Flat Sided Crank Baits vs. Lipless Crank Baits ?

[ChrisD46]

I'm trying to better understand when you would choose a flat sided crank bait versus  a lipless crank bait in cold water ? ... I understand why the flat sided crank bait excels over a round bodied crank bait in cold water - but not so much in understanding the nuances between the flat side and lipless crank baits as to when you would reach for one or the other ? ... Thanks in advance for replies  .

[scaleface]

25 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

I understand why the flat sided crank bait excels over a round bodied crank bait in cold water

I  dont understand that .  

[Allaroundfishing]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

I  dont understand that .  

So most people claim that flat sided do better in cold water because a flat sided crankbait has a thinner less aggressive wobble much like a shad thats sluggish in cold water.

1 hour ago, ChrisD46 said:

I'm trying to better understand when you would choose a flat sided crank bait versus  a lipless crank bait in cold water ? ... I understand why the flat sided crank bait excels over a round bodied crank bait in cold water - but not so much in understanding the nuances between the flat side and lipless crank baits as to when you would reach for one or the other ? ... Thanks in advance for replies  .

So me personally all my winter crankbait bass have been on either Rat-l-Traps or Red eyes. i fish off a bank alot and i like that you can burn them or slow roll them and bump off rock and whatnot. How ever a flat sided crank would be better if you were trying to avoid snags as much as possible as a lipless gets hung way easier. Also if you were on a school of suspending fish i would throw a flat side that targeted that depth zone . Just my opinion though.

[LonnieP]

Flat sided crankbaits have a tighter action that will sometimes cause a strike in cold or pressured lakes. I like to hop a lipless crankbait off the bottom in cold water, can't do that with a flat side because it will slowly rise up. 

Both are my most productive reaction baits and I always have one of each tied on. Most days I throw both and let the bass tell me what they want. 

[smalljaw67]

I like flat sides even in warm water!! The waters I fish are pressured and you would not believe how many bites you can get on a flat side crank when you couldn't even get a follow with a round crank. Now in cold water LonnieP hit the nail on the head, a flat side bait will still rise but a lipless will sink and you can keep it down and you can slow hop it. If you want to fish both a lipless and flat side at the same time then try yourself a Bomber Flat A and Deep Flat A, absolute killer in water 45 to 55 degrees. What works is it practically suspends and when it rises it does so very slow and it vibrates but it has a lip but you don't need to hit cover with it.

[FishTank]

I like use flat sided baits in spring and fall and the lipless cranks in warmer weather.

 

 

 

[papajoe222]

I prefer silent, flat sided cranks and blade baits over a lipless crank in cold (under 50 degree) water. IMO, a lipless crank is to loud and aggressive, even though it has similar action.  Of course, I deal with a lot of clear water and pressured fish, so my observation can be seen as biased.

[Dirtyeggroll]

I like to use a flat sided crankbait on rip-rap and brush when the water is between 40-50 degrees. I don't have as much luck trying to get a lipless to bounce off of rocks and come through brush as well as a flat side with a bill.

[ChrisD46]

Appreciate the replies ! ... There certainly appears to be a time and place for both !

[ChrisD46]

What are a few popular flat sided  square bill crank brands you have had success with ?

[A-Jay]

On 2/6/2019 at 12:42 PM, ChrisD46 said:

What are a few popular flat sided  square bill crank brands you have had success with ?

6th Sense Crush Flat 75X Crankbait

 

Good Luck finding a better one ~ 

A-Jay

[LonnieP]

I've had a lot of luck with the Spro little john but I ordered some 6th Sense x75 to try out because TW had them on sale for $5.99 during there Christmas sale. Too soon to tell if they're as good as the Little John's. 

[Jrob78]

Bomber Flat A 

Lucky Craft KJ Flat

Spro Little John

Ima Shaker

Rapala DT Flat

Jackall Bling

 

There are also many great balsa flat sided baits but many of them are hard to find and pretty expensive.

[papajoe222]

I like the Norman Thin N for shallow water and SK's KVD 1.5 flat sided. I used to throw a Bomber Flat A, but color selection around here is very limited.

[ChrisD46]

*I appreciate the quick replies !

[sll]

Flat sides for a slower retrieve and lipless burning it fast on flats.

[JLBBass]

my 3 favorite flat sided crankbaits:

 

#1)  Rapala Shad Rap (personally, the best flat sided crankbait EVER made!)

#2) Lucky craft KJ Flat

#3) Spro Little John

 

plan on trying the 6th Sense 75X this year!

[MN Fisher]

Favorite crankbaits in order

 

1) Rattlin' Rap

2) Jointed Shallow Shad Rap

3) DT-6

4) Shad Rap

5) DT-4

 

All these have produced for me, so Rapala is my go-to for crankbaits.

[Birdman2136]

I prefer my flat sided cranks to be silent and balsa.