Bill Lewis · Lipless Crankbaits
Bill Lewis Hammer-Trap Lipless Crankbait, 3/8 oz - 5/8 oz
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Options
- Item weight
- 17.87 g
- Product dimensions
- 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Quick take
A lipless crankbait with internal hammering action and tri-tone sound chambers to trigger aggressive strikes.
The Bill Lewis Hammer-Trap in 5/8 oz and the Chrome Black / Splatter Black color is a sinking lipless crankbait. Its hammering action rocks the rod tip on the retrieve, and its Tri-Tone sound chambers give it several tonal frequencies. Paused on the fall, it flutters, and it comes with Mustad Triple Grip hooks.
Best for
- Bass in shallow to mid-depth water
- Versatile ripping retrieve in lakes and reservoirs
Skip if
- You need a slow-sinking lure
- You fish clear water where noise is a drawback
Strengths
- Internal hammering action rocks the rod tip and creates vibration
- Tri-tone sound chambers add acoustic attraction
- Mustad Triple Grip hooks for secure hooksets
Trade-offs
- Lipless crankbaits dive slowly at first; they're better for shallow water
- The aggressive sound and action may spook fish in quiet conditions
- The 3/8 oz size is light for windy conditions
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
- Skill level
- Intermediate
Specifications
| Type | lipless crankbait |
|---|---|
| Sizes | 3/8 oz or 5/8 oz |
| Colors | 16 available |
| Hooks | Mustad Triple Grip |
Facts
| Lure weight | 5/8 oz |
|---|---|
| Buoyancy | Sinking |
| Lip | None |
| Color | Chrome Black / Splatter Black |
| Color family | Shad and silver |
Which one should I pick?
Choose the weight by how deep and how fast you want to fish, then choose the color by water clarity.
| Version | Lure weight | Color | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Lewis Hammer-Trap Lipless Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Pro-Perch | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Color:Pro-Perch | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft) and mid (5 to 12 ft), clear water, bass and walleye |
| Bill Lewis Hammer-Trap Lipless Crankbait, 3/8 oz - 5/8 oz | Lure weight:5/8 oz | Color:Chrome Black / Splatter Black | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft) and deep (12 to 25 ft), clear and stained water, bass, pike & musky and striped bass |
Common questions
Does it float or sink?
It is a sinking lure.
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 5/8 oz.
What color is this version?
This version is Chrome Black / Splatter Black.
What can I catch with this?
At 5/8 oz, this lipless crankbait is sized for bass, striped bass and pike.
- Bass
- Pike & musky
- Striped bass
When and where to fish it
Its silver baitfish pattern suits clear to lightly stained water. Lipless crankbaits are often fished in early spring and in fall, over grass flats and shallow points.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- Clarity
- Clear
- Stained
- Light
- Bright
- Overcast
- Water temperature
- Cold (under 50°F)
- Cool (50 to 60°F)
- Fished from
- Bank
- Boat
- Kayak
How to fish it
A lipless crankbait sinks, so you choose its depth by counting it down, then reel it, rip it or lift and drop it.
Count down and reel
- Cast and count as the lure sinks, about a foot a second, until it reaches the depth you want.
- Reel at a steady pace, fast enough to feel the lure vibrate.
- Speed up or slow down to hold it just above the grass or the bottom.
Ripping it out of grass
- Reel the lure so it ticks the tops of submerged grass.
- When it bogs down in the grass, snap the rod to rip it free.
- Be ready as it breaks loose; strikes often come right then.
Yo-yo
- Let the lure sink to the bottom on a tight line.
- Lift the rod to pull the lure up a few feet, then lower it and let the lure flutter back down.
- Watch the line on the fall; most strikes come as it drops.
How deep and around what
At 5/8 oz it sinks fast, so it reaches deeper grass edges, points and open water.
- Surface
- Shallow (to 5 ft)
- Mid (5 to 12 ft) (this product)
- Deep (12 to 25 ft) (this product)
- Very deep (over 25 ft)
- Depth zone
- Mid (5 to 12 ft)
- Deep (12 to 25 ft)
- Cover
- Open water
- Grass
What you need with it
A 5/8 oz lipless crankbait is usually fished with a casting rod, a baitcasting reel and 15 to 20 lb line.
- Casting rodsA long medium-heavy rod with a moderate-fast action throws a heavy lure far and absorbs a hard strike.
- Baitcasting reelsA faster gear ratio keeps up with a lure that is burned or ripped.
- Fluorocarbon lineSinks and has little stretch; 15 to 20 lb for this weight.
Pairs with
A 5/8 oz lure pairs with a medium-heavy rod with a moderate-fast action and with 15 to 20 lb line.
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Rod power | Medium heavy |
| Rod action | Moderate fast |
| Rod lure weight | 1/2 to 1 oz |
| Line test | 15 to 20 lb |
What it imitates
Its silver baitfish pattern imitates shad.
- Shad
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Black Splatter w/ Orange Belly | Stands out in stained or muddy water and in low light. |
|
| Chrome Black / Splatter Black, Chrome Blue / Splatter Black, Sneaky ShadThis one | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| Green Gizzard, Pro-Perch | Looks like real forage in clear water, where fish get a long look. |
|
| Fire Craw, Rayburn Red Craw, Rootbeer Craw | Matches crawfish in cold to cool, stained water early in the season. |
|
| Phantom Purple, Purple Nurple | Shows a solid outline in muddy water, at dusk and at night. |
|
Size
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 3/8 OZ | An all-round size for bass and walleye on medium spinning or baitcasting gear. | — |
| 5/8 OZThis one | Casts farther and handles wind and bigger fish. | — |
About this type
A lipless crankbait is a flat-sided, sinking hard bait that vibrates tightly when it is reeled.
It has no diving lip, so it runs as deep as you let it fall and casts a long way for its size.
Most hold rattles, and the line ties on the back, which keeps the nose down and the body shaking on the retrieve.
Compared with Crankbaits: A lipped crankbait floats at rest and dives to a set depth; a lipless one sinks and is fished at whatever depth you count it down to.
Updated