been watching the classic and these guys are crushing the bass on these, what are they using, i used the red eyed shad but never caught anything on it, i was using a 6;3 -1 ratio. tia 

I like a faster gear ratio so I use a 7.0 at 30ipt.

Not sure what the guys fishing the Classic were using but most I saw were fishing the lure fairly slow. I use a 6:1 myself and speed up or slow down accordingly. There are a lot of variables besides the gear ratio that could explain why you didn't catch anything on your Red Eye Shad such as time of year, depth the fish were holding, water temp and clarity, colar of lure, etc. Lipless cranks are fish catching machines, they just have there time and place. Don't give up on 'em!

Not sure what the guys fishing the Classic were using but most I saw were fishing the lure fairly slow. I use a 6:1 myself and speed up or slow down accordingly. There are a lot of variables besides the gear ratio that could explain why you didn't catch anything on your Red Eye Shad such as time of year, depth the fish were holding, water temp and clarity, colar of lure, etc. Lipless cranks are fish catching machines, they just have there time and place. Don't give up on 'em

i was using the chrome with blue/back, was about 15-18 feet deep and i was ripping it through the weeds, it was in august, but you are right i just need patience, i did notice how slow they were fishing this lure, cant wait till iceout.

6.3:1 and higher!

In one of the bass pros videos, KVD states that he likes the 5.1:1 gear ratio for lipless cranks. No idea what the Squirrel or Russ Lane were using.

In one of the bass pros videos, KVD states that he likes the 5.1:1 gear ratio for lipless cranks. No idea what the Squirrel or Russ Lane were using.

I've used a 5:1 at 22ipt for a bunch of years now. It's been fine, except for burning. I several times had bass overrun my bait and I couldn't catch up. One in particular was a really nice one in crystal clear water and I watched it appear, accelerate, catch my bait from behind (fast! ) and keep on coming. I could not catch up with it and it spat the bait in front of me, still on a slack line.

In the Classic my guess is they've been using falls and pauses a lot, so retrieve speed is not such a factor. Still, I bet they are using faster reels (25-28ipt).

Paul, I normally fish my lipless cranks on a 6.3:1 gear ratio reel. I have some slower and some faster reels, but this allows me to slow down yet allows me to speed up if necessary.

That must have been awesome to see the fish whack your bait, and disappointing all the same to see him spit it.

When it comes to crankbaits lipless cranks are the exception to the rule

Most cranks you want a 4:1-5:1 because with with higher speed reels you tend to crank to fast. Though come tournament time most guys fish 6:3.1 because they can fish the bait slow but get the bait back to the boat faster when they are done covering an areas sweet spot.

Lipless cranks though can be fished in so many ways which require a high speed.In reality there is no wrong way to fish a lipless crank but a high speed allows you to fish it to the max.

Rip it burn it, yo-yo, stop and drop. These are just a few of my favorite ways to fish the bait and most of them need a high speed reel to ether catch up with the fish or cause a reaction strike.

Capt.O 

I use a Daiwa Sol with a 5.8:1 ratio (24 IPT).

I use a Revo SX, 6.3 to 1 ratio.

Ive been using a core 6.2:1, i couldn't be happier

Paul, I normally fish my lipless cranks on a 6.3:1 gear ratio reel. I have some slower and some faster reels, but this allows me to slow down yet allows me to speed up if necessary.

That must have been awesome to see the fish whack your bait, and disappointing all the same to see him spit it.

Yeah, it was very cool to see. I remember blurting out, "My God, that things fast!" She was very smooth too, like she was on wheels -complete control of her head -locked on target. Very powerful, very impressive.

I laughed at myself trying to reel up to her. She spat it and melted away well before I got there.

Usually fish stop and/or turn and you can hook them. She just kept on coming.

In one of the bass pros videos, KVD states that he likes the 5.1:1 gear ratio for lipless cranks. No idea what the Squirrel or Russ Lane were using.

I believe that 's what he prefers for using this bait for cold water fishing early in the year, I'm pretty sure he uses the faster reels as the water warms.