For some reason, I NEVER have any good results fishing lipless crackbaits around central Florida.  I can bring them up to my buddies lake in MS and catch bass from the dock with no problem    Here at home, I can't make them do anything for me.

In tournaments, I can fish right next to someone having good results with one and still nothing but maybe a dink or two   >

Any tips, lures, colors, tactics, patterns would be much appreciated.  I'm Rattletrap challenged 

i think i might know your problem... your fishing a lipless crankbait, like a crankbait. a lippless crank can do anything, use it as a jig, crankbait, just cast and retrive, vary your retrives, and try clipping a safty clip spinner to it.

and read the articles

Fish it in cover like Hydrilla dont just fish it in open water and change your retrieve, where in central Florida are you fishing, as for colors Black/chrome-blue/chrome and my favorite black/gold all are universal florida baits

Fish it in cover like Hydrilla dont just fish it in open water and change your retrieve, where in central Florida are you fishing, as for colors Black/chrome-blue/chrome and my favorite black/gold all are universal florida baits

I'm in Lakeland. I've tried ripping them over, through and around hydrilla! Honestly, I've tried all the techniques the pros use on TV. I've even tried techniques the local pros use and have good results with. It's like a curse!!

What would you suggest as the best lure in the best color that's IDIOT proof for my location?? I can make any other lure or technique work........at least to the point where I'm happy with the results. Lipless baits are by far the weak link in my arsenal. It will be my focus this year to improve this!!

EDIT: Sorry, I missed you're color recommendation.

Send George Welcome a PM and ask him

for a suggestion.

http://www.imaginationbassin.com/

8-)

Fish it in cover like Hydrilla dont just fish it in open water and change your retrieve, where in central Florida are you fishing, as for colors Black/chrome-blue/chrome and my favorite black/gold all are universal florida baits

I'm in Lakeland. I've tried ripping them over, through and around hydrilla! Honestly, I've tried all the techniques the pros use on TV. I've even tried techniques the local pros use and have good results with. It's like a curse!!

What would you suggest as the best lure in the best color that's IDIOT proof for my location?? I can make any other lure or technique work........at least to the point where I'm happy with the results. Lipless baits are by far the weak link in my arsenal. It will be my focus this year to improve this!!

EDIT: Sorry, I missed you're color recommendation.

It's kind of a feel bait, you have to stick with it and once you get a a fish to bite remember how you were fishing, If you ever want to come to the west coast let me know and Ill take on lake tarpon and I can show you some stuff.

I really should spend a day with my son and George at the Stick Marsh!  Lipless crankbaits only, all day!!

also with all the different brands out there like Spro and Strike King red eye shad, I like to stick with a trusty 1/2 ounce Rattletrap

Fish it in cover like Hydrilla dont just fish it in open water and change your retrieve, where in central Florida are you fishing, as for colors Black/chrome-blue/chrome and my favorite black/gold all are universal florida baits

I'm in Lakeland. I've tried ripping them over, through and around hydrilla! Honestly, I've tried all the techniques the pros use on TV. I've even tried techniques the local pros use and have good results with. It's like a curse!!

What would you suggest as the best lure in the best color that's IDIOT proof for my location?? I can make any other lure or technique work........at least to the point where I'm happy with the results. Lipless baits are by far the weak link in my arsenal. It will be my focus this year to improve this!!

EDIT: Sorry, I missed you're color recommendation.

It's kind of a feel bait, you have to stick with it and once you get a a fish to bite remember how you were fishing, If you ever want to come to the west coast let me know and Ill take on lake tarpon and I can show you some stuff.

I appreciate the offer and would love to pay you a visit some time! 

After looking at Georges website I realized another thing that doesn't ever seem to work for me is the fire tiger colors.  I had much better results fishing that color when I lived in NY years ago  :-/

yeai have the same problem here in south south georgia. But i have foound using smaller rattletraps seems to work better for some reason 1/8  ounce

Maybe the bass are telling you they don't want a rattle....notice how most hardbaits sold rattle ? Give 'em something different.

All you need IMO.................

http://www.***.com/descpageXCALLPSCRNK-XCRB.html

All you need IMO.................

http://www.***.com/descpageXCALLPSCRNK-XCRB.html

I have one of those in the somewhat flashier "Blue Shiner" color.  My buddy got it at ICAST somehow     I need to take it out of the box and get it wet 

I'm deadicating a full time rod to a lipless crankbait this season. I always say that I'm only going to take one rod out with me but I always change my mind at the last minute ;D I appreciate the suggestions. I'd really like to catch a 5lb+ on one or just have a productive day with a defined pattern and I'd be very happy.

man a 5 pounder on a rattletrap will top your heart and about take the rod out of your hand!!

JohnnyBigger do you live on Tarpon? I got to fish it when I was on vacation with the family last year. Nice lake.

Not on it but about 20 min away. I fish there as often as I can, which is about twice a month during the summer when im not doing tournaments. How did you do when you were down?

We caught some decent fish. I think the air temp was about 100 degrees and the water was in the 90's . I went out with a guide from Tarpon Tom's. I had fun and learned some new things.

Yeah it gets hot and unfortunately Tarpon Toms closed their doors a couple months back. Do you come down often?

yeai have the same problem here in south south georgia. But i have foound using smaller rattletraps seems to work better for some reason 1/8 ounce

THere is some good advise, I used a 1/4 oz red eye in sexy shad or chrome and blue 80% of the time. I do use 1/2 to 3/4 oz traps in the Fall when the shad get big in the same colors. but thats just me.

Yeah it gets hot and unfortunately Tarpon Toms closed their doors a couple months back. Do you come down often?

That was my first trip. We may come back down this year for family vacation again. Got to see what cash flow does.

gimmie a shout when you come down and we can go fishing

All you need IMO.................

http://www.***.com/descpageXCALLPSCRNK-XCRB.html

EXCELLENT choice!

8-)

Try the Xcalibur xr75 and the xr75k(one knocker) in the royal shad and royal red colors......the xr75 works best on any steady type retrieve and the one knocker works best with a jigging or ripping out of the grass type retrieve...best of luck hope this helps

It's like anything else, after the first one the rest will come easy.

We've found lipless cranks to be star performers in central Florida.

Between mid-February and mid-March, we've had years

when the Spro Aruku Shad would outfish soft-plastics and even live shiners.

This winter is far from normal, and Florida-strain bass detest coldwater.

I can't remember a year when water temperatures were in the low 40s!

Be a little patient, and when water temperatures get back up to 60 degrees,

I'm sure your rat-t-traps will break the ice

Roger