Lipless Cranks

[Knightiac]

Hey guys,

       I used to post a good amount a few years ago but got busy and the fishing slowed down for me unfortunately. This last fall I got back into it and I've been on the water nearly every weekend this year it seems. I've always been a huge fan of soft plastics, worms, craws, flukes, and the list goes on - so my tackle bag pretty much consisted of soft plastics and a ton of terminal tackle to rig it differently. Years back, I bought a ton of lipless cranks that I never used much, and literally only caught one fish on them after only giving it a good three hours. 

       I just recently forced myself to use them, and I am a believer. In a span of about thirty minutes, once I found the fish, I got on an incredible bite and want to devote even more time to mastering them. I've got the basic color ideas, size, and when/how down, but I haven't seen a ton regarding rattle/silent. When do y'all switch it up between using a rattle or a silent lipless crank? I must admit, when I bought them a couple years ago, I got a few colors, each color in two sizes, and they all have one rattle (red eye shads).

[bigturtle]

i use silent/quiet lipless during crystal clear waters and at night with good amount of moon light and no wind.

[smalljaw67]

The hardest part of using traps is when to use them and for me it is any time but post spawn is a good time because the fish are scattered and lipless cranks make a great search bait. As far as when to use a silent bait versus a rattling one, the answer is clear water, if you have 3' or more of visibility then a silent bait will be a better option.

[MainelyBASS]

As everyone already mentioned, clear water, no wind, high skies is a great time to throw them. Another instance when I love to throw them, although it doesn't happen too often is when I find a school of fish and I catch 4 or 5 out of the school and the bite dies off. I will throw the same bait, same color, just silent.

[Knightiac]

Gotcha makes since. Clearer the water the more natural the presentation, thanks.

[SDoolittle]

I don't think it matters. I used the original Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap for many years in everything from muddy to crystal clear water with good results. Of course, that was before I knew that I was supposed to be using silent baits in clear water.

[Airman4754]

1 hour ago, S. Doolittle said:

I don't think it matters. I used the original Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap for many years in everything from muddy to crystal clear water with good results. Of course, that was before I knew that I was supposed to be using silent baits in clear water.

I'm the same. I've never been able to find conditions that make a difference.

I think that goes back to why people think black/blue is better than junebug and vice versa. 

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I use a red head white trap 1/2 oz saltwater and fresh its my most productive color. Firetiger,black/blue back and chrome work too

[Senko lover]

I love lipless crankbaits this time of year. Get a chili craw Red Eye Shad and hang on

[bowhunter63]

Bluegill patteren Rat-l-trap is working good now.

[papajoe222]

I don't own one that doesn't have rattles, although I do believe there are times when a different sounding rattle will make a difference.  That's why I carry Diamond Shads, Red Eyes, Hot Spots, One Knockers and some others that I don't even know the names of.  After catching a few from a piece of structure or a grass bed, I'll switch out to the same general color with different rattles and pick up a few more.  I did give a floater a try a few years back, but didn't have any confidence in it so I gave it away.

[Raul]

2 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

I don't own one that doesn't have rattles, although I do believe there are times when a different sounding rattle will make a difference.  That's why I carry Diamond Shads, Red Eyes, Hot Spots, One Knockers and some others that I don't even know the names of.  After catching a few from a piece of structure or a grass bed, I'll switch out to the same general color with different rattles and pick up a few more.  I did give a floater a try a few years back, but didn't have any confidence in it so I gave it away.

True, there are days that I can´t catch a cold with, for example a Rat L-Trap, just to change for a Ratlin´ Rap and make a killing, why ? because it sounds different ! so it´s not bad to have a couple of several brands.

[IndianaFinesse]

I don't think the bass care wether it's clear or not when deciding to eat a lipless crank, since it's more of a reaction lure anyway.  I have slayed them in crystal clear water on the original rattling rattle trap, and I was using it in a way that it wasn't a reaction lure.  Bass don't know that they aren't supposed to eat loud lures in clear water.

[BassObsessed]

I don't put much thought into the silent cranks for clear water scenario. One lake I fish is very clear and up to 30ft deep and they tear up a Spro Aruku Shad in perch and there are no yellow perch in there.

[Raul]

13 hours ago, BassObsessed said:

I don't put much thought into the silent cranks for clear water scenario. One lake I fish is very clear and up to 30ft deep and they tear up a Spro Aruku Shad in perch and there are no yellow perch in there.

Bu, bu, bu, bu, buuuut you´s gotta "match the hatch" !