Lipless Crankbaits

I often see you talk of Rattletraps and other lipless cranks. My favorite way of fishing is with Crankbaits either casting or trolling. I want to start using lipless baits more, but don’t know how, when, or what size. I mainly fish pool nine, but also fish four, five, and thirteen.

What size, colors, retrieve speed, and tactics would you use in the below situations:

1. How do you fish them in heavy current?
2. How do you fish them in light current?
3. How do you fish in no current?
4. How to fish wing dams?
5. How to fish flooded Willows?

Thanks
JIM

I forgot to mention what kind of fish. usualy fish Walleye or Bass, but have heard of using the tiny ones for Crappie too.

I,ve had good luck on rattle traps for walleye when the fish are shallow casting to shorelines or weed flats and letting the bait sink in the open pockets. A couple of my best strings of walleye ever came tossing these baits in the shallows.I like the shad color and green chartruse when I find fish shallow its one of my go to,s for a look

Shallow running traps don’t seem to work well in heavy current….i’ve found they just get washed all over…so i’d go w/a bigger bait that will cut through the current and get down to the desired depth.(even if it’s shallow)

In light current, the bait should work as advertised..and i would fish as is depending on the situation….I think the same applies in zero current…

I guess i like fishing a wing/closing dam in 3 ways..I like running parallel along both top and bottom..and i also like to take them right over the top, bouncing over the rocks along the way

I like to rip them through the willows….sudden jerks seem to work well.

All IMO…and none of it probably works

Slop & Joe
Thanks for your info

JIM

Jim, I would agree with all of Slops info.

I would add that on pool 4, blue shad imitating colors have saved my bacon several times. Blue/silver, blue/orange ect.

I don’t have the same success on 9 or 10 with blue. These pools treat me better if I throw crawdad or chartruese traps.

Brian
I will keep those colors in mind

THANKS
JIM

I think a key point Slop made was “bouncing all over”. I firmly believe that making contact with the rocks will trigger strikes. You might lose some lures in the rocks but you’ll catch more fish.

Personally I throw the 1oz or 3/4oz Rattle Traps. I rarely throw 1/2oz and only occasionally throw the big 1.5oz (when I am not fishing for Bass).

Gold, Chrome/Blue, and Firetiger and you are set.

Quote:

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Personally I throw the 1oz or 3/4oz Rattle Traps. I rarely throw 1/2oz and only occasionally throw the big 1.5oz (when I am not fishing for Bass).

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Maybe that is my problem? I normally tried the 1/4 oz size. I might need to go bigger????

Thanks
JIM

I suppose the type of rod/reel and line weight you prefer can impact what lure weight you choose. I think the 3/4oz is about the limit for a medium or medium heavy action spinning rod but a medium action baitcast can handle the 1oz. I personally like to chuck the Rattle Traps with my baitcaster.

I suspect any fish, except panfish or carp, could and would hit a larger Rattle Trap.

I have gained lots of confidence in the 1oz Rattle Traps from fishing up in Lac Seul. I frequently use the gold 1oz Trap on the St. Croix and catch Walleye, Smallmouth, White Bass, and an occasional Pike.

Give it a try some time, pull along a rip-rap shore and parallel cast a 3/4oz Rattle Trap. Clip a few rocks but hang on because that next “bump” is going to try and rip the rod out of your hands!

I use a baitcaster when ever I can. I like the control I have using it over the spinning reel. I will be trying those larger traps in the spring. I’m just like a 60 year old kid waiting for softer water. ><> ><>

THANKS
JIM <>< <><