Lipless Crankbait Fishing on Burt Lake
Burt Lake · Michigan · Midwest
This expansive, clearwater lake is a key component of Michigan's Inland Waterway, spanning approximately 17,000 acres. Burt Lake features significant depth variations, extensive rock reefs, sand flats, and distinct weed lines, providing varied habitat that supports a robust smallmouth bass population.
A flat-sided, lip-less bait that sinks on a slack line and vibrates intensely on the retrieve. Versatile in depth (yo-yo it deep or burn it shallow) and highly effective in vegetation. The 'ripping' technique — letting it sink into grass then snapping it free — is one of the deadliest triggers in bass fishing.
Lipless Crankbait Setup for Burt Lake
| Rod | 7'–7'3" medium to medium-heavy casting rod, moderate-fast action |
| Reel | 7.1:1 baitcaster |
| Line | 14–17 lb fluorocarbon; braid if punching heavy grass |
| Weight | 1/2–3/4 oz (Rat-L-Trap, Strike King Red Eye Shad, Yo-Zuri Rattl'n Vibe) |
Seasonal Tactics on Burt Lake
Lake: Smallmouth stage on prominent rock formations and sand flats in 10-20 feet before moving shallower for spawning, often accessible with suspending jerkbaits or tubes.
Lipless Crankbait: Early spring in grass — rip through milfoil and hydrilla as it starts to green up. Chartreuse/shad colors.
Lake: During the warmer months, bass relocate to main-lake humps, deep rock reefs, and thermocline breaks in 20-40 feet, responding well to drop shots and deep-diving crankbaits.
Lipless Crankbait: Burn over deep grass tops at first light. Let it deflect off the edge at end of cast.
Lake: As water temperatures drop, smallmouth move to ambush points on deeper flats and channel edges, following baitfish schools, making swimbaits and blade baits effective in 15-30 feet.
Lipless Crankbait: Schooling fish near the surface — burn it or yo-yo it under the school. Chrome and shad patterns.
Lake: In the cold water period, bass hold tight to the deepest available structure, such as submerged timber or major channel breaks, requiring extremely slow jigging spoons or blade baits in 30-60 feet.
Lipless Crankbait: Best season. Slow yo-yo retrieve in 6–15 feet along grass edges. Gold/red and chrome are classic.
Best Conditions
Grass edges and flats, winter and early spring, cold water, windy days, schooling fish, any time bass are chasing shad
Swap treble hooks for 1/0 trebles with feathered rear hook. Adds action, improves hookup ratio on short-striking fish.
More Techniques for Burt Lake
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