Lipless Crankbaits in Winter?

Most anglers consider a lipless crank to be a warm water lure. Its something you pull out after the spawn and fish until the bait goes deep in the fall. There is little doubt that it shines during these periods but if that is the only time you're throwing a rattle bait you're missing some of the most exciting fishing of the year!

Lipless crankbaits are a 12-month a year bait. Whether you're fishing in 2 feet or 70 feet, 75 degree water or 38 degree water, there is a bass just waiting to smash the bait. The key is how you approach the technique.

In this video we break down 4 key retrieves that will help you take full advantage of the baits you already know and love. In addition we will break down the key factors to look for (weight and sound) and how they combine to create the perfect package.

We're not here to try and convince you to buy a particular bait. You can buy any bait, or better yet, open your tackle box and pull out a bait you already own, and put these retrieves to work on your local lake. I will however, tell you my favorite lipless baits for cold water bass fishing. But more importantly, I'll tell you how I came to that conclusion.

Let's start with the retrieves:

1) The Flip Flop: The flip flop retrieve (unfortunately it has nothing to do with my favorite footwear) involves very gently lifting and dropping the rod tip without moving the bait laterally across the bottom. You quite literally flip the bait back and forth from one side to the other without lifting it off bottom. Every 10-15 flips you give the rod an extra bump to move the bait forward about 12 inches then repeat the process. 

When and Why? This retrieve works best in the coldest of cold. The bass are lethargic, they don't want to pursue a fast meal. Instead of trying to draw a reaction you're simply making commotion, letting out extra sound, and giving the bass time to inspect the bait. They're slowly lulled in and when the bait hops away, they attack.

2) The Shake: This retrieve is almost a perfect mirror of how I like to work a jig in cold water. It involves shaking the bait right on the bottom. I shake it very aggressively but without moving the bait forward. After 5 to 10 seconds of shaking I snap the rod tip and hop the bait forward 12-18 inches. Once it settles back to bottom I begin shaking again.

When and Why? This retrieve works best in cool to cold water. If the fish are open to feeding some but are still not aggressive, this will fool them. The incredibly obnoxious sound given off by an aggressively shaken lipless is enough to drive anyone insane. (If you fish from an aluminum it will drive you more insane than it does the fish!) Once the fish is agitated and ready for a fight the bait snapping up off the bottom is enough to make them come unglued!

3) The Gentle Approach: This retrieve is incredibly simple! Whether you're in a grassy pond, a rocky ledge, or a featureless mud flat you can catch bass with this approach. After letting your bait settle to the bottom reel up the slack, draw the line tight, and lift the rod 12-18 inches. Lift just fast enough to feel the bait begin to vibrate. Hold the rod still and allow the bait to pendulum back to bottom. Once its settled let it sit idle for 2-5 seconds then repeat.

When and Why? This retrieve is deadly from September to April in a variety of environments. It shines when the water is cool but not cold. If the fish are doing anything from ambushing bait shallow, to sitting under docks, or even lounging in a deep water haunt, this retrieve will get them to bite. Don't be afraid to use this as a direct replacement for a shaky head, spoon, or even a jig.

4) The Rip and Rattle: The first time I saw this approach I didn't know what to think. Was I watching bass fishing genius in the making or just another snagger doing his worst? The weigh-in later that afternoon told the story! This retrieve involves letting the bait settle just long enough to hit bottom. As soon as it hits you sweep the rod (set the hook). As you're reeling up your slack the bait settles to bottom again and you sweep again. This retrieve requires a heavy bait to get back to bottom between sweeps. (You can see how this could be confused with snagging but I assure you the bass come to the boat with the bait in their mouth)

When and Why? The Rip and Rattle is DEADLY when the bass are shallow and feeding. Water temp doesn't seem to matter as its a pure reaction bite focused on triggering an extremely aggressive bite. If the bass are in the shallows and bait is present, you may want to tie the rod to your arm so you don't lose it! The combination of the bait flying through the water, extremely loud sound, and repetition, is more than most bass can stand. If they're under docks, tie it on twice!

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Implementing these 4 retrieves will turn you into a cold water rattle bait fishermen overnight. It sounds crazy until you try it for yourself. The fish will take it from there!

I don't like to recommend specific baits because its important to find what works for you but this is one of those rare exceptions where some baits just work better. Bear in mind, I haven't tried every bait on the market but if you want a place to start you can't go wrong with these three and yes, they're in order of importance.

1) Lucky Craft LV-500: Its a killer. This is the best I've found. Its loud, compact, heavy, and has size 4 hooks (this makes light line and a finesse approach an option when the fish are finicky). Its not perfect, but if there is a better all-around bait I've yet to find it.

2) Lucky Craft LVR D-15: When the baitfish are large the D-15 can out-produce the LV-500. Its got larger size 2 hooks, the same deep sound, weighs 1 ounce, and has some killer paint jobs.

3) The Strike King Red Eye Shad: In 1/2 and 3/4 ounce options you get a medium size bait, large hooks, a deadly sound, all at a fair price.  

Understanding sound, weight, and color is also important to your success.

Sound: In cold water, a deep sound is best. Don't be afraid to walk down the aisle at your local shop shaking every bait you can find. The deeper the sound, the better it will work.

Weight: 3/4 ounce seems to be the magic number. If you're working the slower retrieves you can branch out and get away with lighter weights but for the "Gentle Approach" and the "Rip and Rattle" 3/4 or more is critical to how the bait moves.

Color: Let's keep it simple... I like a clear shad color, a clear/opaque mixed color, and a flashy color. In the lucky craft that's going to be "Ghost minnow" , "Light Hitch", and "American Shad". If you're throwing the Strike King think about using "Clear Water minnow", "Sexy ghost Minnow", and "Gold Sexy Shad". I like the clear baits on bright sunny days or in very clear water, the flashy colors in overcast or low-light conditions, and the mixed colors everywhere in between.

