rat-l-trap

texasnitro · 12-04-05, 11:36 PM

well guys i just picked up some rapala rattle traps. 1.45 a peice not that bad. for rapala. but i was wondering when was the best time to use these things and how to present them.

Rebbasser · 12-05-05, 12:14 AM

Real versatile bait. You can just chunk and wind it, pump it, burn it, hang it up and rip it loose from weeds-just experiment. There really isn't a wrong way to fish it. One suggestion, though: Sharpen the hooks. Trap stock hooks are nortoriously dull.

lokust · 12-05-05, 12:50 AM

I would just change the hooks out altogether.
-Chris

seaphantom · 12-05-05, 03:38 AM

Fish where the real shad are, below the school.

seaphantom

zooker · 12-05-05, 05:50 AM

definatly change the hooks.

zooker

Rodman_Rob · 12-05-05, 12:41 PM

since nobodies mentioned it, you might wanna change the hooks

bassnman30 · 12-05-05, 01:10 PM

I have one on each time I go out.
As far as origional Rat-l-Traps are concerned, I don't use these any more. I changed over to a higher quality lipless crankbait.

12-05-05, 02:18 PM

Just curious, What makes one lipless vibrating crank "better" than another other than the hooks. I could see maybe differnce in sound or vibration, but would that neccessarily be better or just different.
I use several different brands/styles of lipless vibrating cranks just depending on the conditions, just because they have different attributes. I can't say the Megabass lipless cranks are neccessarily better than my rat-l-traps and rattlin' spots, just different.

bass kicker · 12-05-05, 07:50 PM

i would crank them near stumbs and trees but reel real slow or you will up very much and go with weird colours that you would think wouldnt catch fish

(i caught the most bass on a rattle trap that say rapala in big red letters on the side of it)

Marty · 12-05-05, 08:49 PM

Rattling Rapalas come with VMC hooks, which are much, much better than the hooks that come with the actual Rat-L-Trap brand. You can fish them right out of the package if you'd like, or you can give the points a couple of strokes with a file if that gives you more confidence.

I've used Traps, Rapalas and Spots over the years, and while I'm sure they have different sounds and vibrations, I've never been able to notice any difference among them in their ability to draw strikes.

JB · 12-05-05, 09:10 PM

I still think that cordell spot "rayburn red" will out produce any ratLtrap
For me, I look at color 90% or the time and size 10% of the time, in reference to a post about what to look for in the trap.
Some lakes have huge shad that resemble the 1 ounce size, but most of the time I throw the 1/2 ounce size, crome with black back, or more often the red or rayburn red as mentioned..I replace all my traps with Owner #6,
it is lighter than those crap hooks that come with a Lewis ratLtrap, and I about always crank and let it fall and repeat, verses just burning it all the time across weedbeds...

I've caught the biggest fish on traps using the 1 ounce white with some blue on top and sides, a section of orange and red on the bottom.
The blue on the sides is faint and fades, but must look like a shad to ky bass IMO

pig n jig · 12-06-05, 12:07 AM

The Rapala rattlin rap hooks are fine right out of the package. This happens to be my favorite ratl trap brand of baits. Traps and grass goes together to find the bass. Make sure the bait is ticking in the grass as you retrieve it.Some times it gets hung up or comes back with a clump of grass built up on it, but even though it gets frustrating to use, you will catch some really nice fish on them.Also use the softer action rods when fishing a ratl trap.I use a Medium action rod when fishing them, the bass are less apt to throw the bait or tear off as easily using a softer action rod.I hope this helps you, P N J

zooker · 12-06-05, 07:15 PM

umm jb cordell make 3/8 oz not 1/2 oz i know i like the firetiger suspending spot. and my clear water killer is a strike king diamond shad. in 1/4 oz just wish they made it to look more like a shad.
best retrive i have found -tad shy in weeds- bump and run along the bottom 3/4 throttle..

zooker

Fish On · 12-06-05, 08:10 PM

I have had pretty good success with them in the Delaware river. Any rivers they work good for me with. Or rock bottoms.

