Super User roadwarrior Posted January 30, 2009 Super User Posted January 30, 2009 Does anyone else notice that this particular type of lure is very finicky? It seems to me that individual lures are either killer or worthless. Same color, size, brand, apparent action, etc. I have several that I have fished when the action was hot without so much as a touch; tied on a "tried and true" and BINGO! As a specific example, I have a LC Max500 in "Sexy Shad" before KVD made the pattern famous! I really like fishing this lure because you can nearly spool a reel on the cast. I'll guess that I have fished it 50+ hours over the past several years, producing only a small fish or two. On the other hand, an XCalibur XR50 (chrome silver/ orange) is my "can't miss if they're biting" lure. Go figure... 8-) Quote
Uncle Leo Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 Yes I think it is the rattles. I used Aruka Shads in the past. I had one that was hot but the pattern chipped off banging into rocks. Bought an identical but did not work. I save that particular lure for a certain area on a certain lake where it produces. Found the new one did work at other lakes though just not as good. By the way this lake is Braidwood which has a feature in this months BASS magazine. Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted January 30, 2009 Super User Posted January 30, 2009 About the only variable I have had experience with is size. I've been throwing at schooling bass and one size is ignored and another is productive. Color doesn't seem to matter. As far as brands, I only use the ones with a flat leading edge ( like the Traps and Spots ) to get the most vibration and most lift since vegetation and timber is the primary cover were I use them. Quote
MitchIsFishin Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 The XR50 is great, found it because of folks here. As far as the original rat-l-traps go, I won't be buying anymore. Quote
Super User fishfordollars Posted January 30, 2009 Super User Posted January 30, 2009 RW, you are right. funny how a lure can come out of the mold and catch a ton of fish and the next one won't. When I find one that is hot it goes in a seperate box for special occasions. They are true finds. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 30, 2009 Author Super User Posted January 30, 2009 RW, you are right. funny how a lure can come out of the mold and catch a ton of fish and the next one won't. When I find one that is hot it goes in a seperate box for special occasions. They are true finds. Yeah, I'm putting a package together for Muddy and I warned him that some of the lures have not produced for me. Generally, I would rather throw them away than give them away, but maybe his guys will have better luck in PA than I've had. 8-) Quote
Blue Streak Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 I have not found a great one yet form any bait maker and the Traps just don't work for me. But I keep trying. Quote
Super User CWB Posted January 30, 2009 Super User Posted January 30, 2009 RW is right on. I've tried most that cost less than $20.00 and wouldn't trade any of them for my old battle scarred Chrome/Blue Back Super Spot. Something about that bait is magic. Of course now that I posted this I'll lose it on the first cast I throw it. Quote
Super User Raul Posted January 30, 2009 Super User Posted January 30, 2009 Not all crankbaits are created equal and most of them are more equal than others. There are some baits that have something special and most times you have to go to tenths of baits to find that particular bait that is special, I know it being mainly a crankbait fisherman; if such is true for plastic baits with wood baits it even more true. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 30, 2009 Author Super User Posted January 30, 2009 Of course now that I posted this I'll lose it on the first cast I throw it. Hmm... I heard some good reports on the Yo-Zuri Drum...I have owned two... Lost both on the first cast...Darn things didn't work at all for me! From now on I'll only throw them on a lake, recovering lures on the river is not often an option. Quote
Super User Sam Posted January 30, 2009 Super User Posted January 30, 2009 I have a favorite Rat-L-Trap. Caught a big four pound smallie with the bait plus many other smaller bass. The bait is chrome with a black back. A lot of the black paint is chipped off but I have not touched her up for fear I will destroy the action. Have caught other smaller bass with other Rat-l-traps and other brands, but for some reason, this one Rat-L-Trap seems to attract fish. Go figure? Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 30, 2009 Author Super User Posted January 30, 2009 ...but for some reason, this one Rat-L-Trap seems to attract fish. Yep, and this seems to be a common characteristic for these lures. 8-) Quote
Super User Catt Posted January 30, 2009 Super User Posted January 30, 2009 I have a couple Rat-L-Traps and Smithwich Rouges that the manufactory says they do not make them in these colors but yet I have them; they are killer! All of the tackle that does not produce for me I'll give to my oldest brother and he ends up whipping me every time out with these same lures. Quote
fooman Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 I think its the case with all crankbaits. You can buy 5 exact baits and only 1 might produce..Maybe a very small manufacturing defect that seperates the non=productive from the others.. As far as lip-less baits go I use a few differant manufactures,Rat-l-trap,Spot,Rattlin Raps,etc and have found that if 1 certain brand is not producing I can switch over to another and catch fish. Sometimes they want a differant sound or a slightly differant action. If I only limited myself to 1 brand of baits I think I would be missing alot of fish Quote
Brad_Coovert Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 Fopr me, lipless baits seem to be one of those baits that on any given day, one brand, size, color, etc. just flat out kills the fish and the others don't. I use all three sizes of the Arukushad, all of the XR and XRK series baits, 1/2 and 1/4 oz. Spots, R2Sea Twin Vibes and several LC baits and seldom will any two have the same catch rate. When I'm hunting fish during good lipless conditions, I will rotate through several baits and normally will find the best one pretty quickly. Quote
