Rat-L-Trap vs Strike King Red Eye Shad

[that_ryan_kid_7]

Hey guys, First post btw

Ok, so I only have 3 lipless crankbaits so far and I've caught a couple on each  and would like to get some more, the ones I have are 2 rat-l-trap (crawfish pattern and bluegill pattern), and 1 red eye shad (sexy shad) I'm wanting to know which are better or if there are any other lipless crankbaits around that price that yall recommend so I can get a few more and in which colors.  I fish a small lake/really big pond with mainly bluegill and a few craws aroynd the shallow rocks. Thanks!

[Smokinal]

I've caught far more bass on an original Bill Lewis Ratltrap that a Redeye. I usually only throw them in spring and fall in red craw. Basically in water 55 deg down to 41 or 42. After that I go to a blade bait on the bottom. The last Ratltrap I bought, I noticed they use the KVD triplegrip hooks  from the factory now; I like those.

[the reel ess]

I catch a good many on the Rat L Trap on Gold/black, but my buddy catches more on the Cotton Cordell Spot. They're about identical in design but the Spot is brighter gold.

[caseyhayfishing]

For me a Red Eye Shad is the only lipless crankbait i need. The difference is in the way they fall on slack line. The Red Eye Shad has a distinct wobble to it on the fall. This is a key to triggering bites. Also they offer rattling and silent models.

 

Casey Hay

 

 

 

[that_ryan_kid_7]

2 hours ago, caseyhayfishing said:

For me a Red Eye Shad is the only lipless crankbait i need. The difference is in the way they fall on slack line. The Red Eye Shad has a distinct wobble to it on the fall. This is a key to triggering bites. Also they offer rattling and silent models.

 

Casey Hay

 

 

Yes I have noticed the red eye shad has a lot more of a action on the fall the the rat-l-trap, I just love the rattles and the color selection of rat-l-traps

[caseyhayfishing]

Your on the right track, keep trying different baits and keep the ones YOU have confidence in. I try to keep my selection simple and the Red Eye just works for me. With that being said, the Excalibur One Knocker is worth trying.

Also One tip - If I am on a good rattlin lipless cb bite and it slows, the first thing i do is go to a silent model. Most of the time you will pick up a few extra fish.

Casey Hay

 

[rchiuz]

Have more luck with a Red Eye but my favorite are the Excalibur lipless which are now booyahs

[scaleface]

Liks smokinal , I have had a lot more success on the Trap  but that could be because I just havent given the  Red Eye a fair shot . One of the lakes I frequent I  fish out of a flat bottom aluminum boat .The hull acts like an amplifier and I can hear the lures quite loudly . I like to rip them off the bottom then let them fall back. A bass will hit the lure as its falling and I can hear that  strike . When a Red Eye is falling I can hear it ticking just like it is  designed to do .The Trap falls over on its side and makes no noise "that I can hear " but for some reason I get more fish on it . I need to give the Red Eye more playing time , it does shimmy on the drop .

[looking4structure]

Before the RES it was a Rat-L-Trap. But now i fish mainly the RES and XCalubur. So many options between the two. 

[gulfcaptain]

I fish more the 1 knocker Rat-L-Traps and also the Rapala Clackin Raps more then any other lipless baits.  The Super Spots are close to the Rat-L-Trap but have a different sound in the bb's then the original Rat-L-Traps do so although they are close, they aren't quite the same.  Livingston has some, but haven't seen any huge difference in the production over the others.  Have no experience with the Red Eye Shad as I haven't fished them so can't give you an opinion on them.

[Catt]

I maybe a little bit basis since my personal best of 12.8# was caught on a Trap!

Traps come in more weight sizes & color options than any other lipless crank.

Each brand has distinct rattle sounds & vibrationd so I pretty much throw em all.

While many anglers like ripping em through grass I like ricocheting em off wood!

[that_ryan_kid_7]

 

59 minutes ago, Catt said:

I maybe a little bit basis since my personal best of 12.8# was caught on a Trap!

Traps come in more weight sizes & color options than any other lipless crank.

Each brand has distinct rattle sounds & vibrationd so I pretty much throw em all.

While many anglers like ripping em through grass I like ricocheting em off wood!

Hmm, that's interesting. When ever I'm running into wood, trees, or other sunken structure, I go to a square bill crankbaits. what kind of retrieve do you do when you use a lipless crankbait  for that and how has its worked for you? Do you get hung up much?

