when I cast a heavier rat l trap(sorry dont know the exact size), when it hits the water it sounds like I am casting a huge rock in.  Is there a way to soften the presentation/     thanks  darren

Under arm cast.

Don't be so concerned about it.  Not everything a bass eats is super-stealth all the time

Besides, you casting that thing into a brush pile or something?  Doubt it, you just chucking and winding I'm sure.  

Fugetaboutit..............

A loud splash followed by your retrieval of the Rat-L-Trap will mimic a baitfish jumping on the surface and then fleeing a predator perfectly.  Why would you want a softer splash, are you flippin with it?

Although I agree with everyone else's estimation that it doesn't really matter,  if you are using baitcast equipment, you can practice feathering the spool right before lure contact to vary your entry greatly.

A rattle trap is a search bait...it is meant to attract fish from far distances, thus the noise is ok

When I first started fishing my Sammy 100 I had the splash problem.  I like a small splash but I think to big of one scares fish.  Like Chug Bug said, feathering the spool helps, but if you lift up your rod and kinda glide the lure back towards you right before it hits then you decrease it's momentum a good bit.  I can now make a Sammy 100 land 40 yards away with barely a ripple.  It comes with practice but if you work at it you can get it real quick.

WHEN I'M USING A LARGER LURE IT'S USUALLY IN OPEN WATER AND I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS. THERE WERE MANY TIMES I WOULD CAST MY CRANKBAIT AND GET A STRIKE AS SOON AS IT HITS THE WATER.

AS MANY HAVE SAID, UNLESS YOU ARE PITCHING TO COVER I DON'T THINK IT'S A BIG DEAL.

The "splashdown" after the cast may be mistaken for a feeding bass (bass and anglers are both familiar with that sound).

Bass in a fish tank will turn and face into the sound of a splash, as if looking for some crippled escapee (easy meal).

If you're fishing in water that's deeper than 2 feet, I wouldn't be too concerned about noise,

after all, noise and splash are what made the 'popper' such a famous lure.

                  On the other hand, in water under 2 ft deep, bass are very defensive because they

instinctively know that in shallow water they may be prey rather than predator (ospreys, eagles, otters, bear, man ~)

If I'm working in water under 2 ft deep, I'll use a spinning outfit and an underhand lob (I stink with baitcasting gear).

Roger

A loud splash followed by your retrieval of the Rat-L-Trap will mimic a baitfish jumping on the surface and then fleeing a predator perfectly. Why would you want a softer splash,  

Good advice!!

What  I do sometimes is if I know thiers a fish in one spot say 20 yards out...I will cast it 30 yards....so not to spook the fish and then real it past hoping for the strike