I haven't had a chance to try a silent lipless crankbait yet, been wanting to for quite some time. Anyone here use these baits exclusively? I got a feeling I might be on the right track to pick one up when a rattling one stops producing. What are your opinions?

I know a guy that fishes silver buddies (blade baits) like this a lot. Works pretty well for him at times.

They make a Silent Rat-L-Trap. I've never used it, but the original ones always produce, so I figure they couldn't have made a bad product.

I've had one of the silent RES for about a year now. If I'm catching fish on a rattle bait and the bite slows down I can usually pick up some more fish by running it through the same area. They feel the exact same on the retrieve, they just don't rattle.

Exclusively no, it´s like everything in this sport, there are days they won´t touch a rattling lipless crank but they´ll hit a silent one with gusto. About options, well, there seems to be trend of not making silent lipless cranks amongst manufacturers, but my options are wide, been hoarding tackle for so long that I have a very large stock of Bayou Boogies, Sonics n´stuff that I can replace one when I loose it.

Great responses y'all, your opinions and knowledge is appreciated.

I use them in the fall when the bass bring up the shad and start to tear them up on the surface

less sound seems not to scatter the baitfish as much and the weight lets me get it down below all the commotion

where the bigger more lazy ones just hang out waiting for injured bait to trickle down to them.

If you have looked at an aquarium with about 20 fish in it, the same process takes place on a smaller scale

when you throw the flakes in.

Rapala Rippin Rap; I believe they're new to you this year. They've been VERY successful when a rattlebait isn't getting it done.

Sebile makes a great silent lipless plug. I like them in the clearer water because you still have that action of the lipless, but without the noise. I feel the rattle turns them off in the clear water.

May not be so...but I believe it, and that's what I have confidence in.

I have used the silent Red Eye Shad, and the silent Damiki Tremors. To be honest, even in clear water, I have not seen them produce any better than baits with rattles.

I bought a Sexy Shad silent Red Eye just to give it a shot. I thought it would work well in some of the clear water lakes in my surrounding area. I love throwing rattling Red Eyes, so I was hoping the silent baits would be just as awesome. But after further review, I have to agree with ww2farmer. Even in the clear water lakes, the silent bait didn't produce any better than the bait with rattles. I was hoping I could get the same kind of awesome production out of the silent Red Eye as I get out of the silent square bills, silent series 5's and silent 6xd's. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. I will stick with rattlin' Red Eyes.

Alright man, that's good info.

I bought a Sexy Shad silent Red Eye just to give it a shot. I thought it would work well in some of the clear water lakes in my surrounding area. I love throwing rattling Red Eyes, so I was hoping the silent baits would be just as awesome. But after further review, I have to agree with ww2farmer. Even in the clear water lakes, the silent bait didn't produce any better than the bait with rattles. I was hoping I could get the same kind of awesome production out of the silent Red Eye as I get out of the silent square bills, silent series 5's and silent 6xd's. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. I will stick with rattlin' Red Eyes.

Wow! I would like to hear from some other BR members on their thoughts with the silent Red Eye.

I have the same rationale as you Crank Crony.

Wow! I would like to hear from some other BR members on their thoughts with the silent Red Eye.

I have the same rationale as you Crank Crony.

They just don't have the same shimmy on the fall as the rattling bait does. I've never caught a fish when straight reeling a RES, always on the fall. The silent doesn't shimmy, I don't think I've ever caught a fish on one.