Fishing with lipless crankbaits is a versatile technique that can be adapted to a variety of conditions and preferences. Based on the video context provided, there are several effective methods for fishing these baits:
Hopping Technique: As mentioned in the TacticalBassin video, the hopping technique involves casting the lipless crankbait out, letting it hit the bottom, and then slightly raising your rod tip to make the bait flutter before letting it fall back down. This mimics the action of a jig and can be particularly effective for triggering reaction strikes, especially with heavier baits like the LV 500 that fall quickly and produce a fluttering motion on the descent.
Burning and Pausing: Another technique is to cast the bait out and retrieve it quickly ("burning") with intermittent pauses. This can be likened to fishing a square bill crankbait and is useful when bass are in shallow water and around grassy areas. The fast retrieve with sudden stops can entice aggressive strikes from active fish.
Jigging in Deeper Water: As Wired2Fish explains, lipless crankbaits can also be jigged in deeper water, especially during the summer when targeting big bites. This involves letting the bait sink to the desired depth and then ripping it upward, winding in the slack, and repeating. The bites can be subtle, so be attentive to the light "tick" as the bait falls.
Ripping Through Grass: When fishing in areas with grass, you can rip the bait through the vegetation, making contact with the cover and then jerking it free. This can provoke strikes from bass that are ambushing prey in these areas.
Modifications for Cover: Mike Iaconelli suggests modifications such as upsizing the belly hook for more hookups and adjusting the back hook based on the amount of cover—keeping the factory hook for moderate cover and upsizing in open water.
Rod, Reel, and Line Selection: A medium-heavy, fast action rod paired with a high-speed reel and 14-17 pound test monofilament line is recommended for fishing lipless crankbaits, as per Wired2Fish. This setup allows for efficient casting and the power needed to set the hook.
Remember to match the size of the lipless crankbait to the forage size in the fishery and consider the water depth when selecting the weight of the bait. Experiment with different colors, profiles, and sounds to find what triggers the best response from the bass in your specific fishing conditions.
If you're new to bass fishing or need clarification on any of these techniques, feel free to ask, and I'd be happy to provide more details or tips to help you succeed with lipless crankbaits.