Question about rattle trap type baits

[Chris519]

Hi guys,

I have about a dozen rattle trap type baits. Most of them are a few years old. They are more of the diamond shaped type. I noticed that a lot of the new ones are shaped slighly different. Is there any significant differences or advantages to the newer type shape?

Thanks!

[PurpleFloyd]

Only to the company if it gets you to buy more of them.

[RK]

Hiya -

Good answer PF...heh.

Really, they all work - or all don't - depending on the situation. I like some of the new ones like Red Eye Shads a lot, but I still catch fish on good old Rattle Traps and Rattlin' Raps, and would probably still be catching them on Water Gators if I hadn't lost my last one to a pike the summer before last. Shape makes them fall different and fish a little different so I'm not saying there's no difference - there is. But it's not a new is better by definition deal at all.

[Raider4ever]

+1

[slipperybob]

Some of them have lots of vibration feedback, some of them requires fast retrieve speed to vibrate. Some have faster vibration, some have slower wider vibration. Some when jigged falls straight and true, others will plane on it's side.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I like the suspending ones for spring fishing.

[shiltsy]

I probably do better on my old, dingy, beat-up, silver Ratl-Trap than the new ones with fancy paint jobs.... probably just a confidence thing. They are one of my fav lures!

[RK]

I probably do better on my old, dingy, beat-up, silver Ratl-Trap than the new ones with fancy paint jobs.... probably just a confidence thing. They are one of my fav lures!

I would bet they sound different. After a while the balls inside them wear off the inside of the lure and all the plastic powder deadens the sound a little bit - or changes it anyhow. Shake a new one and then an old worn one. I bet they sound different. I think that's why my old water gators were so good. They were about worn through I bet.

[Jig Master]

If you like to fish them fast, or in a little deeper water get some yo-zuri rattlin' vibes in any of the metallic colors and Xcalibur Xr 50's in Rayburn red for spring. These baits thump a lot more than the original rattle trap and often catch more fish, especially when they are active. If you are fishing really shallow water try a cotton cordell super spot, you can chuck one into about 8 inches of water and with heavy mono to help float the bait, you can fish super-shallow flats effectively. Oh, and stay away from the one knockers, the general consensus is that traditional rattles outproduce them in the majority of situations.

[Superduty]

I like the suspending ones for spring fishing.

I like the idea! Who makes a suspending lipless crank? I havn't seen them. I like trying different brands on any given day to see if the fish have a preference. They all have a unique sound and vibration.

What's everybody's take on keeping fish hooked on lipless cranks? I've always wanted to put a swivel on the trebels. I think it would take away the leverage a fish can get when the bait twists and turns. Never tried it though.

[RK]

What's everybody's take on keeping fish hooked on lipless cranks? I've always wanted to put a swivel on the trebels. I think it would take away the leverage a fish can get when the bait twists and turns. Never tried it though.

Change the hooks. I go up a size, and switch to 1x heavy short shank hooks. The ones I've used in the past are Mustad 35657BR, which is a round bend. Will have the new Mustad KVD Triple Grips hooks on mine this year...if I can find someplace that has them in stock. Have been told oval split rings help too, but never tried it.

Glass rod helps a lot too though, quite frankly.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Cecil]

I saw them at Cabelas and Capras. I love oval rings, just hard to replace all of them ya know