What's the best way to fish a lipless crankbait? I've read that you fish them to find active bass but I'm not for sure...

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Cast and retrieve.  Slow, moderate or fast speeds.  You can try pausing once in a while, but they sink fast. 

You can do just about anything with a lipless crank.  Toss it out and burn it in, slow roll, yo-yo, rip them out of grass, etc etc.  They're one of the most versatile lures out there.

Keep it wet 

Vary the speed of your retrieve to see what the fish want. Sometimes they want it fast, sometimes they want it slow. Try occasional twitches or pauses, especially if around cover. Burn it up to a stump or laydown then pause it briefly. They're great over shallow vegetation if there's any where you are fishing. Try ticking the grass with your bait, then pop it free to induce a strike.

Okay thanks!

These are all good ideas. I vary my retrieve when I start using any type of crankbait. Steady from a few casts, stop and go for a few, then back, etc. I do this until I find what the bass want.

One thing you did not ask and no one mentioned, is setting a hook on a lipless crank. Back in the early 90's I drew a partner for a tourney (the partner that I actually hated), but he gave good advice that helped me fishing lipless baits. Don't set the hook! Here's why, pull a lipped crank though the water...feel the drag and resistance? Now do it with a lipless...minimal drag. You can actually pull the bait away from the fish before he has it good if you yank back on a hookset.

Make sure your hooks are ultra sharp...use a very soft spongey pole, keep your rod tip down when fighting the fish (there are not many baits a fish can throw eaiser than a lipless crank on a jump), so keep the fish from jumping. And don't yank the rod until you 100% sure the fish has been hooked.

Here's one proven technique: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1273460138

I throw them out and let them sink to their desired depth. Then I will start a moderate steady retrieve, and then pause it every 15 or so seconds for 2 - 5 seconds, then I will rip it forward with the rodtip and that makes it dart and is often when the fish grab it. Fishing one over grass beds, letting them tick the tops of them, and then ripping them out is also deadly. This technique works best with braid but the first will work with mono, braid, or fluoro.

Keep it wet

That's just wrong!! haha

Missouribassman95,

I like to troll with mine. Seem to catch more fish that way for me.

Keep it wet

That's just wrong!! haha

Can't catch fish if they dry 

I just got back from fishing a local pond and I caught 10 or 11 bass, for of which were 15+in. Thanks for all the tips!

Keep it wet

That's just wrong!! haha

Can't catch fish if they dry

haha Never seen it like that, well put!!

I just got back from fishing a local pond and I caught 10 or 11 bass, for of which were 15+in. Thanks for all the tips!

Well done. Lipless cranks are very versatile baits. Keep experimenting. 8-)

good advice yall!

For us lipless noobies, you have answered the "how" to fish them. But is there a When, and where of where they should be fished?

Like do they work in stained water but not clear water? best to throw them in flats as opposed to deep water?

Can you help me out with that?

PS. I don't really want to hijack the thread but thought that it would also be something good to address...

Carlos

Lip-less cranks work with any retrieval technique, in any water conditions, shallow or deep, & during any seasonal pattern.

If ya keep em wet the bass will let you know