Fat free shad jr.

2nd is Xcalibur 200 series square bill.

NORMAN, NORMAN, oh and make sure to pick up some NORMANS lol seriously love just about every crank in there line up and they can cover just about any depth you need to hit. Plus for the price you just cant beat em.  

Norman deep baby n, spro little john, and Big M crankbaits.

Rapala dt 6, bandit 200s, bomber fat free shad

Rapala crankin rap 6-7', KVD 1.5, 1/4oz redeye Shad.

KVD 1.5, 2.5 and Squarebill Arashi.

Spro little john 1/2oz sticks em!

DT10 would be my most go to crank bait. I've always got one tied on. 

 

This spring, this custom painted one has been my go to color. 

 

 

Always liked Rapalas old Fat Rap series, The new DT's are awesome. Also like The Storm wiggle warts and the new

Arashi's

Its always a good idea to have a one knocker lipless crank as well, you can usually get a couple fish after fishing an area with a lipless crank like the Red Eye Shad, Spro, Bill Lewis rattle trap, Yo-zuri Vibe, and really any lipless crank is good as long as you have confidence in it.

 

For the 1 knockers, I like the Xcalibur xr50 5/8 or the Rapala Clackin Rap but almost every company that specializes in cranks will have a good one knocker. Something about changing up the sound is a benefit. I also think it is important to have a lipless crank without rattles as well, the Sebile Flatt Shad is a great bait in all sizes, silent Red Eye shad to name a couple.

 

It is important to understand and practice with different brands as some have the nose down action, high pitch or low pitch, and some fall better when ripping out of weeds. The Red Eye Shad and Rapala Rippin Rap are great for using the Yo-Yo Retrieve, and I like the XCalibur and SPro lipless as well as the Bill Lewis rattle traps that come with triple grips to use on a steady retrieve....You can find articles that break down the different actions, because if you try to use the Rapala Clackin Rap, Diamond Shad, or many of the lipless versions that sink like a rock, you will not do as well as someone ripping a Red Eye shad if that makes sense..They all look alike, but I group them into the following catagories and it may seem like a waste of time but it makes a ton of difference.

 

If I was to only have $20 I would buy 2 Red Eye Shads, 1 Spro Akuru, 1 One knocker Lipless crank to get started....If you can find a Sebile on sale on Ebay that would be my suggestion for a silent version as the flat sides and weedless properties, flash, make it great for cold, weeds, or pressured fish..Also important to have a bait in 1/4 size and later in summer a 3/4 size, Academy has a good bait that only costs $1.99 or $2.99 and you can get some cool color patterns, same with the bass pro rattle baits and Xcalibur etc..You can find articles on this site to explain the differences since all lipless cranks are designed for a purpose.

 

Rapala makes it easy, the Rippin Rap for Falling action, the Rattlin rap for cranking, and the Clackin Rap for a one knocker....Can never go wrong with all the Strike King, Rapala, or Original Bill Lewis lures.

Rapala DT-6 in demon thrown in the gnarliest shallow cover you can find

Rapala Original Floating Minnow

Mann's 1 minus. I love working them through the shallow flats.

MegaBass Griffon

Small and bass never have never seen it.

Oh, and it definitely catches bass.