The Club posed this question on Facebook: Which do  you prefer, Lipless or Lipped Crankbaits. This was my reply, how about you?

pretty well said

Yeah, the question is kind of like "which do you prefer, buzz baits or spinner baits?".

dose the trial and the free stuff cost monny

I have never really gotten comfortable with lipless crankbaits because often time I feel like some of them requires too fast of a retrieve speed for my style of fishing. In addition I find myself bumping lipped crankbaits into structure. I do the same for the lipless and more than often I get snagged. Then again, I can yo-yo fishing a lipless crank. Can't do that with a lipped crankbait. I would also feel comfortable vertical jigging a lipless crank, can't do the same with a lipped crank to the same effect.

Posted By slipperybob on 20 Apr 2012 12:42 PM
I have never really gotten comfortable with lipless crankbaits because often time I feel like some of them requires too fast of a retrieve speed for my style of fishing. In addition I find myself bumping lipped crankbaits into structure. I do the same for the lipless and more than often I get snagged.

Good points Bob, I have heard these same complaints from other guys too. I have a few suggestions that work for me. You mentioned the speedy retrieve not being your style. Try suspending lipless cranks...work them just like a suspending jerkbait. They will sometimes be the better bite of the two.They feel completely different to the fish than the minnow body lures, so if the fish haven't seen them, you know the result! You also mentioned how bumping them through structure was a recipe for failure. True...oh so true...with wood and rock. However, they will pull right through the grass! Often when you're "ripping" it free is when the strike comes. The grass doesn't seem to stick to them. A quick snap rips it right through.
                                                                                  

I haven't seen a suspended version of a lipless crank. Always wondered about it. Tell me who makes them...please. LOL.

I'm not sure who else makes them...I use Cotton Cordells. Here's a link to where I get them:  http://www.lurenet.com/brands/cotto...super-spot  The most productive color for me is the Texas Red.

Thanks, I'll look into them.

Neither  they are two different tools for different circumstances.  you can jig a lipless crank you cant do that very good with a lipped one . a lipped bait you can pull under the surface and let it pop back up .  They both have different vibration patterns,
There are times when a vertical presentation will out shine a horizontal presentation and times when i tight wobble will work better then a wider one . So the real question becomes more of what presentation is most effective at the given time or place .  You can ice fish a liples crank try doing that with a lipped one .

One of my favorite summertime pike techniques is speed trolling a rattle trap, get the boat going tell the bait just starts to skip then slow down a bit so that it don't skip any more.
hang on cause you will know when they hit .

Ya Trev, I've seen you in action! I think the best answer has mostly to do with what type presentation you like best...