Rattle Traps.....

[BRETT]

This is one lure I do not throw alot....when is a good time to throw one. Thanks.

[gatrboy52]

yr. round.this is an excellent time to throw them.in colder water,dont work it as fast. i yo-yo them and even let it set on the bottom and slightly pop it up every once in awhile.vary retrieve untill bass tells you what they are wanting.

[Luke]

only time i have ever thrown one was in spring i think i have a whopping 2 in the boat maybe 4

[Trapman]

every time you go fishing is the right time to throw one! they work in lots of different conditions

[Kelly Cunningham]

Brett,

Fish one on Grand...It'll get your confidence up. If you don't catch any Black Bass up there, you will catch some Sand Bass and even some Blue Cats on the Trap.

[BRETT]

How are they for smallmouth? Im with ya on this one Luke...I own 3 of the freakin' things

[Trapman]

smallies crush them!!

[dpage70]

Brett, get 3 colors for this spring. chrome/blue back, chrone/blk back, and red craw. Use the craw in a little dirtier water and the other 2 in cleaner water. When everyone else is out on the ledges and points slow rolling spinnerbaits and throwing jerk baits, find an old creek channel and yo-yo it through the channelaround any cover you find(10-15 ft seems to be best around here). If nothing when the water is around 50-55 and sun is bright in the sky hit some flats off the side of channels at the mouths of spawning bays. Try different retrieve's, burn it, yo-yo it, slow roll it bumping bottom. You'll whack some good ones.


Modified by dpage70 at 5:35 PM 2/19/2008

[Trapman]

also if you are around smallies get some Chart. colored ones

[waterfoul]

St. Claire smallies love the Chrome/blue back. In stained water I like the gold or crayfish colors. Also own several of the chartruese/green ones.

[Trapman]

out here in Idaho we don't have shad....gold normally outfishes chrome,at least in my hands

[teelman]

I've caught lots of fish on them. I was skeptical of them for a long time. Always felt like I was rushing it past the fish and they wouldnt hit it. But, one day I watched Jimmy Houston throwing one in the wind and thought I'd do the same next chance I got......never caught many fish on a spinnerbait in the wind, so this was a good alternative. Well, it worked. I've got several of them, some expensive, some not. Seems like I lose the expensive ones after only a few casts . So, I've settled on the Berkley Frenzy. I've caught more fish with it than any of my other trap-type baits combined. A close second would be the spro aruka shad, but like I said, it's expensive and I kept losing them so darn fast. I liked the looks and actions of the rattlin rapala, but the darn paint comes off too easy. I dont like the original rat-l-traps at all. They just dont produce for me. I like the frenzy because of the slightly larger hooks and it seems to weigh a little more for it's size than the others. So, I can flat out launch that thing on the cast. And, if I lose it, big deal, only cost like $3. Mostly, I only use one color and it's a shad pattern. I do throw a red one in the fall and winter. I also have chrome/blue back and chrome/black back.

Like was said before, something in a shad pattern such as chrome/blue or black back, and red are about all you need.....maybe a gold one too, but thats about it.

You can flat out cover some water with those things too. I typically use a steady retrieve with some twitches thrown in periodically. I also yo-yo and kinda hovver it over. Try to have it banging along the bottom or just off the bottom for best results. I think they are a great bait in the winter on rip-rap.

But, this brings up an interesting debate. Everyone says to slow slow slow down in the winter. Well, how in the world does that explain the fact that I catch more bass in the winter on a lipless crankbait than any other time? It's the fastest moving bait I have but I usually catch more fish on it in the winter. I just dont get it, I dont think bass read the magazine and internet forums like I do for their information

[ep72]

Any time is good for a trap. My favorite is spring and fall. Chrome/ blue back, gold/black back, and red craw. Imo one of the best search baits there are.

Love throwing them on the Tn. river when the shad are gettin busted at the surface in the A.M.

[BRETT]

Thanks for all the info. gonna have to give them a try...

[Wheels]

For Texoma: chrone/blk back, and red craw

[gatrboy52]

chad, there are times in really cold water the only way you can get them to hit is a reaction strike.its just the nature of bass SOMETIMES.thats why the lipless cranks are so good in the winter,they intice a reaction from lethargic bass. there are more times than not they wont move 5' for a bait but you can still catch em if you drop it on their head.i have a lipless tied on at all times of the yr.its my second best producer behind plastics.i lean more to the one knockers in the winter,they arent as obtrusive.i believe they get conditioned to the sound they emit and givin em something they dont hear as often can be the difference of gettin bit or not.thats why its important to try different retrieves.

[Rich71691]

Rat-L-Traps are awesome. I don't think you could fish them wrong. I have used them everywhere up here, and they produce, grass,rocks, shallow, deep, timber, where ever you are, and you want to try something new, throw a trap. They are also great for Walleye,catfish, and even big crappie
Rich

[Klinger N Ok]

Have won as much money on that type of bait as any other. Great ANYTIME of the year. Chrome, gold, red craw, and maybe a ghost is all the colors you need. I carry probably 50+ of 'em every day I go fishin- thats how much I believe in 'em!

[Basscat528]

Does anyone have any idea where to find 1/8 oz cotton cordell bleading shad traps?

[Rungunner]

These can be deadly anytime but I would have to say around early spring when there has been a stretch of stable warming weather and the fish are moving up and becoming more active, ripping this bait out of some grass will catch alot of fish and will get you some of the hardest strikes you have ever felt.