Sweeping/dragging a Lipless

[LrgmouthShad]

Hey y’all,

 

I was reminded about a technique when I watched a YouTube video recently. I’ve seen Bassmaster Elites do this same thing. 
 

It’s widely known that you can gently lift a lipless off the bottom continually back to the boat, working deep water. This is ‘yo-yoing’. 
 

What I see utilized much less often is what I call ‘sweeping’ which takes the concept of ‘yo-yoing’ and applies it to shallow water. Here, anglers will cast into shallower water and instead of lifting gently off the bottom, they will pull the lipless along. It looks very similar to dragging. The emphasis is on horizontal movement - not jigging it off the bottom. 
 

I’ve seen this be very effective. I hope this technique is helpful to you this winter. I will certainly be using it. And…. love him or hate him… credit where credit is due…. the YouTube video that reminded me of this is one of Randy B’s. I am personally requesting that you refrain from commenting on your opinion of Randy in this thread. This is strictly educational.

[TnRiver46]

This catches big ones late winter early spring after water temps have bottomed out. Then the sun warms the shallows and the shad get on the flats . If you can get the trap kicking up dust without fouling it, the LM like to pin it to the mud. White bass hunt the same way and will nearly bury a paddle tail when they hit it 

[FishTax]

I'd be concerned I'd hang up on the first cast with all the wood in my lake. This is why I usually avoid treble hooks, unless bass are suspended. 

 

This technique described reminds me of the @WRBhorizonal jigging technique, similar approach with different lure. 

[Pat Brown]

34 minutes ago, FishTax said:

I'd be concerned I'd hang up on the first cast with all the wood in my lake. This is why I usually avoid treble hooks, unless bass are suspended. 

 

This technique described reminds me of the @WRBhorizonal jigging technique, similar approach with different lure. 

 

6th sense suspending quake.  Bill Lewis floating trap.

 

I can do this technique in 12 inches of water over brush with these baits.  They are the perfect bank anglers lipless IMHO.

 

One of these days I'm gonna keep this to myself 😂😂😂🎣🎣🎣

[Mike L]

There are 2 ways I throw a trap…

What you describe, much like how I use a C Rig with a rod sweep, stop, lift and sweep again. 
 

The other which is much more effective in 2-4 ft for me is reel, lift and vary the reel turns dropping it each time. 
But when I lift it’s a hard pull, even breaking the surface and continue back. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[FishTank]

Some lakes it works but others with a dead forest on the bottom,  forget it.  

[RipzLipz]

I’ve also fished large, single Colorado blade spinnerbaits using the yo-yo/lift & drop with some success. Bass will hit it hard on the fall. The speed of the lift can vary.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

If you replace the belly treble with a duo and the rear treble with a light wire you can get away with fishing stump fields.  If its really thick or Im unfamiliar with the lake, ill replace both trebles with duos.  

[Bankbeater]

I sweep the rod when I'm fishing around small clumps of patchy submerged vegetation.  I'll bring the bait up the patch and then sweep the rod.  Sometimes that little extra burst will draw the bass out of the cover.  I don't think I have ever let a lipless sink to the bottom on purpose.  Around here you risk getting snagged.