Strike King Red Eye Shad vs Bill Lewis Rat-L Trap

[Jonny15678]

Which one do you think is better and why?

[Revival]

They are both are good in their own way.  Personally I prefer the RES for yo-yoing.  It has a better shimmy on the fall.

 

The Rat L Traps come with better stock hooks.  With the RES, the stock hooks are horrible, and I always change them out to Mustad Triple Grips.  The Rat L Trap already comes with the Mustads.

[volzfan59]

I agree with most everything that @Revival had to say. Rat L Traps used to come with terrible hooks, but they've been improved. The RES hooks aren't absolute junk, but they will need to be replaced with quality hooks fairly soon.

[Bluebasser86]

I prefer the RES, the 2 tap specifically. There's lots of good lipless baits on the market anymore though. 

[Catt]

Since my personal best came on a Rat-L-Trap, guess I'll go with Bill Lewis.

[scaleface]

I dont throw them a whole lot but  when I do its usually the lift and drop method on points where the RES excels .

[bowhunter63]

Rapala Ratllin Rap in there bluegill color . Love that bait

[roadwarrior]

9 hours ago, Revival said:

Personally I prefer the RES for yo-yoing.  It has a better shimmy on the fall.

 

I don't fish a Rat-L-Trap anymore.

[BayouSlide]

Have sort of a prejudice against the Strike King Red Eye Shad because I have a couple that swelled and distorted due to heat.

 

Have caught fish on the Rat-L-Trap but admit lately I've been experimented with Yo-Zuri Rattlin' Vibe and 6th Sense versions due to my unrelenting crankbait addition ?

[FrnkNsteen]

I don't use them much. Probably should try them more!!

 

I have Rattle Traps, Red Eye Shad, and Rattlin Raps in my box. Probably caught more on a chrome Rattle Trap with blue or black back than any of the others.

 

Reason?.... None really other than the Rattle Traps were the first ones I had and kind of grab them by default

[Deleted account]

I wouldn't consider one better than the other. They are both ok, and both catch fish, but I like others better most times. 

[Cgolf]

I lean towards the RES because it seems to run a lot deeper than a trap when fishing the 10-12 foot weedlines. For some reason the traps run higher in the water column than the RES. Shallow I have been using other brands so I guess the trap has fallen out of favor in my boat. 

[Smells like fish]

Here’s an option for you. Do you like the red EYE Shad or the red EYED Shad best? 
 

2015 Strike King changed their name in blue on their products to red. This was a result of the company changing their line ups or place of manufacture. 
 

2016 saw the name change of red eye to red eyed and the white butuyrane plastic bodies changed to a clear healthier plastic. Also the introduction of the 2 tap model. 

Some fishermen claim the earlier plastic makes a difference 

 

[LrgmouthShad]

3 hours ago, Deleted account said:

I wouldn't consider one better than the other. They are both ok, and both catch fish, but I like others better most times. 

What ones you like?

[TnRiver46]

Lewis by a landslide for me 

 

also the favorite lure of pro mark daniels jr

[scaleface]

I did not get on a lipless bite at all this year . Bass fishing is funny like that . But three out of the four previous years my largest bass for that year came by hopping a RES off the bottom out on points .

[Captain Phil]

Both are good baits.  The Rattle Trap runs shallower and the bright chrome finish attracts more bass in murky water.   There can be differences between two seemingly identical baits.  I believe it's due to the internal beads becoming trapped inside hollow baits.  If you rattle each one, you can notice the difference in the sound they make.  If you find one that consistently catches fish, keep it.   I have some with all the finish wore off and they still catch bass. When I was fishing tournaments, I kept a stash of "special" Traps that I only used when fishing for money.

 

[casts_by_fly]

5 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I did not get on a lipless bite at all this year . Bass fishing is funny like that . But three out of the four previous years my largest bass for that year came by hopping a RES off the bottom out on points .

 

My first bass of the year and PB smallie came this year to the same.  RES on a point/dropoff and yo-yo style.  40 degree water and a 4-03/20" smallmouth.

 

I really should fish a lipless more than I do.  Growing up we fished Traps in the ponds from ice out until the vegetation prevented it and we hammered a lot of bass.  Anytime I'm fishing a pond in the spring I still throw one.  In the boat though, i seem to gravitate to lipped crankbaits more.  I should definitely be bouncing a lipless down a point pre-spawn, but can't help throwing a chatterbait or other lipped crankbait instead.

[NorthernBasser]

I'm not sure I have a favorite lipless. Like others have said there's many great ones out there. Some are better than others for different situations.

 

One that has quickly become one of my favorites is the 13 Fishing Magic Man (1/2 oz multi-pitch version specifically). And they also come with Triple Grips. This is my favorite color. It works great in clear and stained water. 

 

[TOXIC]

Well, a LOT  of lure makers jumped on the lipless bandwagon over the years.  If you like a specific manufacturer then it gives you another option in their lineup and you are more apt to try it.  Remember, it’s all about sales.  There are subtle differences in brands and actions and colors.  I have a very large collection of SPRO Aruku Shads that I like because of their nose down attitude which makes them less shaggy, their color options and the over all quality of the bait.  That being said, there’s an original Bill Lewis Rattletrap that just shines on the Potomac river and I have quite a few of those in my rotation.  

[Dwight Hottle]

I caught my PB on a RES two tap so that is my favorite. I replace all stock hooks on lipless baits for trophy fishing. I do carry several other brands including Rattle Traps the original & the tungsten weighted model. I also like the SPRO aruku shads for their nose down attitude and the Duo Realis G-Fix with tungsten for a small size bait that weighs 3/4 oz great for both horizontal retrieves & vertical jigging. 

[LrgmouthShad]

I’m just sayin… I don’t like hardbaits as much anymore and I very much dislike treble hooks but when long-time, expert fishermen like @Catt and @Dwight Hottle both have their PBs off of lipless even withstanding how much Catt talks about Texas rigs and jigs and Mr. Hottle’s success with jerkbaits… yeah that just says something to me. I’m gonna keep trying to catch fish on lipless

[roadwarrior]

It's very surprising to me that those gentlemen caught their PBs on lipless lures.

That's a HUGE endorsement as far as I am concerned! 

 

                                              

[crypt]

Traps then Rattlin Shad by Rapala.......

[The Bassman]

I've cycled in and out of favorite techniques but the past few months a Booyah one knocker has pretty much been my go to. Tomorrow looks like a good opportunity at a big one and I'll be throwing the lipless or possibly a jerkbait. This battle scarred Bling One Knocker could tell some stories.