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Rat-L-Trap · Lipless Crankbaits
Rat-L-Trap Lipless Crankbait, 1/2 oz, White Bleeding Shad
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Options
- Item weight
- 0.5 Ounces
- Product dimensions
- 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Quick take
A 3 in, 1/2 oz lipless crankbait with a tight wiggle and internal rattle that produces lifelike vibrations to trigger aggressive strikes.
A 3-inch, half-ounce lipless crankbait in the White Bleeding Shad pattern, aimed at bass fishing. It has no lip, an internal rattle and a sinking body, so it can be cast and burned back or fished slowly along the bottom. The pale shad look fits clearer water where a natural baitfish color matters.
Best for
- Casting over shallow structure
- Fishing stained or dark water
- Anglers seeking a proven, versatile lure
Skip if
- You fish only clear water shallows
- You need a subsurface diver for deep structure
Strengths
- Tight wiggle and flashing action attract aggressive fish
- Internal rattle produces lifelike distressed-baitfish vibrations
- Durable Durashell finish handles hard strikes
Trade-offs
- At 1/2 oz, it does not cast as far as heavier lipless cranks
- The fast-sinking design requires constant retrieves to keep in the strike zone
- Excellent casting distance requires heavier spinning gear
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Saltwater
- Techniques
- Casting
- Trolling
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 white or pearl pattern stays visible in lightly stained water and under cloud.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- Clarity
- Clear
- Stained
- Muddy
- Light
- 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 white or pearl pattern imitates shad.
- Shad
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Chartreuse Crawdad | Stands out in stained or muddy water and in low light. |
|
| Chrome Black Back, Chrome Green Back, Chrome Shad, Chrome/Blue Back/Black Stripe, Lectric Bleeding Shiner, Plain Chrome, Tennessee Shad Chrome | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| White Bleeding ShadThis one | Stays easy to see in lightly stained water and under cloud. |
|
| Pumpkin Seed | Looks like real forage in clear water, where fish get a long look. |
|
| Rayburn Red Zombie, Red Shad | Matches crawfish in cold to cool, stained water early in the season. |
|
| Gold Blue Back | 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 | Length | Color | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap Lipless Crankbait, 1/2 oz | Lure weight:1/2 oz | Length:3 in | Color:Chrome Black Back | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft) and mid (5 to 12 ft), clear, stained and muddy water, bass and walleye |
| Rat-L-Trap Lipless Crankbait, 1/2 oz, Tennessee Shad Chrome | Lure weight:1/2 oz | Length:3 in | Color:Tennessee Shad Chrome | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft) and mid (5 to 12 ft), clear, stained and muddy water, bass and walleye |
| Rat-L-Trap Lipless Crankbait, 1/2 oz, White Bleeding Shad | Lure weight:1/2 oz | Length:3 in | Color:White Bleeding 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 |
|---|---|
| Length | 3 in |
| Buoyancy | Sinking |
| Lip | None |
| Rattle | Yes |
| Color | White Bleeding Shad |
| Color family | White |
Common questions
Does it float or sink?
It is a sinking lure.
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 1/2 oz.
How long is it?
It is 3 in long.
What color is this version?
This version is White Bleeding Shad.
Updated