Fish2win · 12-06-05, 11:27 PM

I use the rattle Traps, Rattlin Raps,Hot Spots and Sugar Shad. I have found that at times the pitch of the rattle makes a diifference. Each of these baits has a distictive sounds.They also run differnetly due to bouyancy and density. Each makes 2 types of noise one is what we hear and is created by the BB's inside the bait, The other is the vibration that is caused by the movement that causes the bb's to rattle.Different conditions, different noise. The Sugar Shad is much more weighted in the nose so it tends to run deeper. Each is a tool and each has a exact place in the overall scope of fishing. Just like screw drivers come in different bits and lengths so do rattleing baits. Fish2win

Christopherkeene9 · 12-09-05, 11:31 PM

How will they hit these? In there mouths, smack at them, etc. or does no one know like the rest of bass fishing. Gonna throw one tomorrow with all of these cool downs the past week and a half.

Chris

flfireman · 12-10-05, 12:26 AM

Right now is a good time to use them.

abugarcia6 · 12-10-05, 12:22 PM

haha ive never had luck with a rat L trap...i have bought mayb 5 of them....the first one i flung off trying to cast it, the second i got hung in a weed bed, the third one got stuck in a tree, the fourth one...iidk wut happened to it it got hung on sumthin, and then the third one i was walkn on my dock and accidently hit my tackle box and out of all the lures...that one flew in the water!...i guess its not meant for me to have one lol

Fish2win · 12-10-05, 03:58 PM

I have had good days with a rattle Trap when the water temps were as low as 45. I dont know about any colder but at least that cold. Fish2win

flukemaster · 12-10-05, 07:06 PM

Lipless crankbaits can catch fish almost year round. I have caught them in Feb. burning them in shallow water. My favorate way to fish them is by making a long cast and jigging it up hard and letting it fall.

Trick: If you fish clear water. Drill a small hole in the bottom, between the hooks. Don't let any of the rattles fall out. Now stuff a little cotton in the hole. This should baffle the rattle but not silence it. Now fill in the hole with bondo or Gorilla Glue. Sand smooth with fine sand paper.

Fish2win · 12-10-05, 10:06 PM

I have also caught fish in Feb on the rattle trap. What is the water temp in Ga in Feb?.Here it is 45 to 48 degrees. Fish2win

flukemaster · 12-10-05, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish2win

I have also caught fish in Feb on the rattle trap. What is the water temp in Ga in Feb?.Here it is 45 to 48 degrees. Fish2win

About the same.

dodgeguy · 12-10-05, 11:10 PM

MY FAVORITE IS A RATTLIN RAPALA 1/2 OZ. SHAD PATTERN.I CATCH MORE FISH ON THAT BAIT THAN ANY OTHER RATTLETRAP.THAT IS NOT TO SAY I DON'T OWN ANY OTHERS.I SWITCH TO THE OTHERS WHEN MY TRUSTY RATTLIN RAPALA DOESN'T WORK.MY NEXT FAVORITE IS A STIKE KING DIAMOND SHAD IN BABY BASS PATTERN 1/2 OZ.THIRD WOULD BE A BILL LEWIS RATTLE TRAP BLEEDING BAIT IN CHROME/BLUE WITH RED HOOKS.oops,sorry i forgot my caps lock was on!!!

12-04-05, 11:36 PM	#1
texasnitro BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houston texas Posts: 129	rat-l-trap well guys i just picked up some rapala rattle traps. 1.45 a peice not that bad. for rapala. but i was wondering when was the best time to use these things and how to present them.

