Losing Fish On A Rattletrap

[G8RBob]

I've lost a number of fish recently while fishing a lipless crank bait.  I get them to the boat, but then lose them.  What Is the recommended technique for getting the fish into the boat?  A net?  Thanks, in advance, for your thoughts. 

 

Bob

[livetofish28]

What rod are you using? other than that it happens 

 

     tight lines 

 

       Andrew

[Mccallister25]

I agree with livetofish about the rod concern. You def want a good parobolic rod with a moderate action for cranks. I like a moderate action for all of my treble lures.

[Catt]

If you give the bass any slack at any time it will have all the leverage needed to throw hard lures.

[Kevin22]

Unless you are using a moderate action rod, chances are the fish has already tore a hole in its lip. You have two choices once you turn his head and get him coming towards the boat. 1. keep right on cranking and boat flip him. 2. have a net ready and scoop him up as soon as he gets in range. If you let him get his head down he'll probably rip the hooks out, if he gets his head up he'll use the bad angle to toss that lipless right over your head. 

[Bluebasser86]

Keep the line tight and keep them from jumping is the best way to land fish on lipless baits. Changing the hooks is a good idea too. Do everything right and you're still going to lose fish, just the nature of the beast with lipless baits.

[Sam]

Catt, on 23 Jun 2014 - 22:35, said:

If you give the bass any slack at any time it will have all the leverage needed to throw hard lures.

 

Bingo!

 

Any slack and away they go.

 

Sometimes you don't even know you are giving them any slack.

 

Check your hooks. If you don't change out the manufacturer's hooks to a sharper name brand hook you are asking for trouble with the Rats.

[Sam]

Bob, two more things.

 

You can use a net if you want.

 

But more important, and Catt will agree with this, you have to yell "Geaux Tigers" when you set the hook!!!

 

That will guarantee a successful landing.

[G8RBob]

SEC!  SEC!  Geaux Tigers.  No problem.  

 

Thanks for the tips.  Now I've got work to do, changing hooks.  

[Mccallister25]

Who are the Tigers? Go Dawgs!!!

[slimshad]

I fish them alot in the early spring.  I always change the hooks to the short shank KVD hooks.  One size bigger.  I am usually fishing for bigger fish on Guntersville though.  They don't jump much when the water is down around 50.  I do use a glass rod that helps me NOT pull the bait away when setting the hook.  It helps with fighting the fish also.  I would say change out the hooks or really give yours a good sharpen.

[Ratherbfishing]

Go one size larger with the hooks-especially the back hook.  If you can't do that, bend the hooks out a little.

[Big239Fish]

Are you using braid or fluoro? (Or mono)

[Zach P]

Honestly I have found that your success rate for landing fish dramatically decreases if the fish is able to jump. Now sometimes it just isn't possibly to keep the fishing from jumping but try and keep your rod tip as close to the water as possible once you have have a fish on a hardbait such as a rattle trap or crankbait. When the fish jumps they are getting a big advantage over you because your line will more often times than not get slack in it.

[masterbass]

With treble baits you have to either use a parabolic rod or loosen your drag.  For lipless I prefer a graphite rod, but loosen my drag.  I can rip it through grass better.

[Raul]

I've lost a number of fish recently while fishing a lipless crank bait.  I get them to the boat, but then lose them.  What Is the recommended technique for getting the fish into the boat?  A net?  Thanks, in advance, for your thoughts. 

 

Bob

 

I´ve caught thousands of fish on Rat L-Traps, have never used a net to land them so the best technique I can recommend to you is to change them POS stock hooks they come with. My finger tip is sharper than those hooks.

[Hogsticker]

Use a moderate fast rod and upgrade to some 2X short shank hooks. The rest is up to you. I watch my line and when that fish starts coming to the surface I get ready or try to keep it from getting airborne. Use a net

[Catt]

Where y'all buying Traps from?

Must be someone's ancient stock!

Down here Traps have came with Mustad Triple Grip Hooks for several years now.

[Raul]

Where y'all buying Traps from?

Must be someone's ancient stock!

Down here Traps have came with Mustad Triple Grip Hooks for several years now.

 

Could be, got a box stuffed with Traps I purchased loooooong time ago at BPS, as I said, my finger tip is sharper than those hooks so I change them.

[BasshunterJGH]

Swap out the hooks w/ owners. Best trebles on the market in my opinion

[TrippyJai]

The new Rat-L-Traps have the Bill Lewis set lock treble hooks and they don't benefit from an upgrade unless you want a 2x hook or to up size them. They are one of the sharpest and best stock hooks on any crankbait under $10. The only baits I have in my tackle box that have better hooks are my Spro's which come with gamakatsu's and Jackall's which I think comes with Owner ST-36's.

[fishballer06]

Put some new hooks on there. I like using Gami's. 

[J BASS]

Very common but as said change hooks

The old pro trap had the line slide thru the bait but I never liked them much myself

[iceintheveins]

A moderate, crankbait type rod is crucial. I change the hooks on all rat L traps to short shank gammies.

[BadBassWV]

Fish Braided Line.