[Insanity]

For me. My go to bait is the 3/8the oz Rattlin Rapala.  Chrome and blue.  Or gold and black. Are the only two colors you really need. I've been using these for over 20 years. They just seem work better over all for me.

Ive heard it said of all hard baits but I've personally noticed it with lippless baits.. If you buy three or the Same bait and use them all three an equal amount of time you'll soon notice one is catching far more fish then the other two. Something came out different and though I've never figured out what that minute detail is. You can see it for yourselves if you happen to own more one of the same bait. Just look how many scraps the fishes mouths have left behind in the finish of one bait verses the others. And though I don't tournament fish I can still take advantage of knowing which is the best producing bait in that color.   

BE RITE BACK.  TABLET KEEPS CRASHING. 

[Insanity]

Anyway in short I don't use my best producing baits as say search baits or for beating brush piles where I might loose them. And so for the above mentioned reason I think a newly purchased bait can quickly become one of your favorites or least favorite brand baits. Also I'd say as your doing you need more then one brand bait as they do have differences the fish notice. Rattle Trapps are for instance some of the loudest and have there time and place to sHine above other said brands. Hope this helps. 

[Fishes in trees]

There are dozens of different lipless cranks on the market.  I've probably mentioned this before in other threads.  Neither of the two baits you've mentioned make my top two.   Current have is an old Berkley Frenzy Rattle Bait - in the Threadfin Shad color.  Actually it has been beat up so much it is hard to tell what color it is.   1st runner up would be a Cordell Spot.

[Insanity]

26 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

There are dozens of different lipless cranks on the market.  I've probably mentioned this before in other threads.  Neither of the two baits you've mentioned make my top two.   Current have is an old Berkley Frenzy Rattle Bait - in the Threadfin Shad color.  Actua;;y it has been beat up so much it is hard to tell what color it is.   1st runner up would be a Cordell Spot.

[Insanity]

Sorry my phone pitched a fit.

Cotton Cordell would also be one of my top picks. I couldn't remember the name for the life of me. I only use one color in it to save money. Sexy shad. 

 

[Raul]

In the world of lipless cranks it´s really hard to say which one is "better" than the other, I have caught hundreds of fish on Rat L-Traps, but also have caught as many on Heddon´s Sonics and Super Sonics ( both discontinued ), when it comes to have a limited budget money and/or storage space if it were me I would put my money and storage space in Rat L-Traps.

List of some of the lipless I carry:

Bill Lewis Rat L-Trap

Rapala Rattlin´ Rap

Bomber Rattlin RRR ( discontinued )

Heddon Sonic and Super Sonic ( discontinued )

Heddon Bayou Boogie

Strike King Diamond Shad

All of them are good and all catch fish.

[HoosierHawgs]

30 minutes ago, Raul said:

In the world of lipless cranks it´s really hard to say which one is "better" than the other, I have caught hundreds of fish on Rat L-Traps, but also have caught as many on Heddon´s Sonics and Super Sonics ( both discontinued ), when it comes to have a limited budget money and/or storage space if it were me I would put my money and storage space in Rat L-Traps.

List of some of the lipless I carry:

Bill Lewis Rat L-Trap

Rapala Rattlin´ Rap

Bomber Rattlin RRR ( discontinued )

Heddon Sonic and Super Sonic ( discontinued )

Heddon Bayou Boogie

Strike King Diamond Shad (discontinued)

All of them are good and all catch fish.

 

[Midwest Fisherman]

I'm going with the red eye shad since I used it today for the first time and the second cast brought in a 3 - 4 pounder here in Indy. Don't know how to load a pic or I would post it. 

[fishballer06]

I'm a bill lewis guy. 

[richienyc]

Xcalibur One Knocker (now a Booyah One Knocker) are the best lipless cranks I have ever used.  Very distinctive deep thumping sound caused by one tungsten rattle as opposed to just "noise" from most other lipless cranks.

[A-Jay]

I am very bias and I'm not even gonna try to hide it ~  my PB 11-11 came on a RES

But in my experience, there's not doubt that both baits are very good.

There are several other makes & models that are also solid producers.

Lipless baits are a category of hard baits that one can never have enough of.

A-Jay

[HoosierHawgs]

5 hours ago, Midwest Fisherman said:

I'm going with the red eye shad since I used it today for the first time and the second cast brought in a 3 - 4 pounder here in Indy. Don't know how to load a pic or I would post it. 

Color?

[Midwest Fisherman]

1 hour ago, HoosierHawgs said:

Color?

1/2 oz Chili Craw