12-05-05, 12:14 AM	#2
Rebbasser BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 10,141	Real versatile bait. You can just chunk and wind it, pump it, burn it, hang it up and rip it loose from weeds-just experiment. There really isn't a wrong way to fish it. One suggestion, though: Sharpen the hooks. Trap stock hooks are nortoriously dull. __________________ It's happened to the best of them: John 21:3

12-05-05, 12:50 AM	#3
lokust BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 51	I would just change the hooks out altogether. -Chris __________________ That's Absurd, And thats the way I like it! -Tred Barta

12-05-05, 03:38 AM	#4
seaphantom BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 452	Fish where the real shad are, below the school. seaphantom __________________ life is good, bass is good

12-05-05, 05:50 AM	#5
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	definatly change the hooks. zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

12-05-05, 12:41 PM	#6
Rodman_Rob BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ocala, FL. 1/2 hour southwest of Rodman Posts: 1,702	since nobodies mentioned it, you might wanna change the hooks __________________ Lizardsrule may not be able to drive a boat, but he can sure put you on the fish!

12-05-05, 01:10 PM	#7
bassnman30 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Lexington,NC-Worlds best BBQ. Posts: 1,945	I have one on each time I go out. As far as origional Rat-l-Traps are concerned, I don't use these any more. I changed over to a higher quality lipless crankbait. __________________ Lexington,NC.

12-05-05, 02:18 PM	#8
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	Just curious, What makes one lipless vibrating crank "better" than another other than the hooks. I could see maybe differnce in sound or vibration, but would that neccessarily be better or just different. I use several different brands/styles of lipless vibrating cranks just depending on the conditions, just because they have different attributes. I can't say the Megabass lipless cranks are neccessarily better than my rat-l-traps and rattlin' spots, just different.

12-05-05, 07:50 PM	#9
bass kicker BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Beamsville,ONTARIO,CANADA Posts: 2,023	i would crank them near stumbs and trees but reel real slow or you will up very much and go with weird colours that you would think wouldnt catch fish (i caught the most bass on a rattle trap that say rapala in big red letters on the side of it) __________________ Rob Downs St. Catharines BASSMASTERS

12-05-05, 08:49 PM	#10
Marty BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 1,580	Rattling Rapalas come with VMC hooks, which are much, much better than the hooks that come with the actual Rat-L-Trap brand. You can fish them right out of the package if you'd like, or you can give the points a couple of strokes with a file if that gives you more confidence. I've used Traps, Rapalas and Spots over the years, and while I'm sure they have different sounds and vibrations, I've never been able to notice any difference among them in their ability to draw strikes. __________________ Meeting expenses is easy...they're EVERYWHERE The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits Rochester, NY

12-05-05, 09:10 PM	#11
JB BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,655	I still think that cordell spot "rayburn red" will out produce any ratLtrap For me, I look at color 90% or the time and size 10% of the time, in reference to a post about what to look for in the trap. Some lakes have huge shad that resemble the 1 ounce size, but most of the time I throw the 1/2 ounce size, crome with black back, or more often the red or rayburn red as mentioned..I replace all my traps with Owner #6, it is lighter than those crap hooks that come with a Lewis ratLtrap, and I about always crank and let it fall and repeat, verses just burning it all the time across weedbeds... I've caught the biggest fish on traps using the 1 ounce white with some blue on top and sides, a section of orange and red on the bottom. The blue on the sides is faint and fades, but must look like a shad to ky bass IMO

12-06-05, 12:07 AM	#12
pig n jig BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Avoca, NY Posts: 3,508	The Rapala rattlin rap hooks are fine right out of the package. This happens to be my favorite ratl trap brand of baits. Traps and grass goes together to find the bass. Make sure the bait is ticking in the grass as you retrieve it.Some times it gets hung up or comes back with a clump of grass built up on it, but even though it gets frustrating to use, you will catch some really nice fish on them.Also use the softer action rods when fishing a ratl trap.I use a Medium action rod when fishing them, the bass are less apt to throw the bait or tear off as easily using a softer action rod.I hope this helps you, P N J

12-06-05, 07:15 PM	#13
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	umm jb cordell make 3/8 oz not 1/2 oz i know i like the firetiger suspending spot. and my clear water killer is a strike king diamond shad. in 1/4 oz just wish they made it to look more like a shad. best retrive i have found -tad shy in weeds- bump and run along the bottom 3/4 throttle.. zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

