THE BASS COLLEGE

I love the lipless crankbaits, especially the Red Eye Shad! I usually sling that sucker from Fall to Spring. They are very effective if fished the right way. I just got a 2 1/2 pounder yesterday in a pond where the bass are very finicky. I was pleasantly surprised! Here are a few things I've learned since fishing with rattle traps.

- Use a medium action rod. You want a rod that has some give to it so there is a slight delay in the hook set. Trying to set the hook too hard may rip the hook right out since many bass swipe at it.

- Change out the hooks to something a little bigger. The Red Eye Shads are pretty good but bigger and sharper hooks equals better hook ups and more fish! Mustad makes good ones.

- Use natural colors in clear water and change to brighter colors in stained or muddy water. Red crawfish patterns work great in the spring too. 

- Experiment with rattles and with silent. Sometimes the fish like noisy baits and other times they are more picky.

- Experiment with retrieves. Sometimes you can just chuck and retrieve and catch bass like that. Other times you need to slow your presentation or twitch the lure every so often to create a reaction strike. Some fishermen also like to yo yo the bait which also works well.

I'm sure I haven't covered everything but I hope this helps!

Let me know if you guys have had the same success that I have with this awesome lure! 

I throw a trap all year, no matter what season.  They just plain catch fish!

Nice write up. You mean like this??<<click here<

i like to really rip the rattletraps.  let them sink and rip up thru the grass similar to jigging a spoon.  also the more erratic, the better in most cases.  being that it is a moving presentation, adapting to the natural predatory nature of bass to attack baitfish moving erratically seems to work best for me

rarely ever catch one just reeling it in slowly.  the bait was made to flash and really jump

Yeah it was Mike that is why I like to throw it in winter because I am not a patient fisherman! I love throwing Cranks and fast moving baits. 

nice article