What lipless cranks do you go to fishing for small mouth. I am fishing in the river for them. Been catching fish on craw colored regular cranks but i need to throw some lipless cranks in there too.

Cotton Cordell, Strike King and Bagley's are my personal favorites.  To me these three have the best look and action of all I have tried.

fishermantony has great suggestions there. I also like the Clackin' Raps (the smallest size they make).

For colors, Smallies seem to love gold and black (sometimes they call it baby carp). Craw patterns also work well. Toss them around boulders, lay downs or any other steep incline and they should get nailed.

i love using the red eye shad in either a craw pattern or chrome sexy shad pattern depending on what i believe the smallies are feeding on. In rivers i target deeper riprap banks and ledges extending across the river. thats where i find the most success with lipless cranks.

I like the Yo-Zuri Rattlin Vibe and the original Rattle Trap.  Blue/chrome catch most of my smallies.  I also change out the stock hooks on these which really helps the landing ratio.  Craw patterns are also always a safe bet.  The Koppers Live Target is also winning a place in my rotation. 

Not trying to start an argument, but only spur a little thought.  Is there a hard plastic bait that has so few differences between brands than a lipless rattlebait?  My point being that after size and color are determined, brand of bait doesn't make much (or any) difference.

steve

Not trying to start an argument, but only spur a little thought. Is there a hard plastic bait that has so few differences between brands than a lipless rattlebait? My point being that after size and color are determined, brand of bait doesn't make much (or any) difference.

steve

Look at a rattle trap and then look at a red eye shad... Go on Bass Pro and search through the Lipless Cranks, tons of different body designs, each would yield a different action. The red eye shad doesn't just sink, it wiggles while it sinks and sometimes that's all the fish want.

Not trying to start an argument, but only spur a little thought. Is there a hard plastic bait that has so few differences between brands than a lipless rattlebait? My point being that after size and color are determined, brand of bait doesn't make much (or any) difference.

steve

Look at a rattle trap and then look at a red eye shad... Go on Bass Pro and search through the Lipless Cranks, tons of different body designs, each would yield a different action. The red eye shad doesn't just sink, it wiggles while it sinks and sometimes that's all the fish want.

In my opinion and limited experience the red eye shad for example has a much wider wobble and greater vibration than a bait like the original rat l trap.  The Bagley's has certain colors that match forage much more closely than other lipless cranks.  This is just my opinion and my reasoning for choosing these particular baits, although I am certain that if I tie on an original Rat L Trap I can go out there and catch fish.

Also don't forget about the way each lure sounds, the way it yo-yos, and the way it pulls through and out of grass(which is most important imo).

I kill it for small mouth with rattle traps. I'll use any color as long as it rattles. If I had to choose it would be a chartreuse colored one or something life like.

What lipless cranks do you go to fishing for small mouth. I am fishing in the river for them. Been catching fish on craw colored regular cranks but i need to throw some lipless cranks in there too.

I always throw a rattle trap in rivers for bronze backs. I never had much luck with the crawdad crank baits. I'll also use a mop top jig for small mouth, never fails. you can set them up on a drop shot with a heavy weight to if you fishing in a current.

I have the best luck with the Excalibur XR50 in the ghost pattern. I've caught smallmouth everywhere I've fished for them with it. It's a really natural looking color but it's really loud and I think it plays on a smallmouths curiosity because they want to find out where all the noise is coming from! Plus, my aluminum boat just seems to amplify it when it gets back close to the boat on the retrieve.

REDEYE! 

Not trying to start an argument, but only spur a little thought. Is there a hard plastic bait that has so few differences between brands than a lipless rattlebait? My point being that after size and color are determined, brand of bait doesn't make much (or any) difference.

steve

Like others have said, there are differences. Sometimes the differences are subtle, but they are there.

I try to carry a good assortment of Strike King Red-Eye Shad, Cordell Spots, Rattlin' Rapalas and Rat-L-Traps is various colors and sizes. You never know what the fish will want.

My best results on smallies have been with smaller sizes and darker colors.

Tom

Rattlin' Rapalas have been favorites in rivers. And burn'em. Found that out reeling in for the next cast one day.

I have done very well with the Spro Aruku Shad rattlin' baits on the clear waters of Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara River. Natural patterns work best Perch,Spooky shad And Golden shiner. Also like Ern said burn them.

Yo-Zuri...Chrome/Blue.

Lost my last one about 2 years ago.....the old Heddon Sonic. 

Can't tell you how many smallies fell for that hunk of hard plastic. Wish they'd bring it back.

Niagraguy wrote

I have done very well with the Spro Aruku Shad rattlin' baits on the clear waters of Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara River. Natural patterns work best Perch,Spooky shad And Golden shiner. Also like Ern said burn them.

This guy knows his stuff. Lake & river fisheries. The lower niagra is one of the premier fisheries in all of the Americas. So is lake erie.

Not trying to start an argument, but only spur a little thought. Is there a hard plastic bait that has so few differences between brands than a lipless rattlebait? My point being that after size and color are determined, brand of bait doesn't make much (or any) difference.

steve

I used to think the same thing a few years ago. Started paying more attention to the way they fell through the water. Found a few brands that seem to swim down or away and a few that dropped like a rock. Both produced in diffrent situations though.

Caught a beauty on a chrome with blue back Rat-L-Trap on the Historic James River.

She must have weighed around 3-pounds. 

I have the best luck with the Excalibur XR50 in the ghost pattern. I've caught smallmouth everywhere I've fished for them with it. It's a really natural looking color but it's really loud and I think it plays on a smallmouths curiosity because they want to find out where all the noise is coming from! Plus, my aluminum boat just seems to amplify it when it gets back close to the boat on the retrieve.

X2, except I like the Rayburn red color. I like throwing it over the tops of submerged weed beds, letting it sink until it hits the tops of the weeds and then ripping it of the top and repeating over. Works great along ledges and rock piles too.

The Rat-L-Trap in Diamond Dust does quite well on one of the rivers I fish...I guess it imitates shad.

The Red Eyes are also very productive.

Redeye Shad in Gold Craw pattern

red eye shad firetiger is my go to on st.clair and saginaw bay.