Fishing - Ratle Trap

Best way to fish them?

Steady, fast retrieve.... erratic retrieve... slow retrieve.... ripping
along the top or dredging the depths... yo-yo retrieve.... dragging along
the bottom like a jig... vertical jigging... open water... along riprap
banks... over and through vegetation... bouncing off standing timber and
lay-downs.... all these are the best way to fish them, in different
circumstances. They are a very versatile bait, intended to be used in many
ways.

Clear water is just one of the variables in picking pattern, finish, size,
floating or sinking. Other things to consider are where the fish are, their
behavior, time of day or night, season of the year, temperature, weather
(more specifically, amount of light hitting and penetrating the water,
abundance and type of forage, history and confidence colors.

Too many variables, too many choices to really nail down a best retrieve,
color, or size, but if I had to pick just one Rat'L Trap it would be a
1/2-oz chrome/blue back. The Lake Fork Special and Chrome/Blue Scale/Orange
Belly are close behind.

If you're looking for a lipless crankbait, though, I would suggest you also
consider a Rapala Rattlin' Rap in the 3/8-oz size. For me, it's been a
higher percentage lure.

Either bait can be made unique by clipping on a #2 willowleaf Secret Weapon
blade attachment to the eye or split ring holding the front treble hook. The
Rattlin' Rap's concave belly accommodates this belly-spin rig very nicely.
The extra flash and vibration attracts more hits and the blade attachment
rarely fouls up the front treble hook. Thanks to Justin Hires for this
suggestion. I'd been attaching a small Colorado blade attachment between the
lure and the rear treble hook on lipless crankbaits, but the tail-spin
configuration dampens the bait's action and decreases the rattle. The
belly-spin configuration doesn't detract from the lure's action at all. See
http://secretweaponlures.com/swtip11.htm for photos.

Joe
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"BIG FISH 2006" wrote in message
...
I hear that rattle traps in the fall work well, I've tried them over the
years and had no such luck, what's the best way to fish them? also what
colors and size are best for clear water.

matthew 4:19
follow me and I will make you fishers of men.