I'm getting into traps deep, thinking about maybe getting a rod specific for it, which would also work for other things.

 

What rod is everyone's favorite for throwing a Rat-L-Trap?

 

 

You standard all around MHF casting rod works good.

If you are not ripping the trap through grass the MF rod will cast better.

Tom

I have a few favorites, but none are in production anymore.   MF and MHF.

  Any rod will cast them if they are in the weight range.  The action and power are personal preference that you will learn after getting some experience throwing traps with different rods.  Ripping out of grass, hopping on bottom, type of line, keeping fish pinned, etc., all will play into your calculus.  Also, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, and 3/4 oz each work better on different rods.  Sorry to make it complicated.   What don't you like about traps on the rods you have?

12 minutes ago, WRB-2.0 said:

You standard all around MHF casting rod works good.

If you are not ripping the trap through grass the MF rod will cast better.

Tom

Love this advice. Totally agree

MH to XH depending on Trap size and structure type/vegetation type. 

I am happy enough with the 6'6" M/M ABU Black Max and 6'10" Lews M/F I have been using, but because I don't have a lot of experience, I am not sure if I should be wanting something different.

 

I want to buy 2-3 more rods at some point, after tax season, and I want to not only complement what I have, but I'm considering the techniques that I'm learning which I know will be major factors in the future.

 

I don't fish in heavy grass normally yet.

All of the above is good advice so far. I’m going to suggest a specific rod based on what you want to do on top of a trap. You don’t mention a budget but if it fits your price point have a look at the falcon lowrider in the 7’2” swim jig model ($130).  Fantastic lipless rod with mono or fluoro, great rod for swim jigs, lighter Texas rigs, buzz baits, and a ton of other light to moderate cover stuff. @Joedodge was happy to pick one up. 

Thanks for the suggestion @casts_by_fly. That is a nice looking rod. On their website it says it's rated 1/8oz-3/4oz. Will it throw a 1/8oz lure?

 

I am going to primarily fish 1/2oz traps, how does 1/2oz lures do on it?

 

As far as budget, I guess $100ish.

2 hours ago, Bazoo said:

I'm getting into traps deep, thinking about maybe getting a rod specific for it, which would also work for other things.

 

What rod is everyone's favorite for throwing a Rat-L-Trap?

 

 

 

 

I've tried a bunch, MHF will let you rip grass better but you will lose more fish. I settled on a MH/MF Dobyns Fury 705CB, paired with 15lb fluorocarbon and the system works very well to keep the fish as buttoned up as possible.

I fish a bunch of lighter and suspending/slow sink traps.  For SV 70s, slow sink quake 70, Duo Nitro 55s, 3/8s RES, and fishing smaller 1/2 traps like TN 60s in the winter, I use a 7' Med power F.  1/2oz and 5/8, I like a 7'2 MH F with a little tip.  It's soft enough to keep trebles pinned and has the strength to rip from grass and set hooks at distance.

@Aaron_HThank you, I think I'd really like that Moderate Fast vs Fast. Have to think hard on this one.

 

I am planning on Traps being a top 5 or higher lure for me. I have really started gaining confidence in them. And something about really appeals to me. I really enjoy fishing them also.

8 minutes ago, Bazoo said:

@Aaron_HThank you, I think I'd really like that Moderate Fast vs Fast. Have to think hard on this one.

 

I am planning on Traps being a top 5 or higher lure for me. I have really started gaining confidence in them. And something about really appeals to me. I really enjoy fishing them also.

 

Lipless cranks are my all-time confidence bait, my last count was around 100 lipless cranks in my boxes, but I have given some away. Very versatile bait compared to many other crankbaits. You can fish them at whatever depth you want, burn them, rip them, yo-yo them, work them off the bottom like a jig, your retrieve options are almost limitless. And they get big bites. 

 

For what it's worth, Dobyns also makes the 705CB in the Maverick and Colt lines. The Maverick version comes it right under your budget.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Dobyns_Maverick_Series_Cranking_Rods/descpage-DMAVCK.html

@Bazoo- The original rating for that rod is 1/8-3/8 and I think the Cara version is still rated that way (My Cara is labeled that way).  However, that was a mis-label in the broad sense of how rods are labeled.  It was labeled that way to throw 1/8-3/8 oz swim jigs which will have a total bait weight 1/4-3/4 or so once you add a trailer.  I have thrown mine with a 1/8 swim jig and 3.3 keitech which will be about 1/4 total. I’ve thrown similar Texas rigs on it.  If I was throwing that weight all the time then I might get another rod, but that’s the bottom end of what I throw on it.  A half ounce hard bait is ideal.  When I really want to cover some water with a walking bait, this rod with 30 lb braid will cast them a mile (like 50 yards).  It will do the same with a 1/2 oz red eye shad.  I’ll throw a choppo 105 (3/4 oz) on it and it will fish it as far as you can cast it.  If you want to talk bigger yet, Jason Christie just did a video last month where he was smallmouth fishing up north with a 3/4 oz spinnerbait (1 oz total bait weight) and burning it.  He’d normally use the eye crosser for that weight spinnerbait, but he was using the swim jig for the lighter tip so that when the bass hit it fast the tip would let them get it a little better and suck it in.  

I like a Medium Heavy/Moderate Fast for throwing lipless cranks.

 

Like mentioned above, I have my lighter ones on a Fury 705cb, but have also thrown them on a Mojo 7' MH/MF "Spinnerbait" model. My heavier ones get thrown on a discontinued Doomsday Tackle 7'3" MHMF I picked up. I put a Tatula CT Type R on there in 7.3:1 ratio that works great. Nice and smooth with good line capacity. The red of the Type R looks good on the retro red & creme colored Doomsday rod too.

Use BPS Bionic blade 2pc. 7ft. med. fast, Pro Qualifier reel with 1/4oz and 3/8oz lipless cranks with 12lb mono. 

Good Fishing

I like the Dobyns Champ 704CB for 1/2oz traps. Loomis IMX Pro 855CBR for 3/4oz.

Depending on the denseness of the cover I'm ripping them through, either M/MF or a MH/MF for all my lipless.

Here's my take:

 

 

On 10/26/2025 at 9:01 PM, Bazoo said:

Thanks for the suggestion @casts_by_fly. That is a nice looking rod. On their website it says it's rated 1/8oz-3/4oz. Will it throw a 1/8oz lure?

 

I am going to primarily fish 1/2oz traps, how does 1/2oz lures do on it?

 

As far as budget, I guess $100ish.

If there is a dicks sportingoods nearby, check out the Dobyns Frenzy 705CB.  It's around $70 and an good lipless/crankbait rod in my opinion.