Simply, when are times you throw a square bill CB over a rattle trap?

I use the square bill in heavy laydowns and rocks. Anywhere it can deflect and bounce off of cover. Use traps for search lure and when shad are being fed on. Noticed you were from Al. I fish Neely, Logan Martin abd Guntersville. Good Luck!

Square Bills

- shallow diving depth

- float

- square bill is used to get a big deflection off of sunken timber or rocks to trigger strikes

Traps

- sink or suspend

- common techniques are ripping them through the tops of grass, burning, yo-yo, slow roll

- used when fish are active enough to chase them down

How has the fishing been at Guntersville? I'm heading up there in the next week w/ a pro and his son.

Square Bills

- shallow diving depth

- float

- square bill is used to get a big deflection off of sunken timber or rocks to trigger strikes

Traps

- sink or suspend

- common techniques are ripping them through the tops of grass, burning, yo-yo, slow roll

- used when fish are active enough to chase them down

x2

SB'd cranks and rattletraps are two highly effective, but completely different baits.

Let us not forget the second most important part of the equation, speed. Sometimes your in the right spot, but just need a slower (sq. bill) or faster (trap) presentation. Let the bass decide.

Well, I will share my experiences and hopefully it will help...

       I have a lot of square billed crankbaits and as far as crankbaits go they are my favorite crankbaits to fish....You may see a lot of talk about power fishing or (crashing) timber ...these are the kinds of baits being used to do this ...don't be fooled by the passing terms that some may use for this ...it's not a new idea,people have been doing it for years (since before you and I were born)...square bills are mostly warm water wide wobbleing lures as you probably already know....the bill helps it deflect off of cover....some of my favorites are the bomber square-a , rebel wee-r, bandit model 100 and the norman mad "n" .

         what i do is I find a spot with laydowns, a gravel/stoney bottom or a stumpfield ...throw it like you would a spinnerbait into the cover....now instead of reeling it in...pull your line in a sweeping motion enuff to get the bait to dive down and knock on the wood ,but use some feel and just bump it...you don't wanna dig into it (you'll get hung up) hence the pulling motion instead reeling...now hang on to your rod cuz your gonna get some violent strikes ...when the bait knocks into the wood it will deflect and as you reel slack out it will start to back up....this is usually when that poor little plug gets abused...this is a post spawn pattern....these baits have a searching motion to them in open water...pick one that dives about a foot deeper than the bottom and let it dig a lil using a stop and go retrive...when you bump into to something good (i.e. a rock) stop it for a sec and start again....

        The good ole trap...In my opinion the best types by far are the cotton cordell 1/4 oz super spot and the rattlin rapala in 3/8oz or 1/2....the reason being is that these two models allow you to use (and come with) hooks that are the same size and larger and do not get caught on eachother...ALWAYS have one of these baits tied on if you fish tournaments or simply just enjoy catching fish any time of year...however this bait shines in the cool waters of spring....I slow roll it along the bottom so that it is bearly or just every so often bumps the bottom...this is a pre-spawn pattern that can be used wherever fish are stageing in any depth of water and it's dynamite....return to this and see if they will pick up on this pattern again right after spawn as well....use 1/4 oz in the shallows and the bigger ones in weeds and deeper haunts and points....good lcuk  

Square Bills

- shallow diving depth

- float

- square bill is used to get a big deflection off of sunken timber or rocks to trigger strikes

Traps

- sink or suspend

- common techniques are ripping them through the tops of grass, burning, yo-yo, slow roll

- used when fish are active enough to chase them down

I wished I could compose a reply as nicely as you and others.

Very thorough and concise.

Matt

I think they are about as opposite as you can get.  Traps are open water search baits for me...fan-casting points, etc.  I throw shallow runners around cover...where most would break out their pitching rod.

I must add (although not common - yet very effective) that the right "Traps" can be fished as slowly as any soft plastic.  They can be dropped down steep banks or crawled across the bottom much like a jig.  

People do this a lot with blade baits (Silver Buddy, etc..) but rarely do it with lipless cranks.   I've done very well in both the late winter / early spring and late fall with the technique.  A lipless that stands up on it's nose is obviously best.....like a Spro Aruku Shad.  A Cordell Spot stays up pretty well, too......and is simply the best lipless crank for the price that can be had.