Bill Lewis · Lipless Crankbaits
Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap Magnum Trap Lipless Crankbait, Cali Craw
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Options
- Item weight
- 0.03 Kilograms
- Product dimensions
- 3.6 x 1.9 x 1 inches
Quick take
A magnum lipless crankbait with tight wiggle action and internal rattle for aggressive bass strikes in shallow grass.
This Cali Craw Magnum Trap is a lipless, sinking crankbait at 3.5 inches and 3/4 oz. An internal rattle gives it the knocking sound the Rat-L-Trap line is known for. It is a fit for anglers targeting bigger predators like striped bass, pike and musky.
Best for
- Shallow grass bed fishing
- Fast casting and covering water
- Aggressive bass strikes
Skip if
- You fish deep water requiring a sinking profile
- You need subtle action for clear water
Strengths
- Tight wiggle mimics a distressed baitfish profile
- Internal rattle attracts fish through sound and vibration
- Triple-grip hooks hold large, aggressive strikes
Trade-offs
- 3/4 oz weight limits casting distance on light tackle
- Shallow running depth unsuitable for deep water
- Tight action can cause line twist with regular retrieves
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
- Trolling
What can I catch with this?
At 3/4 oz, this lipless crankbait is sized for bass, striped bass and pike.
- Bass
- Pike & musky
- Striped bass
When and where to fish it
Its rattle helps fish find it in stained or muddy water and in low light. Its craw or red pattern suits cold to cool, stained water in early spring.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- Clarity
- Stained
- Muddy
- Light
- 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 3/4 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 3/4 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 3/4 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 craw or red pattern imitates crawfish.
- Crawfish
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Chartreuse Flash, Chartreuse Shiner, Chrome Chartreuse, Orange Crawdad, White/Yellow Eye | Stands out in stained or muddy water and in low light. |
|
| Bleeding Shiner, Blue Back Herring, Chrome Black Back, Chrome Blue Back, Chrome Blue Bleeding Shad, Chrome Green Back, Chrome Shad, Gizzard Shad, Lectric Silver | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| Bluegill | Looks like real forage in clear water, where fish get a long look. |
|
| Cali Craw, Cherry Craw, Newberry Craw, Red Crawfish, Red Head Uncle Ted, Red Shad, Retro Red BonesThis one | Matches crawfish in cold to cool, stained water early in the season. |
|
| Gold, Lectric Gold | Flashes in stained, tea-colored water and on dark days. |
|
| Ice Blue | Shows a solid outline in muddy water, at dusk and at night. |
|
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 | Length | Color | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap Magnum Trap Lipless Crankbait, Bluegill | Lure weight:3/4 oz | Length:3.5 in | Color:Bluegill | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft) and deep (12 to 25 ft), clear water, bass, pike & musky and striped bass |
| Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap Magnum Trap Lipless Crankbait, Cali Craw | Lure weight:3/4 oz | Length:3.5 in | Color:Cali Craw | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft) and deep (12 to 25 ft), stained and muddy water, bass, pike & musky and striped bass |
| Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap Magnum Trap Lipless Crankbait, Chrome Blue Back | Lure weight:3/4 oz | Length:3.5 in | Color:Chrome Blue Back | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft) and deep (12 to 25 ft), clear, stained and muddy water, bass, pike & musky and striped bass |
| Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap Magnum, 3.75 oz, Gold | Lure weight:3/4 oz | Length:3.5 in | Color:Gold | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft) and deep (12 to 25 ft), stained and muddy water, bass, pike & musky and striped bass |
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 | 3/4 oz |
|---|---|
| Length | 3.5 in |
| Buoyancy | Sinking |
| Lip | None |
| Rattle | Yes |
| Color | Cali Craw |
| Color family | Craw and red |
| Target species | Striped bass and Pike & musky |
Common questions
Does it float or sink?
It is a sinking lure.
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 3/4 oz.
How long is it?
It is 3.5 in long.
What color is this version?
This version is Cali Craw.
Updated