The Trap

[krd22]

I have about been trying to catch some fish with the Trap for about 3 different fishing trips.  THe water temp is between 53 and 58 depending on the time of day.  The water is slightly stained.  I have only managed one fish.  I have caught fish in the same locations using other baits.

I have to be doing something wrong because everyone else I talk to about this location, they are wearing them out on the trap.

I have no clue.

[D4u2s0t]

traps are very versatile, so you need to figure out what it is the fish want.  You can do a standard retrieve at various depths, reel it in slow, burn it, yo-yo, do a standard retrieve with pauses and/or twitches.  Try bouncing it off of cover, that's something that makes alot of noise and gives the fish something to hone in on.    You can rip it through weeds... the list goes on.  It's hard to do something with the bait that "won't" work, so try a bunch of different techniques, take note of what works and what doesn't given the conditions, and go forward based on what you see.

[soccplayer07]

That is the perfect temp range for traps in my opinion. What type of retrieve have you been using? Were you doing anything different when you caught your only fish? I have a lot of luck doing a yo-yo retrieve. Most of my hits come after I make contact with some sort of cover. There are days when only burning it will work and others where more of a slow roll is key. good luck

[roadwarrior]

1. Change brands, I carry five

2. Try other colors

3. Vary your retrieve

8-)

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

1. Change brands, I carry five

2. Try other colors

3. Vary your retrieve

8-)

4. Try a different size. Don't know what depth your fishing but there is a huge difference between say a 3/4 or a 1/4 oz. bait.Weight of the bait can dictate your overall speed and/or depth. The fish may also be keyed in on certain sized bait.

[Uncle Leo]

For me Traps excel in the following conditions.

1) In deep water when bass are suspeneded busted on shad.

2) Fishing weed beds and ripping through the weeds.

3) Yo Yo retrieve off of points on the deep water end of the point.

4) Normally best in cold water.

Other then these conditions I have not had much luck.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

I got to add one to your list uncle leo... In current situations and heavy wind.

[krd22]

I have varied my retrieves and changed my colors.  I have not changed brands or changed sizes. 

The way I caught the fish the other day was with a straight retrieve.  I tried to duplicate it and catch more fish with no luck.

[dday07]

i think your from alabama? i'm visiting from cal. believe it or not i tear them up there in june on traps burning it.here,i have found running them slow off the bottom works good right now. i have lost a few lures because of timber here on the coosa,but worth it for the fish i've caught.   any green or red is good.

[Clark Stewart]

Size and color are the biggies for me. Right now in Bama they're eating crawdads like crazy so any orange/crawdad imitating trap is the way to go. Perfect example is the other day when I was burning the craw patter cotton cordell and my grandfather was fishing the same size brand but a silver/purple color and couldn't buy a bite. I caught 8 in 30 minutes. I have also been skunked before with other guys where I'm throwing a 1/2 oz trap and they're throwing 1/4oz in the same color. Retrieves don't make any real difference to me.