12-06-05, 08:10 PM	#14
Fish On BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hauppauge, NY Posts: 368	I have had pretty good success with them in the Delaware river. Any rivers they work good for me with. Or rock bottoms. __________________ David Scott

12-06-05, 11:27 PM	#15
Fish2win BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Norris Tennessee Posts: 469	I use the rattle Traps, Rattlin Raps,Hot Spots and Sugar Shad. I have found that at times the pitch of the rattle makes a diifference. Each of these baits has a distictive sounds.They also run differnetly due to bouyancy and density. Each makes 2 types of noise one is what we hear and is created by the BB's inside the bait, The other is the vibration that is caused by the movement that causes the bb's to rattle.Different conditions, different noise. The Sugar Shad is much more weighted in the nose so it tends to run deeper. Each is a tool and each has a exact place in the overall scope of fishing. Just like screw drivers come in different bits and lengths so do rattleing baits. Fish2win __________________ Norris Tennessee set the hook! They dont have hands.

12-09-05, 11:31 PM	#16
Christopherkeene9 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oviedo, Fla Posts: 2,270	How will they hit these? In there mouths, smack at them, etc. or does no one know like the rest of bass fishing. Gonna throw one tomorrow with all of these cool downs the past week and a half. Chris

12-10-05, 12:26 AM	#17
flfireman BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Palm Bay, Fl Posts: 2,751	Right now is a good time to use them. __________________ In the Lord all things are possible.

12-10-05, 12:22 PM	#18
abugarcia6 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lake Norman, NC Posts: 171	haha ive never had luck with a rat L trap...i have bought mayb 5 of them....the first one i flung off trying to cast it, the second i got hung in a weed bed, the third one got stuck in a tree, the fourth one...iidk wut happened to it it got hung on sumthin, and then the third one i was walkn on my dock and accidently hit my tackle box and out of all the lures...that one flew in the water!...i guess its not meant for me to have one lol __________________ Wes

12-10-05, 03:58 PM	#19
Fish2win BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Norris Tennessee Posts: 469	I have had good days with a rattle Trap when the water temps were as low as 45. I dont know about any colder but at least that cold. Fish2win __________________ Norris Tennessee set the hook! They dont have hands.

12-10-05, 07:06 PM	#20
flukemaster BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Evans, Ga Posts: 8	Lipless crankbaits can catch fish almost year round. I have caught them in Feb. burning them in shallow water. My favorate way to fish them is by making a long cast and jigging it up hard and letting it fall. Trick: If you fish clear water. Drill a small hole in the bottom, between the hooks. Don't let any of the rattles fall out. Now stuff a little cotton in the hole. This should baffle the rattle but not silence it. Now fill in the hole with bondo or Gorilla Glue. Sand smooth with fine sand paper. __________________ For the love of it!

12-10-05, 10:06 PM	#21
Fish2win BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Norris Tennessee Posts: 469	I have also caught fish in Feb on the rattle trap. What is the water temp in Ga in Feb?.Here it is 45 to 48 degrees. Fish2win __________________ Norris Tennessee set the hook! They dont have hands.

12-10-05, 11:10 PM	#23
dodgeguy BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: poughkeepsie,n.y. Posts: 930	MY FAVORITE IS A RATTLIN RAPALA 1/2 OZ. SHAD PATTERN.I CATCH MORE FISH ON THAT BAIT THAN ANY OTHER RATTLETRAP.THAT IS NOT TO SAY I DON'T OWN ANY OTHERS.I SWITCH TO THE OTHERS WHEN MY TRUSTY RATTLIN RAPALA DOESN'T WORK.MY NEXT FAVORITE IS A STIKE KING DIAMOND SHAD IN BABY BASS PATTERN 1/2 OZ.THIRD WOULD BE A BILL LEWIS RATTLE TRAP BLEEDING BAIT IN CHROME/BLUE WITH RED HOOKS.oops,sorry i forgot my caps lock was on!!! __________________ chrysler master tech,avid fisherman and i bleed red,white and blue!!!!

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