If you've made it this far I already know you're open-minded. Take it one step further and really give this a try. Convincing anglers to throw lipless baits while its cold is like trying to convince a kid they're going to like their dinner. You're just going to have to trust me on this one.  

I look forward to your feedback as you experiment with these baits and retrieves. Good luck!

Extra Deep Diving Crankbait Tips

When it comes to deep cranking, reaching new depths is often the key to success. In the recent past anglers would go with ultra light lines, huge lengths of line, even added weight to try and reach increased depths.

Today its as simple as opening the package and throwing one of a variety of extra-deep diving crankbaits. This new genre of baits reaches deeper, holds depth better, and calls fish from farther. If you're still resistant to the new trend in "big" cranks, you need to take a look. I'm not saying they're the solution to every problem but they are a whole new genre of bait and every well rounded angler should at least understand their benefits and how they might fit in to his or her arsenal.

If the bass in your lakes are keyed on small baitfish these may not be the right choice for you. If they're keyed on large bait or if they are at depths in excess of 25 feet, these baits definitely have a place in your arsenal.

Many companies are vying for a spot in this genre but only 3 (that I'm aware of at the time of this writing) have successfully entered the category. Those 3 in no particular order are the Lucky Craft Magnum, the Strike King 10 XD, and the 6th Sense 500DD.

From Front to Back: Lucky Craft Magnum, Strike King 10 XD, 6th Sense 500DD, Norman DD22

Fishing these "magnum" size baits is really no different than fishing any other deep diving crank. It may be a little tougher to turn the handle on the reel but the mechanics are all the same. One added benefit is the baits are fairly snag resistant. Because of their overall mass they tend to float out of snags extremely well if the bill itself is what is stuck.

One tip to consider is adding a 2nd split right to the rear treble. By doing this you eliminate torque, making it much harder for the bass to throw the bait. With smaller cranks this isn't critical but with these big, heavy baits, it is very important to keep the odds in you favor.

Pick up one of these new cranks and give it a try. You just might be surprised what is lurking a few feet lower on your favorite ledge!

Fall Bass Fishing: Top 5 Baits

I love fall fishing! After a long summer the lake finally feels alive again. The baitfish are schooling, the bass are feeding, and the fishermen are wrapping up their tournament seasons. Whether you want to catch more bass, win the AOY race, or win a new boat, these 5 baits will get you headed in the right direction.

Its never easy to limit yourself to just 5 baits but if I had to choose one season to do it, it would be the fall. As the bass group up and feed they become much simpler to target than they were throughout the summer. In no particular order, my top 5 baits are as follows:

1) The jig: The bass are gorging before winter and one of their favorite meals is a crawdad. Stick to a simple craw profile and you'll succeed. There are a lot of great jigs out there including a plethora of colors, head designs, and colors but if I could only choose one it would be the Dirty Jigs 3/4 oz Pitchin' Jig in "Molting Craw". That color, coupled with either a Sweet Beaver-style trailer or a Twin Tail Grub-style trailer creates a phenomenal crawdad imitation.

2) The Spook: Walking-style topwater baits work great through all the summer months but their effectiveness peaks during the early fall. Bass are gorging on baitfish and baits like the super spook (see our video on the top 5 walking baits for ideas) are a perfect imitation. Choose a color you have confidence in but you can never go wrong with whites, silvers, or even a little chartreuse to draw the bass away from the 1000's of other easy meals swimming around. Try The Super Spook in "Okie Shad" or the Rover in "sooner" if you need a place to start.

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Top 5 Baits for the Fall Transition

3) The Glide Bait: Glide baits have taken the industry by storm the last couple years. If you aren't throwing one this fall, you're missing opportunities for great fishing! I'm particularly partial to the S-waver in the 168 and 200 sizes in "Warden" or "Light Trout" (See our S-Waver Video and S-Waver 200 Video to see why) The S-waver is easy to use and won't break the bank but is by no means your only option. Check out the Gan Craft Jointed Claw, Smith Baits Hitch-X, or if you're in to the custom baits, the Hinkle Baits is hard to pass up. These are all baits that we've seen success with over and over again. They're big, but they get bit and fall is a great time to build your confidence!

4) The Deep Crank: Whether you're throwing a big 10XD, a Rapala DT-Series (because Ike says so), a slim profile like the Deep Six, or my old standby DD-22 you can't go wrong with a deep crank. We throw a lot of the shad patterns including those with lavender, chartreuse, or brown backs. We even branch in to the craws a bit. Whatever it is you choose, the deep crank will let you cast farther and reach deeper to catch those fish other anglers are overlooking.

5) The Lipless Crank: Who could possibly overlook this crank? Whether you're burning through the fading grass, fanning flats, or ripping off the bottom around docks and cover, the lipless is probably the most versatile bait during the fall. Again, stick to the shad patterns. If I could only choose one lipless it would be the Lucky Craft LV-500. Like many Western anglers I've discovered the benefits of the fast sinking, loud rattling bait. Try Chartreuse Shad, Ghost Minnow, Wakin if the fish are really active, or even Crack if the water has some stain to it.

What "Top 5" list would be complete without fudging and including some extras? Because 5 baits really is tough to do, the rest of the baits that really should have made the cut are the Swim Jig (California Swim Jig to be exact), the Flutter Spoon, The Jerkbait (ripbait if you live on the west coast), and the paddle tail swimbait (I'd go with the 6" basstrix or 4.8 Keitech on a Dirty Jigs Swimbait head).

Put these baits to work for you and have a great fall. Good luck out there!

Is your favorite bait on the list? Did I miss something? Let's hear what's on your top 5 list.