This weekend I spent a lot of time working lipless crankbaits. I have tried in the past, but have only had a couple good days with them and typically it has been at Pennsylvania fish factory (Erie). Over the years I heard pros say that you have to hit cover with crankbaits, and yes this includes lipless crankbaits. In my mind that was always asking to get stuck, and for the most part when I tried it that is what happened. What I learned this weekend is just that. Contact with structure whether it was weeds, stumps, laydowns, or any other cover helps generate strikes. I snaged a decent amount of the time until I realized that the line had to be tight as it made contact. If the line was tight I was able to pop the lure off of the structure without snagging about 95% of the time. That was much better than my 60% of the time. I am looking for advice and willing to continue sharing info as long as I am getting some feedback. Good Fishing

A few years back I was fishing a large weedbed in the early spring in a tournament throwing rattle baits. It was a community spot and I had a lot of company. Anyway I was throwing my favorite lipless for that time of year, and Xcaliber XR50 in Rayburn Red. I must have thrown that bait for over an hour before I finally switched colors to a clear/gold color and I caught three fish in three casts from the same area I just pounded. Sometimes color really matters.

I like to snag my lipless cranks on the weeds and then pull them off with rod pressure, crank down and then use the rod to pull it off the weeds. I use just enough pressure to get the bait to pop off the weeds. The fish seem to strike as soon as you pull it off the weeds. I have had good days in the fall on the diamond shads in a chrome blue or shad color, but never really used them too much in the spring. I use my jerkbaits more then anything in the spring.

I will be playing with my lipless baits a little more this spring after seeing how good the guys did on them during the classic, it's hard not to give them a chance.

Thanks for the input guys. I have heard of other guys using the Rayburn Red color. I don't have the greatest selection lipless crankbaits because I hate buying 10 lures that cost a minimum of $7 a piece to find the 1 lure that works for me. I did that with strike king series 3 crankbaits a couple years ago. I bought 12 colors and I have had 3 be really successful. Being able to airbrush colors has change my outlook on it a little. If the color seems to not work i just paint it to look more like the one that does.

I am in agreement with getting lures caught in the weeds. Usually I get my spinnerbait, chatterbaits, and jerkbaits caught in them and pop them off. Its a little easier when the lure only has 1 hook or suspends.

Does a high speed (7.0-1 or higher) make a big difference? I am currently using a 6.2-1.

Bubba wrote:Thanks for the input guys. I have heard of other guys using the Rayburn Red color. I don't have the greatest selection lipless crankbaits because I hate buying 10 lures that cost a minimum of $7 a piece to find the 1 lure that works for me. I did that with strike king series 3 crankbaits a couple years ago. I bought 12 colors and I have had 3 be really successful. Being able to airbrush colors has change my outlook on it a little. If the color seems to not work i just paint it to look more like the one that does.

I am in agreement with getting lures caught in the weeds. Usually I get my spinnerbait, chatterbaits, and jerkbaits caught in them and pop them off. Its a little easier when the lure only has 1 hook or suspends.

Does a high speed (7.0-1 or higher) make a big difference? I am currently using a 6.2-1.

I for one do not care for a 7.0-1. In fact my problem sometimes is not fishing slow enough. I have used my cranking reel for lipless cranks before, but in the end I settled for a 6.2-1.

As for colors, I am as guilty as the rest of you. I read a post on another forum over the winter where guys were taking pictures of the cranks that they had actually caught fish on, and it was funny. I never took a picture, but I did go down and take a look for myself. I think I have 8 colors of the Xcaliburs and I have only ever caught fish on 4 of them, and three of them have never been thrown.

I did a little more experimenting this weekend. I found that using a heavier flourocarbon line help me keep the lure getting weeds caught on it. The heavier line would allow me to rip the lure out of the weeds with the lure staying weed free. I went from using 10lb test to 17lb test. I like the 10lb still if I am fishing deeper water.

Another thing I notice is that the lure seemed to work better without a duolock swivel on it. Since there isn't a wobble action, I think it is better to tie it straight to the lure. Any thoughts about that?

Note: with both of these changes I kept the rod and reel a constant.