbait & let it sit in front of them for 10-30 seconds before they will bite.  If they are suspending in the thermocline then I use a lipped crankbait that gets down to the exact depth they are suspending.  Bass hardly ever do what we expect them to do.  Keep an open mind & just try different things until you get bit.

As far as bait colors to use in murky water, I would have to say anything with Red, Orange or Chartreuse in it.

[Chris]

Rattletrap style lures work well year round. Because they lack a lip they also lack many of the deflection qualities that a regular crankbait will have. Some traps float but most sink. The running depth is determined by the speed of the retrieve, line size, and weight of the lure which all can be manipulated to change how deep the lure can be ran or how shallow. In shallow water traps become a zone bait. If you where fishing a long weed edge this bait will be a good choice. You are able to fish the edge at a certain depth the whole cast. This also works well with drop off edges or bridge walls and such. The 1/4 oz model on most of these baits will hang about 3ft of depth but less if you use heavy line or a faster retrieve. By adjusting your equipment or how your fishing this lure can really help to dial in the right zone. 1/2 oz lure can run 4 to 5 ft depths on average. Around soft weeds and even rip rap this bait does well. Most anglers will match this bait with braid to help rip the lure out of the weeds when it get hung up. Around hard cover like stumps and lay downs your going to hate this bait and loose a bunch. In deeper water this bait can be counted down to about any depth just remember to either slow roll it or yo yo it to keep the bait down. When you use a yo yo retrieve make sure you let the bait fall on semi slack line to help detect bites. In stained water I always did well with a clown pattern lure, gold, or even black.

I will also add that the suspending model that they make is a heck of a cold front lure at times. It also throws a change up pitch around other anglers throwing traps and can draw more strikes if fished right. The floating model works well when the bass are up busting shad or on real shallow flats or skinny water.

[soccplayer07]

Rattletrap style lures work well year round. Because they lack a lip they also lack many of the deflection qualities that a regular crankbait will have. Some traps float but most sink. The running depth is determined by the speed of the retrieve, line size, and weight of the lure which all can be manipulated to change how deep the lure can be ran or how shallow. In shallow water traps become a zone bait. If you where fishing a long weed edge this bait will be a good choice. You are able to fish the edge at a certain depth the whole cast. This also works well with drop off edges or bridge walls and such. The 1/4 oz model on most of these baits will hang about 3ft of depth but less if you use heavy line or a faster retrieve. By adjusting your equipment or how your fishing this lure can really help to dial in the right zone. 1/2 oz lure can run 4 to 5 ft depths on average. Around soft weeds and even rip rap this bait does well. Most anglers will match this bait with braid to help rip the lure out of the weeds when it get hung up. Around hard cover like stumps and lay downs your going to hate this bait and loose a bunch. In deeper water this bait can be counted down to about any depth just remember to either slow roll it or yo yo it to keep the bait down. When you use a yo yo retrieve make sure you let the bait fall on semi slack line to help detect bites. In stained water I always did well with a clown pattern lure, gold, or even black.

Well said, Chris.