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Bill Lewis · Lipless Crankbaits
Bill Lewis Mini-Trap Lipless Crankbait, 1/4 oz, Transparent
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Options
- Item weight
- 0.25 Ounces
- Product dimensions
- 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Quick take
A 1/4 oz mini lipless crankbait with rattling interior and lifelike vibrations for shallow clear-water fishing.
The Bill Lewis Mini-Trap is a 2.5-inch lipless crankbait that sinks, built for anglers who want a small, compact bait for clear, shallow water. Its tight profile and interior rattle suit bass, crappie and panfish when fish are wary of larger offerings. A quarter-ounce weight makes it easy to cast into cover and work back over shallow flats.
Best for
- Clear, shallow water where fish are active
- Targeting small baitfish feeders
- Casting over shallow flats and weed beds
Skip if
- You need topwater action only
Strengths
- Lifelike vibration mimics distressed baitfish
- Small size works in clear water on pressured fish
- Interior rattle attracts fish through sound
Trade-offs
- At 1/4 oz, limited casting distance on heavy line
- Shallow running depth restricts use to clear, shallow areas
- Interior rattle can come loose with heavy impacts
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Saltwater
- Techniques
- Casting
- Jigging
Specifications
| Type | lipless crankbait |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1/4 oz |
| Hook | Mustad triple grip extra strong |
What can I catch with this?
At 1/4 oz, this lipless crankbait is sized for bass, crappie and trout.
- Bass
- Trout
- Crappie
- Panfish
When and where to fish it
Its rattle helps fish find it in stained or muddy water and in low light. Its see-through pattern suits clear water in bright light.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- Clarity
- Clear
- Stained
- Muddy
- Light
- Bright
- Low light
- 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 1/4 oz it sinks slowly, so it is usually fished shallow, over grass and along the bank.
- Surface
- Shallow (to 5 ft) (this product)
- Mid (5 to 12 ft)
- Deep (12 to 25 ft)
- Very deep (over 25 ft)
- Depth zone
- Shallow (to 5 ft)
- Cover
- Open water
- Grass
What you need with it
A 1/4 oz lipless crankbait is usually fished with a spinning rod, a spinning reel and 6 to 10 lb line.
- Spinning rodsA medium-light or medium rod casts a light lure and keeps small treble hooks pinned.
- Spinning reelsA spinning reel handles light line without backlash.
- Monofilament lineStretches, which keeps the hooks pinned when a fish shakes; 6 to 10 lb for this weight.
Pairs with
A 1/4 oz lure pairs with a medium-light or medium rod with a moderate-fast action and with 6 to 10 lb line.
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Rod power | Medium light or medium |
| Rod action | Moderate fast |
| Rod lure weight | 1/8 to 1/2 oz |
| Line test | 6 to 10 lb |
What it imitates
Its see-through pattern imitates minnows, and shad in clear water.
- Shad
- Minnow
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Bone Orange Belly, Chartreuse Flash | Stands out in stained or muddy water and in low light. |
|
| Bleeding Shiner, Blue Back Herring, Blue Shiner, Chrome Black Back, Chrome Blue Back, Chrome Blue Bleeding Shad, Chrome Green Bleeding Shad, Chrome Shad, Liv-N-Chrome | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| White Bleeding Shad | Stays easy to see in lightly stained water and under cloud. |
|
| Fathead Minnow, Sunrise Perch | Looks like real forage in clear water, where fish get a long look. |
|
| Cherry Craw, Red Crawfish | Matches crawfish in cold to cool, stained water early in the season. |
|
| Lectric Gold | Flashes in stained, tea-colored water and on dark days. |
|
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.
Facts
| Lure weight | 1/4 oz |
|---|---|
| Length | 2.5 in |
| Buoyancy | Sinking |
| Lip | None |
| Rattle | Yes |
| Color | Transparent |
| Color family | Translucent |
| Target species | Bass, Crappie and Panfish |
Common questions
Does it float or sink?
It is a sinking lure.
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 1/4 oz.
How long is it?
It is 2.5 in long.
What color is this version?
This version is Transparent.
Updated