any tips on rattle traps lures. i got an xcaliubur rattle traps. only used it a few times. never caught a fish on it. when do i use them, what time of the year do they work?
ive been watching in-fishermen ice fishing show and they use them for waleye and lake trout in the winter verticle jigging.
ive been watching in-fishermen ice fishing show and they use them for waleye and lake trout in the winter verticle jigging.
Its a very versatile lure. Lets go through the life of the lure in a random given year.
Spring: New England - April: I've had really good luck at 48F over emergent vegetation when the bass are on the feed. Shallow water thus no other option and if windy, great opition. Straight retrieve or pump back to boat. Look at AL bassmaster classic info for line weights, etc. When fish are chasing bait or you need/can get them to react, great bait.
During the middle of the summer, not that great unless conditions are right. Example, I lived next to Spy Pond in Arlington. Midsummer they add chemicals which knock down weeds which i was planning to punch. I tie on rattletrap and throw over laid down weed beds (chemicals didnt kill but did suppress weeds). Two over 3lbs on numerous trips. Over the next two weeks, each trip produced around 15 fish (per 4 hours) with 2-3 3 lbers. Late fall, reduced water temps can be another good time. PM for more details.
Spring: New England - April: I've had really good luck at 48F over emergent vegetation when the bass are on the feed. Shallow water thus no other option and if windy, great opition. Straight retrieve or pump back to boat. Look at AL bassmaster classic info for line weights, etc. When fish are chasing bait or you need/can get them to react, great bait.
During the middle of the summer, not that great unless conditions are right. Example, I lived next to Spy Pond in Arlington. Midsummer they add chemicals which knock down weeds which i was planning to punch. I tie on rattletrap and throw over laid down weed beds (chemicals didnt kill but did suppress weeds). Two over 3lbs on numerous trips. Over the next two weeks, each trip produced around 15 fish (per 4 hours) with 2-3 3 lbers. Late fall, reduced water temps can be another good time. PM for more details.
I have been using this type of lure more and more as I gain confidence and catch more and larger fish. Last year this style lure caught me maybe 10 bass all year. Yesterday alone I caught 5 bass all keepers with the largest being 3.5 lbs. The rod you use will be a big factor. My favorite is a 7' St Croix Mojo baicast rod it's actually for throwing plastics but I feel everything with it. Very versitle lure burning across top, yo yoing, ripping through grass, try different techniques until the bass tell you how they want it. Try to make contact with structure this will really get the basses attention. I think color is a big factor, I like to try and match the color of the baitfish that are in the water I'm fishing.
Good luck. Tight lines...
Good luck. Tight lines...
I did go to Spy this summer when I lived less than 5 minutes and even though they had the h.p. restriction, I put my boat in anyway and never ran into any problems.
Still a ton of dinks but on almost every day I went there I ran into at least one 3 lber. That place is also LOADED with white perch.
Still a ton of dinks but on almost every day I went there I ran into at least one 3 lber. That place is also LOADED with white perch.
thanks guys. great cold water bait really?
Would I lie to you
Shallow, bog type ponds especially.
hahaha i hope not. but you are a fishermen
thats all i got around is bog. sawmpy, muddy ponds, with weeds
how would i fish the trap. on the bottom? it would get coverd in weeds and other crap
If the pond is too weedy you will probably have to wait until the weeds die off. If the weeds are sparse you can rip the bait right through them
Yeah, you can fish a trap off the bottom but is has to be pretty clean to do that.
so how would you fish it in the cold water. isnt it a fast moving bait?