can't figure out lipless rattle cranks and poppers

[detroithiker]

Trying to learn could someone offer some advice?
I am in my 2nd season of Bass fishing and have never even had a strike on either one.
I'm just not sure when and how I should be using them, I wan't to learn so I figure asking real people rather than watching promo videos is the best way to get real advice.

[dartag]

Spend lots of time with each one.  Top water early in the day.  Lipless cranks in the spring.  Crank baits all summer long. 

There is no magic advice to make you good.   Pick one out and fish it for hours. Then try another.   Don't switch every 10 casts.  Figuring out the game is part of the fun.

I have been working on learning Punching Mats.  Spent over 13 hours last week and caught 9 fish.  Did the same when I started drop shotting and Jig Fishing.. 

Stay with it and don't get frustrated.   

[djkimmel]

Poppers are just starting to get good right now. Early in the day and late in the day are prime but anytime you see lots of surface activity my little minnows, small panfish and especially bass busting are also great times to throw poppers. Try different cadences with the popper from slow to fast until you start catching bass. Throw them over heavy weeds, and along the inside and outside weed edges. You should get bit.

Lipless cranks are great for covering water. Known for being good in the spring and fall but can be used all year. They're a versatile lure you can fish shallow to deep, fast to jigging. At times all the retrieves work. I like red ones and chrome-blue a lot along with shad / white colors. I like throwing them in similar places I throw a popper after the popper bite dies down or when it's not working.

Take dartag's advice and stick with them until you have confidence. It may be the places you are fishing, or the time of year or time of day. Try different places if you can. The bass will bite them both, well at times.

[robhj]

Some great advice already offered. I find I don't use poppers as much as u used to. Prop baits have taken there place for me. I start throwing prop baits once the water temps hit around 55 degrees. I find they really excel during the spawn. Something about that blade spinning after you stop moving the bait that I find can be a great trigger for getting bites. I also like throwing prop baits during the mayfly hatch. I really like a small black Heddon Tiny Torpedo during this time. Later in the year I start throwing walking baits like spooks. I generally throw lipless cranks in the spring & fall and I prefer a yo-yo retrieve more times than not. My brother fishes lipless cranks often and prefers just a slow steady retrieve. Grab both and experiment. That's the beauty of bass fishing-many techniques and lures to use to catch them. Good luck!