Rattle Trap questions

[Tucson]

When trolling Traps I don't know how deep they are running.  I assume you can do a countdown before you start trolling but will it stay at that depth?  I usually troll them at just under 2 mph.  How does trolling speed affect the running depth?

[Aaron_H]

48 minutes ago, Tucson said:

I assume you can do a countdown before you start trolling but will it stay at that depth?

 

On a steady retrieve, it should be maintaining depth.

 

49 minutes ago, Tucson said:

How does trolling speed affect the running depth?

 

A faster retrieve will cause the bait to rise. The angle of your rod tip also impacts the depth. Keeping your tip low will cause the bait to dive deeper, keep it up high if you want to run higher in the water column.

 

Most 1/2 oz lipless cranks will have a fall rate roughly 1 foot/second. It's not a hard measurement but it does help give an idea of how deep you're running.

[Catt]

One more ?

 

Length of line out

I'll make a long cast & leave the spool open letting out additional line while the boat is moving.

[Tucson]

Thanks for the good information.  I'm a little better prepared now.

[scaleface]

I never trolled with a lipless bait because it would be a guessing game on my part as to how deep the lure is . I found a diving bait will troll about twice the depth as its casting diving depth .  Those Bomber Flat A's and Deep Flat A's have a tight lipless type action . They might be an alternative and the depth would be more controllable .

[papajoe222]

I've never trolled lipless cranks, mainly because they would be targeting the upper water column. I prefer medium running cranks that, as mentioned, will run up to two times their casting depth. The other style bait I've used is a blade bait. If I pump the rod after reaching trolling speed, they will drop a foot or so before rising back up. That's when the hits come.  I think the same would hold true for lipless cranks, but I don't think they'd drop down in the water column as quickly.

[Catt]

I've trolled Rat-L-Traps, spinnerbaits, big swimbaits, & a myriad of crankbaits.

 

Rat-L-Traps by nature ain't gonna run that deep which is why you need more line out. The other reason for a lot of line out is to get your lure out of the prop wash.

[Captain Phil]

The Rattle Trap is a great trolling bait here in Florida.  Our lakes are mostly shallow and so are our bass.  On a fast retrieve they run 2-3 feet under the surface.  I doubt you could get one to troll much deeper unless you used a planer or inline weight.   Line size also affects their running depth.   Trolling a Rattle Trap is a great way to find fish.  It's against the rules in most bass tournaments.  When I'm fun fishing, I occasionally troll one in a long idle zone.  In the Everglades canals, trolling a Rattle Trap is dynamite. 

[Tucson]

I didn't know that a crank will run so much deeper trolling than cast/retrieve.  I assume it has to do with the length of line involved.  Surprised to learn that Traps don't run as deep as I thought.

[Dwight Hottle]

45 minutes ago, Tucson said:

I didn't know that a crank will run so much deeper trolling than cast/retrieve.  I assume it has to do with the length of line involved.  Surprised to learn that Traps don't run as deep as I thought.

 

Maximum trolling depth for most diving crank baits is around 240-270 feet out. After 280-300 feet the long line resistance starts to bring them back up. I learned this from trolling with line counters while fishing for walleye. 

 

[Team9nine]

Within the normal range of traditional trolling speeds, speed doesn't have a great affect on depth with most cranks. Lipless baits that sink when stopped are more sensitive, and slower retrieves result in deeper running depths. Trolling charts show that a 1/2 oz Trap runs about 6 ft on the cast, and between 7' to 11' on the troll depending on line diameter (deeper with lighter line).

[Munkin]

Kinami rad shad

Rattle trap

RES

 

Allen 

[Captain Phil]

I pull my 1/2 oz. Rattle Traps with a 7/1 reel and 20 pound big game mono.  I fish a lot of shallow water. My Rattle Traps run about 3-4 feet deep on the retrieve. If I find an area with underwater grass 3-4 feet under the surface, a Rattle Trap will just touch the grass.  I recently switched to 50 pound braid and have seen no difference in running depth.  I do fish a Rattle Trap on the bottom at times.   They run shallow when moving at any speed. 

[roadwarrior]

RES is a "better mouse trap".