mrbassky Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 I have noticed some Rattle traps dont run the same. I dont know that it makes a difference or what but the proven ones always seem to work better. The more you use one the better it gets I heard once on theroy I read from a pro was supposed to be because a powder filled the rattle chamber over time. I dont know for sure but I think the premium baits are more consistent for me. Also some brands work better burned, ripped or slow rolled so that may be why you prefer certain types. Quote
Certified Public Angler Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 Ive actually been heating up on lipless cranks lately. Quote
The_Natural Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 Fopr me, lipless baits seem to be one of those baits that on any given day, one brand, size, color, etc. just flat out kills the fish and the others don't.I use all three sizes of the Arukushad, all of the XR and XRK series baits, 1/2 and 1/4 oz. Spots, R2Sea Twin Vibes and several LC baits and seldom will any two have the same catch rate. When I'm hunting fish during good lipless conditions, I will rotate through several baits and normally will find the best one pretty quickly. +1 You can really hone a trap bite if you utilize a few different types of traps. A very wide flat surface on a trap (like the XR50) moves a lot of water and is very aggressive. The opposite would be the Lucky Craft LVR which is skinny and far less aggressive. I don't have a rhyme or reason on what trap I start with, but if I get a few fish on it...I will usually tie on a different type of trap on another rod. On another note; the Spro Aruku Shad is the most impressive trap for the price...period. The finish on these baits is Lucky Craft quality...and I own a lot of L/C traps. My local Cabelas and Bass Pro have them for $7.99, but I get a pricematch when I show them Janns Netcraft has them for $5.99. I highly recommend the members here pickup a few of these....they are the deal. Quote
basser89 Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 I carry several brands in my lipless box: RatLTraps, Super Spots, Diamond Shads, Red Eye Shads and the Bill Norman brand (the name eludes me right now). While I usually start off with my 'Traps, there are days when one brand outshines the others. Whether its the profile, action or sound. If I'm in an area that screams lipless cranks, I'll run through the different brand until I find the one they want. I've become a believer in trying different weights as well. And have started adding a collection of smaller lipless cranks to my arsenal as well. I've had several occassions when the standard (1/2oz) size wouldn't catch a cold but when I switched up to a smaller (1/4oz) one they tore it up! Quote
Stringjam Posted January 31, 2009 Posted January 31, 2009 Excellent post, RW. I've been through a lot of lipless baits trying to figure out what I really like in a bait and what attributes make one productive over another. I think the drop rate has a lot to do with what makes some baits produce over others in certain conditions. I also think that in burn situations, the really tight action baits (e.g. XCaliburs, Daiwa T.D.Vibrations, etc.) tend to shine at their best, while being a little lame in situations when you need to slow it down. I'm pretty happy with a Spot and a Jackall TN/70 - - it covers most of the ground I fish. I still whip out the Risebacker when I want a silent bait with a really slow drop, or the Daiwa when I really want to burn, but the Jackall is no stranger to that, either. The more the merrier......I dig the vibes. Quote
paul. Posted January 31, 2009 Posted January 31, 2009 kent i am also a huge fan of the xr50. these little baits are incredible! i also love the one knocker from xcalibur. i too have found that one particular type/brand of rattlebait will smoke other types some days. the next day the one that was hot will get smoked one of the types it whipped the day before. go figure. one that i have yet to try, but i definitely will, is the new clackin' rap. it looks awesome. has anyone gotten one of these yet? http://www.rapala.com/how2tv/ just lookin' at the vid makes me wanna order 10 of 'em. i really think this will be a hot bait this year. they have some really nice colors too. Quote
zbass Posted January 31, 2009 Posted January 31, 2009 I have lipless baits that only come out when money is on the line. They are from a few different mfgs. Like RW and everyone else has said, there is something special about certain baits. I try not to throw these where there are toothy critters around. Lost a consistent 2# producer to a pike and just about cried. Quote
BassFishingMachine Posted January 31, 2009 Posted January 31, 2009 My best producers are the Bill Lewis Rat-L-Traps, and Luckycraft LV-0. I fish shallow waters from the bank in small ponds/lakes. The Lv-0 will run somewhere in the middle of the water column. Really helps me from cleaning the bottom on every other cast, like alot of lipless cranks have done for me in these shallow waters I fish :-/. The Lv-0 has produced well, and I really don't snag too much crap on it. Quote
shootermcbob Posted January 31, 2009 Posted January 31, 2009 I had the most success with a super spot, chrome with black back. I fished it alot and it looks pretty gnarly, but it was the only lipless crank I had alot of catches with. I also caught a few nice fish on the strike king red eye shad in ........no, not sexy shad, but chrome with black back. By the way, I bought the super spot for a buck. ;D Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 31, 2009 Author Super User Posted January 31, 2009 Spro Aruka Shad? http://www.spro.com/products/index.php?cPath=49_91&products_id=309&page=1&sort=3a How 'bout size and color if I'm just going to pick up a couple? 8-) Quote
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