Rattletraps

[Mobasser]

I've been a big fan of the original Bill Lewis Rattle trap for over 25 yrs. I usually stick with 1/2 oz, in chrome or shad patterns. It's caught fish of all sizes. Other similar lures I've used are the Cordell Spot, and the Rapala version of this lure. Both have been ok, but not as productive as the Rattletraps. I'm thinking about trying some different rattlebaits now, and am interested in what others are using. Have you had success with some of the newer variations?

[smalljaw67]

I've learned over the years that it pays to have a few different brands and styles of lipless cranks. I really like the discontinued, but now sold under Booyah brand, Xcalibur One Knocker, it gets big fish and seems to work when other lipless cranks don't. The Cordell Super Spot in 1/4oz, that bait is the best shallow "trap" made, it will vibrate and rattle at much slower speed than other baits, the 1/4oz doesn't sink too fast and on a slow retrieve it gets a lot of bites. My all time favorite is the Sebile Flatt Shad, I have a good stash because they were discontinued but they brought them back, they look the same as the old ones but I haven't used any.

[TOXIC]

I have a few of the original rattletraps for use on the Potomac because they make a color that is very productive on that body of water.  I only have that one color in them because all of my others are the SPRO Aruku Shad that has a unique sound, fall and nose down resting position in the water.  When the trap bite is on at Lake St Clair, we wear them out on Aruku's.  

 

 

[scaleface]

I'm in the Red Eye Shad camp . I like to hop them like a worm and the RES  excels at that . I havent thrown a trap in three years .

[roadwarrior]

Red Eye Shad

 

[Catt]

While I do on occasion throw different brands but I learned years ago Bill Lewis makes more than plan Traps.

 

I've had good success with Knock-N-Traps, Floating Traps, Spin Traps & discontinued Stealth Traps, Pro Traps 3/8-5/8 oz.

[fishwizzard]

3 hours ago, TOXIC said:

I have a few of the original rattletraps for use on the Potomac because they make a color that is very productive on that body of water. 

Well........? 

 

Lipless are really the only cranks I use.  I was 100% RES in Clearwater Minnow and Chrome Sexy Shad, but I am cranky with them after buying what I think was like a half dozen bad ones during last BF.  I have branched out to Hard-Knockers and the original Rattletraps.  I think I like the Hard-Knockers the best of the three, they seem to run well at the widest range of speeds.  

 

[ratherbfishin1]

I’ll add another vote for the red eye shad

[J Francho]

3 hours ago, TOXIC said:

I have a few of the original rattletraps for use on the Potomac because they make a color that is very productive on that body of water.  I only have that one color in them because all of my others are the SPRO Aruku Shad that has a unique sound, fall and nose down resting position in the water.  When the trap bite is on at Lake St Clair, we wear them out on Aruku's.  

 

 

My favorite as well, for banging into to things, and not getting hung up.  For lift and drop, the Boo-Yah version works well.

 

[craww]

I have yet to find a lure that tops a Yozuri Rattlin Vibe in 5/8 in some version of a baitfish looking color.  One of the few Baits  i’ve used that consistently catches them on a typical horizontal retrieve and vertical.

[LonnieP]

I've tried most other brands but I always go back to the original Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap

[TOXIC]

19 minutes ago, J Francho said:

My favorite as well, for banging into to things, and not getting hung up.  For lift and drop, the Boo-Yah version works well.

 

Ahhhh....the Old Glory color.  Those work great on Florida Bass!!

[J Francho]

They work really well on NY bass as well

[fishballer06]

I'm another Bill Lewis guy myself, but if I'm going with a different brand, I like the Red Eye Shad from Strike King. Especially in the one knocker versions to give myself a different sound. 

[NYWayfarer]

My votes go to:

 

Red Eye Shad

 

Cotton Cordell Super Spot 1/2 oz

 

Berkley Warpig (love the fusion hooks on all the Berkley hardbaits)

[Big Rick]

4 hours ago, J Francho said:

My favorite as well, for banging into to things, and not getting hung up.  For lift and drop, the Boo-Yah version works well.

 

Sigh..... Y'all got me back on the TW website creating a cart..... Thanks, guys....

[Yakalong]

chrome and black

the other color is black and chrome

[Topwaterdude]

Bill Lewis did some serious damage with them this past spring had to buy replacement hooks the fish were beating it up

[J.Vincent]

In no particular order.....Strike King Red Eye Shad, Storm Rockin Shad, Bill Lewis, Cotton Cordell, Sebile Lipless Seeker, Rattling Rapala, LiveTarget and Discontinued Strike King Diamond Shads have all produced. I don’t stick to one brand of Lipless Crankbaits because of how varied their sound and vibrations are, and My Plano Box looks like a smorgasboard of options at an all you can eat buffet ! 

[looking45]

these are the two colors that work for me on the spotted bass here in Ca

[BigShew2]

Variety is the spice of life...or so I've been told.  I have an assortment of Rattlin' Rapala's, along with a few original rat-l-traps, and some RES.  i hope to get to fish them more this fall and spring.

[DSTN]

Tried a handful of different ones but CC Super Spots are my most used because they are $3 at Walmart and they work for me. Gold or chrome most of the time. My PB came on a 1/2 oz red craw Super Spot in mid-January.

[Bluebasser86]

Pretty partial to the Red Eye Shad 2 Tap and the Xcaliber XRK50 (now the Booyah Hard Knocker).

 

Another one that I started messing with last year that I think has a lot of potential is the Storm Arashi Vibe. Doesn't have as an aggressive of vibration or sound, but the fish really seemed to like it. 

[NorcalBassin]

Surprised to see I'm alone in the LV 500 camp...

[Munkin]

Rattle Trap in 1/2oz, Kinami Rad shad and Team Daiwa are my top 3 for steady retrieve. If I plan on yo-yoing the bait the SK red eye shad works best. The RT and Kinami work best on the lower Potomac in spring and I found that any color works as long as it is reflective about 1/2oz. Deep Creek Lake they like the translucent TD baits but that place has 20 FOW visibility so it is a whole different ball game. The high end LC, Yo Zuri Drum, etc, have never caught a thing for me which is disappointing. 

 

Allen