Crawfish color lipless cranks are definitely one of my all-time favorite pre-spawn baits and probably something most anglers will have either tied on in spring or ready to.
One of my old stand-by shallow water lipless cranks was the now discontinued 1/4oz Bill Lewis Spin Trap. You can still find them around (as in the 1st pic) but never in the red craw color I like. So the last several years I've just been taking apart old spinnerbaits to scavenge blades and swivels and modifying Strike King Red Eye shad's, Duel Hardcore X Vibes and Lucky Craft LV-500's with both willow leaf and Colorado blades.
Several benefits besides the obvious flash the blades will create. The first one is speed control. In the early spring cold water period prior to the pre-spawn, when the 'normal' lipless bite hasn't even started I'll use Colorado blades. Once water warms over 50 then I'll throw the willow leaf blades on. With the 1/4oz model I have always used a willow because there was too much lift with Colorado's. This spring I may try smallish #4 or #6 Indiana blades.
The 1/4oz spin tail works as a great search bait up shallow and is a deadly replacement for a Mann's 1- in 1' to 3' of water. Add a #3 Colorado and you can "almost" slow roll a 3/8oz bait in 2' to 4' of water. Add a #4 to a 1/2oz and you can actually use it in 3' to 6' instead of dredging the bottom.
Second benefit is on the drop in deeper water. Like a big bodied Tail spinner on the drop. Works great for slowing the fall if you're hopping the bait off bottom. I'm not talking truly slow, this is still a reaction bite technique but it just gives you a little more control within the strike zone.
I upsize the remaining treble one size. #6 to a #4, etc. never had a hook up issue because when it's lipless crank season fish choke on them.
On Bassin-Teds "Goals for 2018 thread" I said one of my goals was to catch a dozen 4's, three 5's and one 6lbdr...I'll take 2 off my list using a lipless spin tail. Happens every year. The only negative...for a bass angler, is that pike devour them. If you are a pike angler, you should definitely grab 3/4oz to 1 1/2oz models and give this a try. I will definitely be using a leader this year. Walleyes also gobble them up, my 2 biggest walleyes were caught on these.
*note. The Bass Pro Shop spring spectacular sale has Red Eyes on sale for $4.97 starting Friday February 16th. Should we start a Bass Pro Spring sale shopping list thread? Hehe jk, jk
One of my old stand-by shallow water lipless cranks was the now discontinued 1/4oz Bill Lewis Spin Trap. You can still find them around (as in the 1st pic) but never in the red craw color I like. So the last several years I've just been taking apart old spinnerbaits to scavenge blades and swivels and modifying Strike King Red Eye shad's, Duel Hardcore X Vibes and Lucky Craft LV-500's with both willow leaf and Colorado blades.
Several benefits besides the obvious flash the blades will create. The first one is speed control. In the early spring cold water period prior to the pre-spawn, when the 'normal' lipless bite hasn't even started I'll use Colorado blades. Once water warms over 50 then I'll throw the willow leaf blades on. With the 1/4oz model I have always used a willow because there was too much lift with Colorado's. This spring I may try smallish #4 or #6 Indiana blades.
The 1/4oz spin tail works as a great search bait up shallow and is a deadly replacement for a Mann's 1- in 1' to 3' of water. Add a #3 Colorado and you can "almost" slow roll a 3/8oz bait in 2' to 4' of water. Add a #4 to a 1/2oz and you can actually use it in 3' to 6' instead of dredging the bottom.
Second benefit is on the drop in deeper water. Like a big bodied Tail spinner on the drop. Works great for slowing the fall if you're hopping the bait off bottom. I'm not talking truly slow, this is still a reaction bite technique but it just gives you a little more control within the strike zone.
I upsize the remaining treble one size. #6 to a #4, etc. never had a hook up issue because when it's lipless crank season fish choke on them.
On Bassin-Teds "Goals for 2018 thread" I said one of my goals was to catch a dozen 4's, three 5's and one 6lbdr...I'll take 2 off my list using a lipless spin tail. Happens every year. The only negative...for a bass angler, is that pike devour them. If you are a pike angler, you should definitely grab 3/4oz to 1 1/2oz models and give this a try. I will definitely be using a leader this year. Walleyes also gobble them up, my 2 biggest walleyes were caught on these.
*note. The Bass Pro Shop spring spectacular sale has Red Eyes on sale for $4.97 starting Friday February 16th. Should we start a Bass Pro Spring sale shopping list thread? Hehe jk, jk
