why do some people............

[kms399]

just another probably stupid question. I read all the time were guys say they throw a rattle trap or something fast to catch all the aggressive fish then something like a carolina rig to slow down and try to catch the bigger less aggressive fish. why not just start with the carolina rig in the first place. that way you would have a shot at the non aggressive and aggressive at the same time.

I got cabin fever BIG TIME!

[The Next KVD]

Most people use the power fishing baits such as rattletraps, cranks, and spinnerbaits first because they are actually searching for fish.  Once they've caught a few aggressive fish in a short stretch, they know that there is fish in that particular area for a reason, so in order to catch bigger fish they'll slow down and fish the area slower looking for that spot on the spot that'll attract the bigger fish.

Hope this helps.

[zbass]

Most people use the power fishing baits such as rattletraps, cranks, and spinnerbaits first because they are actually searching for fish. Once they've caught a few aggressive fish in a short stretch, they know that there is fish in that particular area for a reason, so in order to catch bigger fish they'll slow down and fish the area slower looking for that spot on the spot that'll attract the bigger fish.

Hope this helps.

Bingo!

[roadwarrior]

Another story I've heard, but can't verify, is that Rat-L-Traps

attract fish to an area. Supposedly, the vibration and sound

extends well beyond the range of sight and will stimulate curious

bass to check things out. Anyone else heard this?

8-)

[J Francho]

There was a sidebar in In-Fisherman a few months back that detailed "agitation" baits.  There is a man (can't remember his name, though he's been published before) that is throwing HUGE, gaudy deep cranks, hookless, in shallow water to "stir up" action.  He also has gigantic spinnerbaits, one of those Musky size Rat'l Traps, and a few others.  

If fishing is slow on a main point, and he feels fish are there, but inactive, then he'll start throwing these agitation baits.  He feels it does a few things, like stirs up detritus, which stirs up tiny critters, which stirs up baitfish, and well, you get the picture.  

By alternating different agitation baits (sort of like "junk agitation") the fish don't become conditioned.  If he gets bit, he stops for 15 to 30 minutes, and then starts fishing with traditional bass baits.

He got the idea from walleye fishermen dragging chains in the depths to stir up activity.  I'm not sure if the same thing isn't going on when you're junk fishing, or if there is something to the stirring up the bottom, followed by a baitfish pattern lure.  I do have some minor personal experience with something similar.

In my own experience, Fishing deep structure on Lake Ontario for smallies, sometimes wind and waves would push the boat, dragging the anchor, and I found that by repositioning back at the beginning, we'd often have a flurry of bites.  it was always short lived though.

[Catt]

In 1958 Elwood Buck Perry introduced the world to structure fishing; his technique for finding productive structure was trolling with spoonplugs (crank baits). Trolling with crank baits was so productive that it was banned from early tournament angling and is still banned today. Not having the time required during early tournaments to locate productive structure tournament angles simple started covering as much water as possible with fast moving (search) baits. This lead to the moniker Run & Gun which is still practiced today by many inexperienced anglers who believe this is what the Pros are doing which couldn't be farther from the truth.

Today's Pros with the help of modern electronics know where the productive structure is located and fish it quickly with search (reaction) baits in hopes of boating a limit as fast as possible; with five in the live well the Pros then look for kicker fish. Some Pros on the other hand swing for the fences opting to target kicker fish first hoping to catch limit of hawgs instead of just a limit.

[senko_77]

RW, I believe that too.  I think that a lipless crankbait will draw fish in with it sound, kinda like how the swimbait guys in California move fish around a point to get a perfect angle.

KMS - Just another thing to think about, a lot of times you can use the lipless crankbait to catch inactive fish.  It's an excellent reaction bait and if you put it in front of a big girl and give it a pop, they will hit the bait 9 times out of 10.  I was out fishing yesterday and the fish wouldn't hit anything, including a c-rig.  I pulled out the trap and started ripping it through shallow areas where I though the females would be sitting before they spawn, and everytime I would hit a clump of grass or wood, I would rip it, and a big fish would load up.  

So basically, don't just think it catches actively feeding fish, because if you use the right retrieve, it will catch fish in a negative feeding mood that even a worm might not catch.  ;D

[Stringjam]

So basically, don't just think it catches actively feeding fish, because if you use the right retrieve, it will catch fish in a negative feeding mood that even a worm might not catch. ;D

There's truth here.  

There are a lot of times around here (especially post spawn) when burning in a deep crank will bust big strings.  Sometimes these fish won't even sniff a jig or C-Rig....but burn a big crank in front of them as fast as you can, and they inhale it.  

[slomoe]

There have been times when I've arrived to a spot that was relatively calm, then I started throwing a rattle trap and I started to see baitfish getting chased in the area. Didn't help me catch anything but I think its an interesting concept.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Zel (member here) has said that the sound emitted by a rattle trap and the sounds made by the Biosonix machine are amazing similar.

Maybe it brings fish in, turns inactive fish on or a little of both.

For a lure to have stood the test of time like it has, there has to be a little "magic" to it.