Lucky Craft LV-500 ~ Lipless Crankbait

Model: LV-500
Type: Sinking, Rattling
Weight: 3/4 oz (23g)
Length: 3" (75mm)
Factory Hooks: #4 Belly, #6 Tail VMC Black Nickel
Depth: Approx. 8 feet

The LV-500 is the number one choice of many anglers among all Lucky Craft's lipless baits.

The body size of the LV-500 matches that of most other 1/2 oz rattlebaits. However, the LV-500 is 3/4 oz so it casts longer distance and it descends much deeper than most others. This is the reason I rely on the LV-500 - it covers more distance much deeper than most any other rattlebait.

It isn't a good idea to let the LV-500 sink. When you cast, you must begin the retrieve immediately. If you wait to let the LV-500 settle deeper, it tends to tailspin and twirl around, snaring the fishing line in the hooks. So pay attention to how you use it. Don't give the LV-500 any time to fall on a loose line.

So, just burn it back! The LV-500 casts further and covers more water than other rattlebaits. On it's own, the LV-500 will seek a consistent running depth about 8 feet deep. You don't need to let it sink or count it down or anything. Just start winding it in, and next thing you know, it will seek its own running level around the 8 foot mark (or thereabouts depending on line type and line diameter).

It will seek a working level of 7 to 10 feet deep all by itself. This is below where most other rattlebaits will stay on a retrieve. Best of all, you can burn the LV-500, and it will still stay that deep.

A favorite LV-500 tactic for me is to burn deep points. In lakes with lots of points, this can become an LV-500 pattern many days, where a bass or two will belt the LV-500 (usually retrieved fast) on practically every point. Once you uncover a pattern and it seems repeatable on a few points, then you can run from point to point to point, and repeatedly present the LV-500 the same way each time - and pull a good bass or two off each point. In this way, the LV-500 functions as a highly productive pattern bait - not just for points, but for whatever other repeatable pattern you can produce with the LV-500. Keep in mind, it is a deep runner, but you cannot count it down or pause it without frequently snarling the line.

When bass want that deeper running depth (which is often the case on bluffs or deep points), the LV-500's the best lipless crank in my bag! I'm not alone either. More and more anglers are using it all the time, making the LV-500 the most popular lipless in Lucky Craft's line-up.

Lucky Craft Crankbait Color Considerations

Lucky Craft is legendary for it's artful, natural baitfish colors. You won't see a lot of red throat splashes, red eyes or other gaudy lipstick. They're not known for their bright chartreuse-based, fire tiger or other bold color patterns.

Where Lucky Craft lures excel, what they do better than other vendors, are complex yet natural finishes. Along those lines, the four most popular colors across most every Lucky Craft product model are:

1. Chartreuse Shad (color #250) is said to be 'the' most popular Lucky Craft color. If you had to limit yourself to just one color, Chartreuse Shad is it.

2. Ghost Minnow (color #238) is considered the most popular clear water color in the Lucky Craft line-up.

3. Aurora Black (color #052) is flashy, yes, but not nearly as flashy as MS American Shad. Aurora Black is much more subdued and subtle.

4. MS American Shad (color #270) is a high flash color for when fish want a lot of flash in a lure. It's one of Lucky Craft's (or any other vendor's) most beautiful colors. It is truly a special experience to fish with it. The 'MS' means 'Magic Scales'.

MS Herring (color #254) is another of the most beautiful of all Lucky Craft colors. It is similar to MS American Shad in that they are both high flash colors. However, MS Herring does not come in every crankbait model. It is not available in the LV-200, LV-300 or LV-500. It is available in the LVR D-7 and LVR D-10.

Mad Craw (color #286) and Spring Craw (color #070) are quite popular colors for lipped crankbaits and lipless too.

Lucky Craft LV-500 ~ Lipless ~ Aurora Black

Lucky Craft LV-500 ~ Lipless ~ MS American Shad

Lucky Craft LV-500 ~ Lipless ~ Chartreuse Shad

Lucky Craft LV-500 ~ Lipless ~ Ghost Minnow

Lucky Craft LV-500 ~ Lipless ~ Mad Craw