Rat-L-Traps

[rondef]

The last two weeks have been the best fishing I have experienced since I began Bass fishing earlier this year.  I started on Fathers Day when my son bought me a new rod and reel for a gift.  I have caught some nice hogs by fishing just Rat-L-Traps.  I have caught 4 (2lb), 1 (2.5lb), 2 (3lb), 1 (3.5lb), 1 (5.25lb), 1 (5.5lb) and a buch of 1lb LMBs.  Has anyone else had success with Rat-L-Traps?  If so what is the largest LMB you have caught using them?  I have been throwing the half ounce ones.

[mpharris1989]

well havn't been fishing in a few weeks  :'( but i usually use chrome ones...and what's the color to your success?????

[Marty]

Has anyone else had success with Rat-L-Traps?  If so what is the largest LMB you have caught using them?

Millions have had success with it, as it's been one of the best-selling lures in America for many years. My best on that particular lure has been a four-pounder.

It's also done well fishing from Lake Ontario piers in the spring for trout and salmon.

[HookMaster]

I've tried using Lipless baits for awhile and never had any luck untill I purchased this XCalibu Xr50 in RAYBURN RED.  So far i have only caught one bass with it but it worked.  I'm still trying to figure out what colors to use in certain waters.  I fish in a small lake that is stained most of the time and the rayburn red worked.  I plan buying another one in Gold/Black for those overcast days.  They are a bit pricey but worth it.  

[fishfordollars]

I personally have two plastic boxes in my boat with over 100 traps. Best bass to date 9.4 . That's not counting the Lucky Craft lipless crankbaits I have also. Heck yea they catch fish. There will probably be 500-600 7lb.+ bass caught on Rayburn and Toledo Bend from now until next Mayon them. Maybe a thousand. You guys not catching fish on them are fishing in the wrong water. If there is a fish in the water he will eat a trap. There has been a gazillion dollars won on a trap.

[cart7t]

The largest fish I ever had on (didn't get to the boat) approx 9-10lbs was caught on a Chart/Black back Rat-L-trap.  

Try getting a couple of the floating traps in a Chart/black and the silver/blue back.  You can toss those right up on the bank and run them right along cover or across grass growing under the surface.  They run real shallow.

[rondef]

I have had luck with many different colors. The two 5lb + were caught on a (BPS shad rat-l-traps)silver/black and a blue/silver. The 3.5lb was caught on a bluegill color rat-l-trap. I love these lures and only wished I had tried them earlier in the season. They are definitely my go to lure and I now have about 10 different rat-l-traps since they have been so productive. I am always looking for new ones with different colors.

[Tin]

This year was the year of the rat-l-trap for me. I used them more than ever before and they never let me down. Whenenver you need to get fish in the boat they are a great way to cover water and get a few reaction bites. I caught a lot of quality 2-4 pound fish on them this year, and a bunch over 4, my PB LM on them this year was 5.4 in April with 42 degree water teps and two weeks later in a tourney I caught a 3.57 Smallie on them.  Chrome with the black or blue back are the two I go with.

[Catt]

My personal best was caught on Toledo Bend 02/07 on a Bill Lewis ½ oz Rat-L-Trap Red Chrome it tipped the scales at 12.8 lbs

[roadwarrior]

My personal best was caught on Toledo Bend 02/07 on a Bill Lewis ½ oz Rat-L-Trap Red Chrome it tipped the scales at 12.8 lbs

For most of us "old farts" the Rat-L-Trap or other brands of this basic lure are and have always been, one of our most productive lures. I still fish some Traps, but I have a preference for the Yo-Zuri RatlN' Vibe and the LC LV300/ Max500. Personally, I have not caught a lot of monsters on these lures, but I've had days catching boatloads of 3-5lb bass on consecutive casts!

This is an easy lure to fish and should be included in everyone's "must have" collection.

[Matt Fly]

No brainer baits, tie on and chunk em!!!!

I like the firetiger and orangish/red traps till spring.

I have numerous bass up to 8 lbs on traps.

I do like the Yozuri' Vibes also.

[Davis]

What size hooks are on these badboys.

I have the firetiger trap and a chrome/blueback trap. Didn't use them at all this year though.

Still in my tacklebox from when I used them as a teenager. Going to change the hooks out so I was just curious. I think the front maybe a #4 and the back a #6. Not sure though.

