Sometimes the best lure for catching a bass, striper or walleye, isn’t the latest brand new hi-tech product but rather an old offering that has proven its worth over many generations of fishermen. One such lure is the Rat-L-Trap. Today, we’ll take a look at why that lure is still so productive after over half a century on the market.
Anglers have long known the importance of shad in the diet of gamefish such as bass and stripers. But for a long time nothing on the lure market had quite captured the exact shape and sound of a shad and duplicated its tight swimming action. Bill Lewis changed all that when he built the first modern lipless crankbait in a small shop in Boyce, Louisiana, in the late 1960s.
With its shimmying, tight wiggle and built-in rattle chamber that created noise and chatter, the lure was an instant success as a fish-catcher. A bomber pilot during World War II, Lewis hit the road to market his new invention, selling them out of the trunk of his car during the 1960s and 70s. Marinas on Toledo Bend and several other east Texas lakes proved fertile testing grounds. In short order, the lure became one of the hottest on the bass fishing scene.
As they were transplanted to more and more waters, freshwater stripers also became another prime target for the Rat-L-Trap. Soon, inshore saltwater anglers were throwing the “Trap” as well and scoring terrific catches on redfish, trout, bluefish, and other species. But bass were and always will be the main quarry lipless crankbaits or “vibrators” are thrown at.
After he outgrew his original facility, Lewis moved the plant to nearby Alexandria, Louisiana, where the lures are still built by hand today. There have been few changes, other than upgrading the components of the offering.
As testimony to the effectiveness of the Rat-L-Trap, virtually all large lure manufacturers make their version of the lipless crankbait. Many are superb fish-catchers, but the original is still preferred by countless casual fishermen and pros alike. And the idea of a rattle inside the lure has spread to other types of artificials, including topwater plugs, jigs, fat crankbaits, spinnerbaits and even worms.
Fishing strategies
Rat-L-Traps are great for searching for fish and exploring new waters. The reason is that they work well when retrieved fast, allowing you to cover ground quickly. Probe flats, points, grassy shoreline edges, coves, fallen logs, vegetation, offshore humps, and riprap along roads and bridges. Cast out and crank the lure back anywhere from moderate to fast, with no pauses.
When fishing in deep water try a different approach. Cast out and watch for strikes on the drop. Set the hook at the slightest sideways movement of the line or “tap.” When the lure hits bottom, reel a few feet and then pause. Reel again and then pause.
For suspended fish, vertical jigging with these lures is productive. Lower the offering to the structure or where you’ve located fish on the depth finder, then raise it up and lower it back down in 12-36 inch movements of the rod. Watch for strikes as the lure flutters back down on the drop.
When you’re targeting fish surfacing on top, cast out and reel the lure steadily just below the surface. And hold on tight! Strikes on the Rat-L-Trap can rip the rod right out of your hand.
No one would suggest throwing Rat-L-Traps every day on the water. But a selection of these proven lures dating back half a century should be in every angler’s tackle box.
October 06, 2020 at 11:00AM
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Gerald Almy: After 50 years, the Rat-L-Trap still catches fish - Northern Virginia Daily
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