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SteelShad · Lipless Crankbaits
SteelShad Heavy Series Lipless Crankbait, 1/2 oz, Perch (Firetiger)
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Options
- Item weight
- 0.5 Ounces
- Product dimensions
- 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Quick take
Versatile stainless steel blade bait with molded weight and multiple line clip positions for different retrieve depths and actions.
This half-ounce, 2.25-inch lipless blade bait comes in a Perch Firetiger pattern, with a stainless body and a #8 hook. It sinks, making it a fit for cranking, jigging or trolling for bass, walleye, pike and trout. Bend the tail to change how it swims.
Best for
- Smallmouth and largemouth bass in various conditions
- Ice fishing jigging presentations
- Shallow to deep water fishing
Skip if
- You prefer soft plastic lures
- You need floating presentations
Strengths
- Stainless steel malleable construction allows customization
- Multiple line clip positions adjust fishing depth
- VMC Black Nickel hooks resist corrosion
- Intense throbbing vibration triggers strikes
Trade-offs
- Limited to blade bait style presentations
- Stainless steel may be visible in clear water
- Requires line clip knowledge to optimize
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
- Jigging
- Trolling
What can I catch with this?
At 1/2 oz, this lipless crankbait is sized for bass and walleye.
- Bass
- Trout
- Walleye
- Pike & musky
When and where to fish it
Its firetiger pattern is a loud one that suits stained and muddy 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
- 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 firetiger pattern imitates perch.
- Perch
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Perch (Firetiger)This one | A loud pattern that shows up in stained and muddy water under cloud. |
|
| Kentucky Shad, Sexy Shad, Silver, Tennessee Shad | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| White Shad | Stays easy to see in lightly stained water and under cloud. |
|
| Gold | Flashes in stained, tea-colored water and on dark days. |
|
| Purple | 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 | Hook size | Color | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SteelShad Heavy Series Lipless Crankbait, 1/2 oz, Perch (Firetiger) | Lure weight:1/2 oz | Length:2.25 in | Hook size:#8 | Color:Perch (Firetiger) | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft) and mid (5 to 12 ft), stained and muddy water, bass, trout, walleye and pike & musky |
| SteelShad Heavy Series Lipless Crankbait, 1/2 oz, Tennessee Shad | Lure weight:1/2 oz | Length:2.25 in | Hook size:#8 | Color:Tennessee Shad | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft) and mid (5 to 12 ft), clear and stained water, bass, trout, walleye and pike & musky |
| SteelShad Heavy Series, 1/2 oz, 2.25 in | Lure weight:1/2 oz | Length:2.25 in | Hook size:#8 | Color:White Shad | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft) and mid (5 to 12 ft), clear and stained water, bass, trout, walleye and pike & musky |
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 | 2.25 in |
| Buoyancy | Sinking |
| Lip | None |
| Hook size | #8 |
| Color | Perch (Firetiger) |
| Color family | Firetiger |
| Target species | Bass, Walleye, Pike & musky and Trout |
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 2.25 in long.
What color is this version?
This version is Perch (Firetiger).
Updated