[fishfordollars]

#4 & # 6 hooks will be fine on the 1/2 trap. You might want to try a short shank #4 if you have a problem tangling the hooks on a cast. I use Mustad triple grip on most of mine.

[MALTESE FALCON]

For whatever reason, I haven't had alot of success with the Rat-l-Trap. However, the Rattlin Rapala has put a ton of fish in my boat.

My biggest on a lipless crankbait is a 6-1 smallie.

Falcon

[SimonSays]

I've always been hesitant about tossing these, I just don't understand how a crank without the lip keeps from getting hung up on everything.

After fishing in nova with a couple of BR guys and watching them haul in some nice bass on a Rat-L-trap I decided to pick one up...got it caught on something my second cast =(

I'll keep giving these guys a shot but at 3 dollars a pop it's kinda expensive =(

[rondef]

Most of the time when they get caught up on something I have been able to give the line a couple of tugs in the opposite direction and the lure frees up. I have only lost one or two rat-l-traps in the last couple of months and I throw them a lot.  The reward has also been well worth it in the quality and quantity of my catch.

[FivePoundBluegill]

I have not caught any monsters on rattle trap type baits but I have caught many 2-4 LB bass with them. Great baits.

[bocabasser]

I've always been hesitant about tossing these, I just don't understand how a crank without the lip keeps from getting hung up on everything.

After fishing in nova with a couple of BR guys and watching them haul in some nice bass on a Rat-L-trap I decided to pick one up...got it caught on something my second cast =(

I'll keep giving these guys a shot but at 3 dollars a pop it's kinda expensive =(

traps are one of the cheapest lipless cranks on the market. i too like the rattlin vibe much better.

[Terry_]

  Traps are great. I have a 6ft 8in allstar rod with a ABU Revo that no other lure, other than a lipless crank, will ever hang from. The Yo-Zuris and Diawas are really good, but I've grown attached to Strike King's Red Eye Shad. Great bait, great price!

[Catt]

When: early pre-spawn

Where: main lake points 10-15' of water

Technique: reel keeping the trap a couple of feet below the surface and bounce it off wood.

When: pre-spawn

Where: feeder creek channels 10-15' of water

Technique: make a long cast, let the trap free fall to the count of 10, kneel on the deck, sticking 1 ½ to 2' of your rod tip in the water and slowly reel.

When: slightly before spawn

Where: feeding/spawning flats 3 to 5' of water

Technique: slow roll like you would spinner baits

When: post spawn

Technique: reverse the first three  

[Stringjam]

Big fan of lipless cranks here.  

Of all the high production lipless baits, my favorite is still the Cordell Super Spot.  I also have a lot of high-end baits, but the Spots hang......there are a few others that do certain things better, but for an all-around it is hard to beat.

A lot of it boils down to personal preference and what works for you......some of the most popular baits (like the Yo-Zuri Rattlin' Vibe, XCaliburs, and Rapala Vibe) are my least favorite out of all the ones I own - - but for a lot of people, they do the job.   I tend to prefer baits that maintain their action at very slow speeds, and most of the teardrop shaped vibes require more speed to get them to work, and the Rapala has almost no action unless you get move it right along.    

[Bankbeater]

I have about 20 rat-l-traps and around 9 super spots, mostly in natural colors.  The largest I have ever caught on them was in the 3 pound range.

[senko_77]

The Rat-L-Trap is definately one of my top producing lures.  I always have them tied on.  

They're the perfect search bait and they catch just as many big fish as little.  I had a tournament last July that I won by only throwing a 1/2oz Rat-L-Trap in the Diamond Dust pattern.  My limit was anchored by a 8.19lb pig which is my biggest lipless crankbait fish to date.  

Congrats on all the success with the new bait and new rod and reel.  It's sweet to catch a bunch of fish on a new setup isn't it!

[rondef]

Thanks senko77,

Heck yeah, I am having the best time fishing even though it is in the 30's & 40's outside. The hogs are still hitting the crankbaits. I am going out a few more times this week in search of my trophy LMB (either 8 lbs or 22 in). It would be sweet to get one by the end of December. I feel pretty good about my chances since I have really just started pulling in the hogs over the last couple of weeks. I have just increased my rat-l-trap collection to 15. I always buy more when I see ones that look like they will help me land the trophy. The wife hates the fact that the bait monkey is always in my wallet, but hey I am having a good time fishing.

[HookMaster]

My wife hates the bait monkey too!  she hates fishing period... why? :'(