Lipless Crankbait Fishing on Long Branch Lake
Long Branch Lake · Missouri · Midwest
Long Branch Lake sits just east of Macon, Missouri, impounded on the Little Chariton River by the Corps of Engineers in 1981. The reservoir runs roughly 12 miles at full pool, offering a blend of submerged timber in the upper arms, clay and gravel points mid-lake, and a deeper main channel that holds fish through the heat of summer and cold of winter. Water clarity tends toward stained to slightly tannic, particularly in the upper creek arms after rain, which keeps bass tight to visible cover rather than suspended open water.
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 Long Branch 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 Long Branch Lake
Lake: Pre-spawn largemouth push into the timbered upper arms and shallow clay flats by mid-April when water temps hit 58–65°F; a 3/8 oz chartreuse/white spinnerbait worked slowly along flooded timber edges and submerged brush is one of the most consistent producers of the year. Spotted bass tend to stage slightly deeper on secondary points in 8–12 ft before making the same move.
Lipless Crankbait: Early spring in grass — rip through milfoil and hydrilla as it starts to green up. Chartreuse/shad colors.
Lake: Once surface temps crest 80°F, bass compress to the main channel edges and deeper timber in 18–28 ft; a football jig dragged on the outside timber lines or a drop shot finesse rig along channel swings produces when topwater bite dies off midday. Early morning topwater on shallow flats near the upper arms remains viable through June.
Lipless Crankbait: Burn over deep grass tops at first light. Let it deflect off the edge at end of cast.
Lake: Shad schools move into the mid-lake coves and flat creek mouths through October, pulling aggressive bass up into 6–12 ft of water; a 3/4 oz white or chartreuse swimjig paralleled along the timber line, or a Heddon Super Spook Jr. over open pockets, covers water quickly during this chase-and-ambush period.
Lipless Crankbait: Schooling fish near the surface — burn it or yo-yo it under the school. Chrome and shad patterns.
Lake: Cold-water bass stack on main channel timber and hard-bottom points in 22–35 ft when water temps drop below 48°F; a blade bait like a 1/2 oz Swedish Pimple worked vertically over submerged standing timber is a legitimate option that most Missouri anglers overlook in favor of jigs. Slow-dragging a 3/8 oz football jig on clay-gravel points produces fish on warming afternoons.
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 Long Branch Lake
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