Lipless Crankbait Fishing on John Martin Reservoir
John Martin Reservoir · Colorado · West
John Martin Reservoir sits on the Arkansas River near Hasty, Colorado, impounded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers primarily for flood control and irrigation — which means water levels fluctuate dramatically season to season. The reservoir trends turbid to stained throughout most of the year, with a flat, prairie-basin morphology broken by submerged creek channels, riprap shorelines, and sparse woody cover. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, and wipers (hybrid striped bass) share the fishery, making it one of southeastern Colorado's most diverse angling options.
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 John Martin Reservoir
| 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 John Martin Reservoir
Lake: Pre-spawn largemouth push into the shallower riprap and any available brushy cover as water temps climb through the low 60s, typically late April into May. Lipless crankbaits like the Strike King Red Eye Shad in 1/2 oz worked along rocky points produce aggressive strikes before bass move to whatever limited spawning flats are available at the current pool level.
Lipless Crankbait: Early spring in grass — rip through milfoil and hydrilla as it starts to green up. Chartreuse/shad colors.
Lake: Summer concentrates bass and walleye on the deeper submerged creek channel edges in 12–22 ft of water as surface temps push into the mid-70s. Anglers fishing bottom-contact presentations — a 1/2 oz football jig on 15 lb fluorocarbon or a drop shot with a 4-inch Roboworm — find fish that have vacated the wind-blasted shallow flats.
Lipless Crankbait: Burn over deep grass tops at first light. Let it deflect off the edge at end of cast.
Lake: Fall triggers some of the most reliable feeding windows of the year as shad and other forage stack in creek channel bends and the main basin narrows toward the dam. Swimbaits and medium-diving crankbaits like the Strike King Series 5 in shad patterns cover water efficiently during October's transition period.
Lipless Crankbait: Schooling fish near the surface — burn it or yo-yo it under the school. Chrome and shad patterns.
Lake: Winter drawdowns for irrigation delivery can pull water levels substantially, concentrating fish in the remaining deeper basin. Slow-rolled jigging spoons and drop shot rigs on 10 lb fluorocarbon in 15–25 ft are the consistent winter producers; the fishery receives almost no pressure during this window.
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 John Martin Reservoir
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