Rattle Traps

[Nebasska]

I know there are many many colors and sizes but wondering which most have success with in the spring?

[Bass-minded]

Rattle-traps are mainly deep water baits so I don't usually use em cause spring is when the spawn is. But in the summer they're good. Silver on clear days and gold on cloudy days.

[roadwarrior]

Lipless crankbaits can be fished shallow, especially ripping through grass.

Chrome & Blue is always a good color. I like red in the spring.

 

 

 

 

[Trailer]

First off, awesome profile pic!

 

Second, I hear guys throwing craw colored 1/2 to 3/4 oz or chrome/blue.

 

Me, I mostly throw 1/2 oz in chrome/bronze or chrome/blue. Ripping it through the weeds has worked for me.

 

$0.02

[BradH]

I don't think I've found a color or size that won't catch fish.  I've had quite a bit of luck with the Excalibur One Knockers in Tilapia in the 1/2 ounce size.  That might be because I bought a giant heaping pile of them for 1.88 each   The other day I had the best results tossing a 1 1/4 ounce Bomber saltwater rattle bait.  It's pretty much anything goes.  Rip and pause!

[flippin and pitchin]

Rayburn Red and Crawfish patterns over flats in the spring for smallmouth. Can be very effective.

[Paul Roberts]

I fish lipless cranks year round. They are great in the spring. Lotsa great colors but depth, speed, and action are most important. I like painted fluorescents (charteuse or red-orange) or pearls in low vis conditions and reflective metallics (chrome, gold) in high vis conditons. All sizes work -heavier ones sink faster and are fished deeper or faster. Vary your retrieve: stop-n-go, accelerations, pump and drop, rip weed walls, high speed burn, etc .... .  They can be ripped clean through sparse weeds or at weed edges but are prone to snagging wood so have a plug knocker handy and some extras. I've tossed a few including: Heddon Sonic, Bayou Boogie, Cordell Spot, Rattle-Trap, Strike King Red-Eye Shad, BPS RattleShad, Yozuri Rattlin' Vibe, Matzuo Rattle-Eye, and Sebile FlattShad. They ALL work but have diff properties -amount of vibes, sink rate, posture on the fall.

[The Young Gun]

I always liked a "Hot Mustard" color with that brownish yellow. Just ripping them through grass, or yo'yo ing

[Jigfishn10]

Paul Roberts color selection is spot on and is what I use. I'm a Bayou Boogie fan and an original Rattle Trap fisherman. I don't use these as much as I used to, but spring time is yo yo time in cold water and when it gets a littlle warmer I'll rip the weeds.

[BigBassBarry]

in spring I have had success using red ones in 8-10 ft of water with water temps above 58 degrees.  I get hung up a lot but catch fish boncing it off the bottom.  Risk/reward

[Bluebasser86]

Rayburn red, bluegill, ghost, and chrome/blue back are about the only colors I use in rattle traps, and I catch a lot of fish on traps throughout the year. I fish the 1/2oz size 90% of the time but will go down to a 1/4oz if the water is clear or the baitfish are averaging smaller sizes.

[Jake P]

I have caught fish in every seasonal pattern with Traps or RES.

 

I primarily use Chrome/blue, Rayburn red, orange craw and Bleeding shad.

 

Chrome/ blue and Bleeding shad I throw primarily in the late spring- late fall.

 

I fish the Craw from late fall to winter, and the red from late winter to late spring.

 

 a 1/4 oz Rayburn red trap is killer in the spring fished shallow!

[tightlinesjax]

my favorite is chrome with blue back.  ive been using them for over 20 years and the fish still love em.  they catch fish in saltwater too.

[Sam]

Red/orange/black in the spring.

 

Chrome with blue back on sunny days.

 

Chrome with black back on cloudy days.

 

Change hooks to #4's.

 

If fishing in grass and weeds remove rear hook.

 

Smear some MegaStrike on them.

 

Throw anywhere and everywhere.

 

You may want to start with the smaller 1/4 ounce size and then work up to the 1/2 ounce size or visa versa.

 

Consider adding a splash of orange nail polish to their underside.

[TRYTOFISH]

chrome/black chrome/blue, 3/8 1/2 oz.  killer white bass bait on light tackle. lot of fun.

[BassKicker92]

Ive had some of my best days using a Chrome blue bleeding shad.  The blood spots really seem to set them off!  Good luck and good fishing friend!

[TrapperJ]

The old Chrome/Blue used to be my go-to lure, but now thinking back i used it very minimal last year. Got into fishing majority of plastics most of the time.

 

I will have to visit my old friend more often this year.

 

@Sam: Interesting tip about taking the back hook off on the fishing grass.

[gobig]

With trap style baits I generally throw craw patterns in the spring and summer and shad in the fall and winter.