Weedless Rat-L-Trap (Fall/winter 2007/2008 combined tips contest winner)

[TightLinez]

Tired of getting that Rat-L-Trap snagged when fishing around heavy cover? Take both treble hooks off and stick a straight shank worm hook on the back split ring. Still has all the great Trap qualities, without the hang-ups!

If you like this tip you can vote for it in the Winter/Spring Tips Contest!

[Ron Fogelson]

Hey your on a roll the tip for the key ring was cool and this sounds like a great idea.

Going to give it a try here with a large trap in the heavy folage we got around here.   

[TightLinez]

  thanks. I posted a tip on how to keep the tips, ask the pros, techniques, etc. pages from bass magazines organized. After I posted it, members were saying I should share those tips . Who else better to share than with my fellow UB members?
The key chain one was something I did on my own though

It works too man. We were fishing a small lake that was full of hydrilla. The bass were hammering our rat-l-traps but we were also having to deal with a lot of snags. I tried this out and didn't get snagged again all day.

[Basshunter18]

Awesome tip! That's one reason I don't throw rat-l-traps as much as I want to. I might even try this on some crankbaits too . I know trebles have better hook-up ratios but not when they're covered in moss and weeds

You got my vote!

[TightLinez]

  yup- that would probably work too. I hate that string of green that follows your bait back to the boat

[Swede]

Like the tip - thanks!! 

[SetiNHooKs]

Great tip, thanks for sharing!

[TightLinez]

Thanks guys. Don't forget to vote in the Winter/Spring Contest! Looks like it's gonna be a close one

[CtWegener]

thanks for the tip tightlinez

[Swimb8Guy]

i'll have to give this a try. good dude. thanks for sharing  

[Tom G]

   I frequently go snook fishing in the Ten Thousand Islands and Everglades Park. We have a trick rattle trap set up we use. After removing the treble hooks we drill down through the body just past the line eye. We feed our line through the lure and attach a j-Hook. When the fish hits the lure slides out of the way. The fish can't use the lure as a lever to pry it out of it's mouth.

[mikesxpress]

   I frequently go snook fishing in the Ten Thousand Islands and Everglades Park. We have a trick rattle trap set up we use. After removing the treble hooks we drill down through the body just past the line eye. We feed our line through the lure and attach a j-Hook. When the fish hits the lure slides out of the way. The fish can't use the lure as a lever to pry it out of it's mouth.

Not new.
Bill Lewis made Traps with a tube down the inside that you ran your line and then slipped on a small bead and then tied the hook on. Same thing and it kept the water out of the rattle chamber. The trap would slide up the line and detract from the leverage the fish on a heavy bait. They made these for a few years in the early 90's. I have a few in my box.

[TightLinez]

Does it work good or is it kind of a joke?

[TightLinez]

Seems like one of those helicopter lure things to me
I think I'll stick with this idea

[BloomfieldBullitt]

I'm gonna try this.

[denis]

or do what jimmy houston has been doing for years.  Clip the front hook of the front treble hook. it will go through the front yard w/o getting hung up

[TightLinez]

In heavy weeds the back hook still ends to get hung up. I'll have to give it look though

[mike54]

I cut the bottom hook off of the treble hook.The other two will ride against the bait.   Mike

[aussie tim]

make sure that the single hook has the bend facing up not down then it should just bounce over the logs

[wilsonm1]

great tip, i will try it

[bassjerk]

That is some great tips on the Trap guy's, thanks for sharing your info.

[Keithscatch]

BTW, The Bill Lewis lure mentioned earlier is called a Pro Trap. They work well and you will almost never lose a fish when they are jumping with it. The body slides up the line while the hook stays with the fish. It has only 1 hook and it has a small spinner blade on the back of the bait. I like the bait.

I also knew about putting a worm hook basically on instead of trebles. I have never done it though. I always wondered if it would hold the fish or not. I will try it sometime and see for myself. Thanks