I just want to see what you guys are using for rattle traps, I have used them more this year than any other- I would like to possibly know what colors you like in your brand of choice-

I am sure this has been brought up before but what the heck!

lucky craft vibe      sunfish color

I have used a buttload of vibes from the big mfgs to the obscure small Japanese companies - searching for my favorite vibes.....so here they are:

Shimano Complex Undulator

Air Viper Risebacker

CORDELL SPOT

Spro Aruku Shad

Mamiya-OP Hunting Vib Jr.

Jackall TN-70

Yes, that's a Cordell Spot right there by other lures costing about 6 or 7 times as much.        The Shimano has an action completely unlike any other lipless bait out there - almost like a shallow flatsided lipped crank.  

Yo-Zuri RatlN' Vibe, red (crawfish)

Lucky Craft LV500-Max & LV300 (Spring Craw & Aurora Black)

My collection is all Rapala and Bill Lewis.  My best colors are chrome/blue back Rapala and Bill Lewis Junebug Spark L Trap.  other notables are chrome/black and Shad Rapala's and Lewis Bleeding Shiner.   I just have too many of these things I don't even use.

Bill Lewis ½ oz Rat-L-Trap Gold/Black Back/Orange Belly or Red Chrome  

Bassday  - Range Vib (better known as a seabass bait here in Japan)  and

Rapala - Rattlin Rapala

Bill Lewis 1/2 oz Rat-L-Trap, Bill Lewis 1/4 oz Rat-L-Trap, both blue and chrome with some red, red trebles. I caught some fish on them today.

Rattlin Rapala in Red Crawdad and silver/blue.

Falcon

Bill Lewis Rattle Trap in 1/2 and 1/4. Chrome/Blue Back, Red Chrome, Gold/Black Back, Bone ( I guess you could call it bone. I take off the rest of the finish from my old battle scarred ones). I always change the hooks when I buy them with #4 Excalibers.

Lucky Craft LV-500Max

Evergreen Buzzer Beater

Tsunekichi Heravib 65S

Shimano VR 66A

Lucky craft lv 500 max

Duel 3D Vib

Duel hardcore drum

Rapala rattlin

Bill lewis rat-l-trap

Berkely Frenzy rattlr

All of them catch fish .

I stick with the original Rattle Trap.

My local lake has TONS of shad, so I usually stick with chrome in 1/4 and 1/2 oz.

Bill Lewis 1/4 & 1/2 oz Traps, Chrome-Blue up north and Smokey Joe in Fla. I have a few Arku Shads but have not had much luck with them. I have been buying a few LC baits this year but no LV's because of the price and the Traps work so well for me.

Rat L Trap, and rattlin' rapala

1/4oz Rat-l-trap in baby bass

1/2oz Rat-l-trap in Clown Halo, Tequila Sunrise

1/2oz Rattlin Rap in the original Brown Craw and Firetiger (If you have any that you would like to part with just let me know)  

I have other more expensive baits but I bought them mainly because they caught me.  The Japanese baits have great sunfish patterns but the bass out here aren't as impressed as I am.  The catch plenty of fish and I don't mind paying for them but they just aren't at the top of my list.

My two most productive have been LC MV500max and the Xcalibur XR50

I think a lot of what makes a productive vibe is how you fish them.   If throwing them out and cranking them in fast is as far as you go with it, then the differences between lipless baits is going to be pretty slim, since they all have a fairly similar action and profile at speed.   However, when you start slowing them down and fishing using other techniques with them - the differences between the vibes really starts showing up.  

We have a lot of steep rocky banks and deep structure around here, so something I tend to do a lot of is fishing vibes on the BOTTOM.  Just like a blade bait or a soft plastic, and there aren't many vibes that are designed to do it well.   The ones that are "nose stand."  When you let them sink to the bottom they sit there on their nose with the tail stuck up in the air.    

Here's some that nose-stand: (left to right, upper then down)

Spro Aruku Shad (same design as an Ever Green Buzzer Beater, only the Ever Green flops over on it's side when you let it fall)

Jackall TN 70

Mamiya-OP Hunting Vibe Jr.

XPS Rattling Shad (previous version, now disc.)

Shimano Scorpion "A"

Air Viper Risebacker Sound-Lo, or Sound-Less  (the hi-sound rattling versions fall over because of the weight of the rattles)

(BTW...a Cordell Spot also stays up pretty well)

You can also drop these lures vertically and use a subtle popping action with your rod - - the lures will appear to be "tapping" their noses against the bottom, like a fish feeding off the bottom.    

Another attribute I look for is one that allows me to elicit the bait's designed action at a very low speed.   The best vibes I've used so far that start dancing as soon as you give them a tug are the Jackall TN70, Mamiya-OP and sound-less Risebacker.   The Cordell Spot is also very good.  

Sorry for being so long-winded and analytical......but I find that when discussing what is the "best" lure - - the situation the lure is used in, and what it is designed for needs to be addressed.   There's no need to purchase a very expensive lure that is designed to do something that you don't intend to do with it.

And FWIW, the only vibe I've used with a completely unique action and something really different to show the fish is the Shimano Complex Undulator.  Widest wobbling vibe I've ever used.

BTW - - - T-Rig - how do you like the Tsunekichi Vibe?   I've had a hard time trying to track one of those down - they usually sell the second they hit the 'Bay.  

The Tsunekichi vibe is great! It vibrates even on a very slow retrieve. There's one (silent model) available here: www.ichibantackle.com

What do you think of the Megabass Vibration-X Ultra silent?

Bill Lewis. chrome/black and red crawfish.

I dont use them much but .....Bill lewis rattle trap in chrome and black IT WORKS thats all that matters  

right now ive only got 2 lipless cranks   i need more bad.  ;D

those 2 cranks are

1.strike kings red eye shad tennessee perch color

2. Bill Lewis rat l trap 1/4 oz mini trap which is a small mouth color

I think I've caught more bass on a 1/2 oz gold bill lewis than any other.

closely followed by chrome/blue/oragnge bill lewis.

next is the LC lvmax 550 in aurora black

then the yo-zuri harcore drum in a sorta mustard color.

I really like the looks ofthat of that shimano  - where y'all get em?

I think I've caught more bass on a 1/2 oz gold bill lewis than any other.

closely followed by chrome/blue/oragnge bill lewis.

next is the LC lvmax 550 in aurora black

then the yo-zuri harcore drum in a sorta mustard color.

I really like the looks ofthat of that shimano - where y'all get em?

www.ichibantackle.com

I think I've caught more bass on a 1/2 oz gold bill lewis than any other.

closely followed by chrome/blue/oragnge bill lewis.

next is the LC lvmax 550 in aurora black

then the yo-zuri harcore drum in a sorta mustard color.

I really like the looks ofthat of that shimano  - where y'all get em?

I got mine from Sayaka603 on ebay