Fishing tip of the week

Fishing Tip of the Week

Tuesday, 28 March 2023 10:30

Rattle trap presentation
This time of year, one of the best baits on any pre-spawn lake is a rattle trap. The flat-sided bait can be presented many different ways , and all presentations work. It’s just a matter of which works best for you. Some of the presentations we see mostly have no limitations and can only be limited by your imagination.
First and foremost is one retrieve most folks use, that being just a constant reeling of the trap over structure. One of the keys is to make sure this presentation contacts the structure so it reacts off the bottom structure and moves with a reaction presentation. If you’re ticking the structure, it moves the bait in many different ways, causing reaction bites. Also, constant retrieve allows you to slow it down or speed it up, depending on the depth of the fish in the water level.

Next is a presentation I like when it seems the bite is tough, and that is to yo-yo the bait up and down, snapping it off the bottom structure, causing the fish to not only see the snapping action but to feel the vibration of the bait. This is one of the best retrieves for a rattle bait, especially over grass where the bait grabs it and drops it and then snaps quickly upward, making it irresistible to the bass.
I also use a stop-and-go retrieve over structure, especially over thick structure, because you can control the depth the bait drops by the amount of time in-between the pause and restarting the reel movement. This presentation also allows you to make use of different speed reels, as the pause can be quick or slow, whatever is needed to utilize your favorite speed reel.

I also believe the way you work a rattle bait has no limitations. It is a very versatile bait, and you can do just about anything your mind can create. Don’t be shy, use your imagination and try different ways to move the bait. The key is to keep changing until something works, and once you get a strike, be able to duplicate your movement. This will ensure your next bite and may be the key to a successful day on the water.

-Captain Mike Gerry