I just started using the Rat-L Trap lures and they seem pretty productive.  Basically, I've just been casting and reeling them back fast.  Are there any other methods I should try?  Also...any preferences on color?

you can shake your rod tip when reeling back thats about all i like fire tiger and chrome blue back in blood series whitch has blood spots :

what company of rat l traps are you using bill lewis berkley  :-?

Don't even throw them until you change the hooks.  Either Gamakatsu or mustad triple grip.  No 2

Stop & go, kneel & reel, Yo-Yo, slow roll, rip through grass, ricochet off wood  

Burn it! Burn it! Burn it!

I like the Cotton Cordell Spot and the ol' standby Bill Lewis, but I agree, the hooks need to be changed.

any lake i fish is fairly pressured, burning doesnt get much accomplished.  I like to yoyo VERY fast.

i swing my rod from left to right on a fast retrieve.   works really well as the bait gets closer to the boat, it has drastic changes in direction.  

i try to get it to knick the grass and when it starts to get heavy with grass jerk it free.  i also like to deflect it off of stumps (can be frustrating but productive).

most often however i just use a steady retrieve with split second pauses thrown in.  sometimes if im getting followers or fish slappin at it i will give a short quick rod pump to try to trigger a strike.

matt

Well, all of the above are true... You can throw any variation in the retrieve that you can think of, and there are no hard and fast rules. Sometimes "burning" them works well in very cold water while they might want a slow "yo-yo" action in much warmer water. Speed and direction variation also seems to add to their appeal instead of a simple retrieve. Yet sometimes the simple steady retrieve just works fine.

I would suggest you experiment with two or three different brands of lipless crankbaits in a few basic colors and sizes. Each brand has a different underwater sound signature, and, like with retrieve, they often want very noisy or less noisy lures...

My two favorites are the Lucky Craft LV500's and the Xcalibur XR50.  I've had the most success with those two.  LC's are expensive and Xcalibur's can be had for $6.

Rat-L Traps are a great lure - it's hard to fish 'em wrong. I have had my best results earlier and later in the season by burying them in the grass and rippin' 'em out.  I've even heard of guys fishing them like jigging spoons in late fall - but haven't tried this.

I've tried Rat-L traps many times and I always loose one in structure before I catch a fish.  I've only caught one fish and that's simply because he nailed it 2 seconds after it hit the water.   I've lost at least 5-6 traps and caught one dink bass.

My buddy borrows my rod & reel already tied with a chrome blue back trap, casts it off the loading ramp while I go get the truck and catches a good 2-3 pound fish with one cast where I catch nothing.

Must be the angler! :'(

I'll try a variation of retrieves.  It's that time of year where these bait will work good in shallow water around rip rap, weeds, and structure from what I hear.