Lipless crankbaits catch fish year round. From ripping a lipless crank out of submerged vegetation in the spring to ticking one across a shallow shad-ridden flat in the fall, these little shad and craw imitators are money in the hands of almost any angler. They’re great baits for beginners and proven producers for tournament anglers as well. Because of this bait genre’s popularity and versatility, the lipless crankbait has been recreated time and time again to offer a wide variety of colors, sounds, sizes and component combinations.
We’re going to look at one of Yo-Zuri’s latest contributions to this ever-expanding bait category today, the Rattl’n Vibe One Knock.
The Yo-Zuri Rattl’n Vibe One Knock is available at these online retailers:
Good-looking bait
Yo-Zuri really went the extra mile when it comes to the detail of this lure. There’s a super-fine 3D scale pattern on these baits, which closely mimics what you’d see from a real shad or other small baitfish; the realistic eyes add a nice touch as well. More importantly, the eyes are durable, holding up to repetitive smacking of the bait on the water, which is sometimes necessary in order to remove debris from the trebles of a lipless crank. This is a test that the eyes of many lipless crankbaits fail, as a few smacks on the surface usually results in a one-eyed bait from that point forward.
There are also a wide range of color choices in the Rattl’n Vibe One Knock. There are a few holographic baits that have a reflective foil-style paint job. These will work really well when trying to imitate shad in muddy or low-light scenarios, along with the solid brighter colors like Brown Gold and Citrus Shad. Then there are the red craw imitators as well for the prespawn bite and some really natural colors for clear water, bright days.
Hooks and components
This bait comes stock with a good set off round-bend hooks. Though I typically like EWG hooks on a lipless crankbait, I left the stock hooks on this lure while I was testing it and I was well pleased by them. They held up to several fish catches without bending and are still super sticky sharp to the touch. They’re long-shank hooks and are sized well to cover the whole bait without being too big to the point they’re constantly hanging on one another.
The rest of the trimmings on this bait are strong as well. Solid, well-mounted hook hanger and line tie eyes accompanied by quality black nickel split rings. With treble hook baits, you have to pay close attention to the split rings as some of the cheaper ones can be sprung by the manufacturer in the process of opening them up to attach the hooks. This is why it’s important to use quality components like Yo-Zuri did here with the split rings on the Rattl’n Vibe One Knock.
What sets it apart
With a sea of lipless cranks to choose from, what sets the Rattl’n Vibe One Knock apart from the competition? The primary component that narrows down the bucket that this bait falls into comes by way of its sound. Most lipless crankbaits have a sharp rattle comprised of numerous small beads inside a chamber within the bait. The Rattl’n Vibe One Knock, on the other hand, has one large bead. This generates a more pronounced isolated knocking sound as the ball rolls from front to back and side to side inside the bait.
Though this one feature limits the number of baits that are comparable to the Rattl’n Vibe, there are a handful of other one knock-style lipless crankbaits out there as well. Digging a little further we find the most distinguishing characteristic of this bait; the added belly and face weights.
Yo-Zuri added these to help the bait track well in the water and keep it from kicking out to the side. This is a feature I’ve never personally seen in another lipless crank. These added weights also make this bait a little heavier for its size, where most baits this size weigh 1/2 ounce, the Rattl’n Vibe One Knock comes in at 5/8 ounce.
Final thoughts
Overall, the Yo-Zuri Rattl’n Vibe One Knock is a outstanding lipless crankbait. With sharp hooks, durable split rings, a wide range of color choices and a solid one knocking sound, this bait is a great combination of quality and performance.
At $9.49, it is a little pricier that some lipless crankbaits but still not as expensive as many others. For the price, you get a super detailed quality bait that catches fish. The added weights to the belly and nose of the bait also give you a heavier bait with a compact profile, setting this lure apart from its competition. With a 5/8-ounce bait on a 1/2-ounce frame, you have a lure you can cast farther and get down to the desired depth faster while still presenting the fish with the bite-sized meal they’re sometimes keying in on. If you’re in the market for a quality lipless crankbait, I don’t believe you’ll be disappointed by the Yo-Zuri Rattl’n Vibe One Knock.
The Yo-Zuri Rattl’n Vibe One Knock is available at these online retailers:
