Jigging lipless crankbaits for walleye

I’ve long been a spoon man for walleye under the ice, but with each passing winter I become increasingly fond of the lipless crankbait. The action and vibrations of these hard baits are distinct from other presentations and catch walleye from first ice to the season’s end. Lipless crankbaits get noticed There is a lot to like about lipless crankbaits. Their rattling chambers and hard-vibrating action create commotion perfect for attracting walleye. A loud lipless crankbait’s ability to draw a walleye from far away makes it perfect for fishing flats. Here, walleye are typically mobile and chasing schools of wandering perch and other forage. Walleye can be under your ice hole, then gone in moments. A lipless crankbait piques their interest, keeps their attention, and quickly triggers strikes. This unfolded many times last winter using a two-and-a-half inch Rapala Rippin’ Rap. What was particularly fascinating was observing walleye behaviour using Garmin’s Panoptix LiveScope. Many fish I caught on flats came in hot. Several quickly approached from the side, swimming from more than 12 feet away to attack. I always knew lipless cranks had drawing power but witnessing it using the latest ice fishing tech solidified my appreciation for these rattle baits. In addition to the Rippin’ Rap, other productive baits include the Livetarget Golden Shiner, Jackall TN/60, and Yo-Zuri Rattl’N Vibe, and 3DS Vibe. Awesome for covering water Being able to attract walleye quickly is advantageous beyond fishing flats. As in warmer months, a lipless crankbait excels when searching for walleye and trying to put a pattern together. Points, mid- lake humps, drop-offs in front of bays, and feeding shelves are all areas to use these lures. Reaction strikes? Yes please! Walleye are rarely nibblers with a lipless crank. Fish tend to scream in and smash the bait. Match their enthusiasm with your jigging cadence by steadily working the bait and raising it in the water column (read on for specifics). Aggressive fish want to chase. Keep the bait within their strike zone while continuing to move it teasingly away from the fish, just like a baitfish trying to escape. This tactic drives walleye crazy. Jigging strokes A lipless crankbait’s appeal lies in its vibration signature and its tight wiggling swim and shimmying fall. These are easy to achieve following a typical lift-fall jigging sequence. A lift of one to two feet will attract fish. Long strokes also appeal to