Academy H2O Lipless Cranks - Anyone Using Them?

[Goose52]

These look pretty good on-line - good finishes, hooks OK, sorta shaped like an Aruku Shad. Anyone fishing them? I'm going through quite a few lipless cranks and need to start building a stock back up. These might be an option...

[deaknh03]

The Academy lures are pretty good for the money, swap the hooks out and you got a decent bait.

[Captain Obvious]

I like them, they are a little quit so but very good finesse lip-less bait for cold water or when you need to put a few extra fish in the boat

[BassThumb]

They are my least favorite Academy crankbait. The two I have tend to roll badly at even a medium speed. I also have Red Eye Shads that do that, so maybe mine are just dud baits. I've heard of lipless cranks that roll because some of the ball bearings used as rattles got caught in the glue when the bait was manufactured, and it threw the bait off-kilter.

[Goose52]

Yeah, I heard the same thing about the rattles. I've bought about 2 dozen Red Eye Shads and finally got a bad one just the other day - it rolls on its side big-time. E-mailed Strike King - they want me to mail them the bait and they will replace it.

[sharrison]

I bought a 6 pack of them all different colors on sale last year and have had good luck with them when I do throw them. None of them roll over (I don't burn them in super fast though and use a 5.2-1 reel) and i'm even still using the factory hooks without any issues. They are still sharp and not bent. They aren't very loud like others have said but I personally like that. Here in Fl we have a lot of clear water so no need for a super loud rattle, and when i've tried loud ones it seems to spook the fish.

I have had good luck with every H2O bait i've ever bought. Only issues i've ever had was a square bill crankbait was cracked at the bas of the bill and they swapped it out no problem. It was that way in the package and I didn't see it untill I got home.

[Goose52]

Thanks for the info. I've got enough lipless cranks left to last through the end of this season and don't need to get these right away. I'll keep an eye on the Academy web site over the winter and see if they go on sale and then pick up a few (or get that 6-pack).

[barroncooper]

how did i never catch this thread. i have no problems with the hooks and i like the fact that they're not SO loud.

[Bluebasser86]

You need to catch the spring fever sale at BPS. Last year they had Cotton Cordell spots on sale for $1.99. Haven't tried the H20 lippless baits but if it isn't an Excalibur XR50 or XRK50 I'm probably not going to fish it

[Goose52]

You need to catch the spring fever sale at BPS. Last year they had Cotton Cordell spots on sale for $1.99. Haven't tried the H20 lippless baits but if it isn't an Excalibur XR50 or XRK50 I'm probably not going to fish it

I just picked up 12 XCalibur lipless cranks (XR25, XR50, XR75 & XR100) for $2.99 each during the Lurenet Black Friday sale! A good price, especially for the two 1 ouncers that I got. Probably should have ordered more but I've bought about 50 lipless cranks in the past few weeks and should have enough for next season - and for a few more seasons after that!

I might still give the H2O baits a try, but I've scored a bunch of Red Eye Shads, the XCaliburs, and some others at a lower price than the H20 price.

[CWB]

They are my least favorite Academy crankbait. The two I have tend to roll badly at even a medium speed. I also have Red Eye Shads that do that, so maybe mine are just dud baits. I've heard of lipless cranks that roll because some of the ball bearings used as rattles got caught in the glue when the bait was manufactured, and it threw the bait off-kilter.

I think we have all had that happen to us at least once. Wrap the bait in a towel and whack it against something hard. (I use my head)

I've found that loosens any stuck rattles more times than not.

Worth a try before sending anything back.

[tnbassfisher]

I've been a pretty big fan of all the H2O Express products for a couple of years now.