Weedless Rat-L-Trap

[-Joe-]

It won't be long at all now before we start ripping the Rat-l-traps throught he grass waiting to get our arms broke by the lunker we've waited all winter on. Last year I got tired having to 'rip' the bait throught the grass tops only to end up still pulling a few trailers of hydrilla back to the boat with it. My fix for this was to remove the trebles and replace the rear hook with a 5/0 EWG worm hook. I make sure its pointed upward and have to add an extra split ring to get the right orientation of the hook. Normally this set-up will pull right through the nastiest grass tops an not nearly as much worry of having the fish throw those small trebles.

[Bassinkorea]

Good idea Joe 

Have you got any photos of your set-up?

[Kal-Kevin]

now that is interesting and I might have to try it when ever the water goes back to a state other then hard!

[-Joe-]

Good idea Joe 

Have you got any photos of your set-up?

I will get out to the boat tomorrow and get one and take a couple of photos and get them posted.

[Bassinkorea]

Cool, thanks Joe 

[boudreaux 23]

Sounds like a real good idea after I spent the weekend fighting grass and then gave it up after a while. With grass pulled behind your bait will they still hit it?

[-Joe-]

With grass pulled behind your bait will they still hit it?

Can't say for sure. I have pulled fish in with grass wrapped all up on them but was the grass there before the fish?

[iClass]

Sounds like a great idea!    Wonder if you could modify install a larger treble and cut the bottom hook off?  Does the single hook affect the action any? 

[ronalddipietro]

sounds like a plan...BUT...I fish rattletraps lots..and miss/loose my fair share with two sets of trebles (sharp)...I dont know if I would have  much confidence in 1 one hook..but..on the proper day I will give it a try

[-Joe-]

sounds like a plan...BUT...I fish rattletraps lots..and miss/loose my fair share with two sets of trebles (sharp)...I dont know if I would have  much confidence in 1 one hook..but..on the proper day I will give it a try

I understand your reasoning on two hooks vs. one but in my past experience, I have lost plenty of fish on trebles, I very seldom loose one when fishing plastics with the 5/0 EWG.

[gorckat]

This could be great- there's a creek near me that I got so frustrated on last year because I felt like I was pulling all the grass out of the water for people coming by later- every cast with a treble ended up tangled.

[BaitcasterlessBavaro]

I would really like to know if this idea actually works... I hate throwing rat-l-traps because of having to pick the weeds off after every cast and the fact that you lose fish pretty often on em  .  I'm gonna give it a try next time I'm down the Potomac.  If anybody tries it, let us know what you think.

[bigjim5589]

Joe, I'm just curious, but have you ever tried adding a plastic bait to that EWG? I've seen Pike & Musky lures that have big plastic grubs as part of the lure, and I'm sure it would affect the action, but to what extent I don't know!

Adding the plastic would make it weedless, and might add some other action to it. I'm just thinking here, that's why I'm wondering if you've ever tried it! 

[-Joe-]

Jim, I have never tried it  but i bet it would guarentee it to be weedless then. 

[saint romain]

I've tried it, but lost it eventually. Got to thinking and started looking for hooks with the eye parallel to the hook. A lot of frog hooks are made this way, but are kind of big. I found ONE pack of some "swimbait saver" hooks at academy, where the eye is parallel. Haven't modded any of my traps with it yet, but I figured it would be better than having 2 rings, and would wobble a lot less (therefore catching a lot less grass since the hook is held upright instead of wobbling left and right). Just a possible addition to a great idea

[nybass]

thanks for the idea

[copnjax]

How about one of those older model worm hooks.........the kind with the spring-wire loop that went over the point of the hook?  You can still find them and that would guarantee it to be weedless.   Just an idea.....

[saint romain]

Only problem I'm finding now is that some of the hooks with the eyes parallel to the hook, the eyes are generally a little too small for the ring...I'm guessing there are smaller rings out there, but I'm pretty new to modifying bait/changing hooks or doing anything to a lure out of the package. Actually, thanks to Joe this is my first time modifying ANY lure.