Rat-L-Trap · Lipless Crankbaits
Bill Lewis Floating Rat-L-Trap, 1/3 oz
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Options
Color: Chrome Blue Back
- Chrome Blue Back
- Blue Shiner
- Blueberry Perch
- Sexy West
- Stumpknocker
- Tennessee Shad
- Item weight
- 0.5 Ounces
- Product dimensions
- 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Quick take
A 1/3 oz floating lipless crankbait with interior rattles, designed for shallow water and weed beds.
The Rat-L-Trap floating lipless crankbait has no lip and a floating body, so it can be worked over grass, docks and standing timber close to the surface. Its interior rattles give a steady sound for low-light or murky water. Anglers who want a shallow-running lipless bait in a chrome blue back finish will find it useful.
Best for
- Weed-bed and grass-line fishing in shallow water
- Low-light conditions in murky water
- Fishing around docks and timber
Skip if
- You need to reach deep water; this floats when paused
- You fish in clear water where the rattle attracts fewer fish
Strengths
- Tight-wiggling action draws strikes in vegetation
- Dual-frequency rattles create fish-attracting sound
- Floats at rest, then dives on the retrieve, adding pause-and-dart action
Trade-offs
- At 1/3 oz, casting distance is limited on heavy line
- Floating action makes it hard to maintain depth on a steady retrieve
- The rattle is not effective in all water conditions
Fishing fit
- Species
- Bass
- Panfish
- Trout
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Topwater
- Casting
- Skill level
- Intermediate
Specifications
| Type | lipless crankbait |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1/3 oz |
| Length | 3 in |
| Fishing depth | Floats, cranks down to 12 in |
| Hooks | Mustad hooks |
When and where to fish it
Its rattle helps fish find it in stained or muddy water and in low light. Its silver baitfish pattern suits clear to lightly stained water.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- Clarity
- Clear
- Stained
- Muddy
- Light
- Bright
- Overcast
- Low light
- Water temperature
- Cold (under 50°F)
- Cool (50 to 60°F)
- Fished from
- Bank
- Boat
- Kayak
How to fish it
A lipless crankbait sinks, so you choose its depth by counting it down, then reel it, rip it or lift and drop it.
Count down and reel
- Cast and count as the lure sinks, about a foot a second, until it reaches the depth you want.
- Reel at a steady pace, fast enough to feel the lure vibrate.
- Speed up or slow down to hold it just above the grass or the bottom.
Ripping it out of grass
- Reel the lure so it ticks the tops of submerged grass.
- When it bogs down in the grass, snap the rod to rip it free.
- Be ready as it breaks loose; strikes often come right then.
Yo-yo
- Let the lure sink to the bottom on a tight line.
- Lift the rod to pull the lure up a few feet, then lower it and let the lure flutter back down.
- Watch the line on the fall; most strikes come as it drops.
How deep and around what
- Cover
- Open water
- Grass
What it imitates
Its silver baitfish pattern imitates shad.
- Shad
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Shiner, Chrome Blue Back, Tennessee ShadThis one | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| Blueberry Perch | Looks like real forage in clear water, where fish get a long look. |
|
About this type
A lipless crankbait is a flat-sided, sinking hard bait that vibrates tightly when it is reeled.
It has no diving lip, so it runs as deep as you let it fall and casts a long way for its size.
Most hold rattles, and the line ties on the back, which keeps the nose down and the body shaking on the retrieve.
Compared with Crankbaits: A lipped crankbait floats at rest and dives to a set depth; a lipless one sinks and is fished at whatever depth you count it down to.
Facts
| Buoyancy | Floating |
|---|---|
| Lip | None |
| Rattle | Yes |
| Color | Chrome Blue Back |
| Color family | Shad and silver |
Common questions
Does it float or sink?
It is a floating lure.
What color is this version?
This version is Chrome Blue Back.
Updated