Are Rattling vs. Knocking Lipless Cranks Really Different?

When many bass anglers think of lipless crankbaits, the image of either a Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap or Cordell Spot usually pops into our heads. These baits were two of the earliest, baitfish-shaped, rattling lipless cranks in a market where nearly every hardbait manufacturer has introduced their own version.

In the recent past however, several companies (Strike King, Booyah, Bill Lewis, Yozuri to name a few) developed yet another variation replacing the multiple bbs in the rattling version with one or two larger "knocking" bbs or discs providing a completely different sound and somewhat different action.

So you might wonder... Is the knocking version really any better?

Listen to Strike King pro angler Greg Hackney provide his thoughts on how the SK Red Eye Shad Tungsten 2 Tap provides options to his lipless crankbait toolbox...

Hackney did bring up one of my favorite lipless crank retrieves for the cold/cool water periods; the rise & fall or yo-yo retrieve. Definitely deadly on late winter and early spring bass here in the northeast!