Tips on lipless'

I've been using the KVD Red Eye shad in a local lake and I have caught numerous bass and even a 28 inch walleye, but every time i switch to a cotton cordell Rat-L-Trap I get no success. I need tips and techniques on how to use the Rat-L-Traps!

Forget about Rat-L-Traps, Red Eyed Shad RULE!

While I think the red eye shad is a great looking bait , I haven't caught much on it. I have had better luck with the chrome/blue Cordell.

I fish them in submerged weeds, ripping it through when the lure gets hung up. I try to let the bait free fall as well. I will crank it up then let it fall and repeat.

They seem to catch small schooling fish for me. I haven't gotten any big ones so I usually throw jigs, swim baits or big worms. Not much of a crank bait guy but I have been trying to use it more often.

Love the red eye shad...don't feel the need to use any other lipless

When you guys "rip" the bait thru weeds, is it upon first feel, then you KVD the rod (whip it) out of the weeds?

I've got a number of lipless cranks, have used the Strike King red eyes, but lost several... Ones I use now are Cotton Cordell.

I say "use", but I rarely fish hard lures anymore. 99% soft plastics.

When you guys "rip" the bait thru weeds, is it upon first feel, then you KVD the rod (whip it) out of the weeds?

I've got a number of lipless cranks, have used the Strike King red eyes, but lost several... Ones I use now are Cotton Cordell.

I say "use", but I rarely fish hard lures anymore. 99% soft plastics.

If I am ripping cranks out of weeds, and I will do it wiht both lipless and shallow cranks, what I am doing is trying to keep the crank just above the level of most of the weeds, then when I hit one rip it off that one. Or, and this something I see more with some cabbage patches, where the weeds are very thin, I won't pay as much attention to depth, but when I hit the occasional weed i then rip it. I hope that makes sense, but at least for me, I am never just letting a crank fall or dive until I hit weeds, then trying to yank it free. I have a little bit of a plan before I cast.

I have a few different baits I fish depending on what I'm looking for...

Striike King RedEye Shad- 1/2 oz is my go to bait if I'm limited to one. The fish love that shimmy on the fall. The one negative is they do a poor job with their metallic finishes, they flake off too easy. That said I keep buying 'em.

Damiki Tremor 80 Silent version- on a couple of occasions when the fish slowed down on the rattling baits this past spring this bait would add a few more fish after I had caught the more aggressive fish with the rattling bait.

Sebile Flat Shad- they make 2 models a gel filled silent model & a painted finish knocker. I like the gel filled bait especially on pressured clear water lakes. Has more vibration than most baits which seems to be a plus at times.

Spro Aruka Shad - the 5/8 oz does very good slow rolling and wiggles well at slow speeds in colder water.

Koppers Live Target Crawfish Trap- because it looks cool and gets bit.

1 oz size Excalibur knocker- been expierimenting with this bait as a sub for deep diver cranks to give the fish a different look and fishing it deeper than I would normally fish a lipless crank. So far I've been pleased with the results but like everything else in fishing it doesn't work every time.

5/8 oz Yozuri - good all around bait, very productive.

Forget about Rat-L-Traps, Red Eyed Shad RULE!

x2 I don't buy any other lipless crankbaits really. These are the best in my opinion. They always produce fish for me.

I was always a big fan of the X Calibur XR2 (Chrome & Blue).

After fishing the Red Eyed Shad, it's the only lipless crankbait

I fish anymore.

Xcalibur XR50 and XRK50 in ghost or rayburn red are about the only traps I use anymore. I have them in several other colors and I have some RES that I use on occasion but they just don't work as well for me as the Xcalibur does.

I still catch lots of bass on Super Spots and Rat L Traps. The Red Eye Shad is a must have bait though as well. It has a bit better action on the drop.