Bill Lewis · Lipless Crankbaits
Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap Lipless Crankbait, 1/2 oz, Silver Tenn Shad
Check price on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate First Cast Fishing earns a commission when you buy through links on this site, at no extra cost to you.
Options
- Item weight
- 14.2 g
- Product dimensions
- 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Quick take
A 1/2 oz lipless crankbait that emits lifelike vibrations and is proven across multiple fishing conditions.
Best for
- Bass in stained or murky water
- Covering shallow and deep water on one cast
- Fast-moving retrieves in open water
Skip if
- You fish clear water where silence helps
- You need a sinking bait
Strengths
- Internal rattle produces distressed baitfish vibrations
- Tight wiggle action attracts aggressive strikes
- Durable Durashell finish resists chipping
Trade-offs
- Floats, so it may not reach very deep
- Loud rattle can be disadvantage in clear water
- Limited to one size option
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Saltwater
- Techniques
- Casting
What can I catch with this?
At 1/2 oz, this lipless crankbait is sized for bass and walleye.
- Bass
- Walleye
When and where to fish it
Its rattle helps fish find it in stained or muddy water and in low light. Its silver baitfish pattern suits clear to lightly stained water.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- Clarity
- Clear
- Stained
- Muddy
- Light
- Bright
- Overcast
- 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 1/2 oz it covers water from just under the surface down to about 10 ft, depending on how long it falls.
- Surface
- Shallow (to 5 ft) (this product)
- Mid (5 to 12 ft) (this product)
- Deep (12 to 25 ft)
- Very deep (over 25 ft)
- Depth zone
- Shallow (to 5 ft)
- Mid (5 to 12 ft)
- Cover
- Open water
- Grass
What you need with it
A 1/2 oz lipless crankbait is usually fished with a casting rod, a baitcasting reel and 12 to 17 lb line.
- Casting rodsA medium or medium-heavy rod with a moderate-fast action has the tip to rip the lure free of grass.
- Baitcasting reelsA faster gear ratio picks up slack quickly on a lift-and-fall retrieve.
- Fluorocarbon lineSinks and has little stretch, so you feel the lure vibrate; 12 to 17 lb for this weight.
Pairs with
A 1/2 oz lure pairs with a medium or medium-heavy rod with a moderate-fast action and with 12 to 17 lb line.
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Rod power | Medium or medium heavy |
| Rod action | Moderate fast |
| Rod lure weight | 1/4 to 3/4 oz |
| Line test | 12 to 17 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chartreuse Bleeding Shad, Chartreuse Flash, Chartreuse/Black Back, Chrome/Chartreuse, Natural/Orange Belly, Orange Crawdad, White/Yellow Eye, Yearling Bass/Orange Belly | Stands out in stained or muddy water and in low light. |
|
| Nova Glass | Gives a see-through baitfish look in clear water and bright sun. |
|
| Bleeding Shiner On Chrome, Chrome, Chrome Black Zombie, Chrome Bleeding Shad, Chrome Blue Back, Chrome Purple Back, Ice Blue Shad, Liv-N-Chrome, Sexy Chrome, Silver Tenn ShadThis one | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| White Shad | Stays easy to see in lightly stained water and under cloud. |
|
| Creole Craw, Honey Craw, Lectric Red, Red Chrome/Solid, Red Head Uncle Ted, White Crawfish | Matches crawfish in cold to cool, stained water early in the season. |
|
| Gold Shad, Lectric Gold, Sexy Gold, Toledo Gold | Flashes in stained, tea-colored water and on dark days. |
|
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 Rat-L-Trap Lipless Crankbait, 1/2 oz, Chartreuse Bleeding Shad | Lure weight:1/2 oz | Color:Chartreuse Bleeding Shad | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft) and mid (5 to 12 ft), stained and muddy water, bass and walleye |
| Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap Lipless Crankbait, 1/2 oz, Chrome Blue Back | Lure weight:1/2 oz | Color:Chrome Blue Back | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft) and mid (5 to 12 ft), clear, stained and muddy water, bass and walleye |
| Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap Lipless Crankbait, 1/2 oz, Ice Blue Shad | Lure weight:1/2 oz | Color:Ice Blue Shad | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft) and mid (5 to 12 ft), clear, stained and muddy water, bass and walleye |
| Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap Lipless Crankbait, 1/2 oz, Silver Tenn Shad | Lure weight:1/2 oz | Color:Silver Tenn Shad | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft) and mid (5 to 12 ft), clear, stained and muddy water, bass and walleye |
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 | 1/2 oz |
|---|---|
| Buoyancy | Sinking |
| Lip | None |
| Rattle | Yes |
| Color | Silver Tenn Shad |
| Color family | Shad and silver |
Common questions
Does it float or sink?
It is a sinking lure.
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 1/2 oz.
What color is this version?
This version is Silver Tenn Shad.
Updated