Rat-L Trap vs. Rattlin' Rapala vs. S.K. Diamond Shad 2025

arthurspooner13 reply :

How would you guys rate these 3 lipless cranks?

What does each brand offer that makes it different?

Stengths/weaknesses?

I've rarely ever fished lipless cranks but i'm going to be a fishing some new waters this season and i've been told that lipless cranks are the go-to-bait. So what would you guys recommend?

MALTESE FALCON reply :

I don't know why, but I never catch anything on Rat-L-Traps. All my lipless crankbait fish are caught on Rattlin Rapalas.

I just got some Strike King Red Eye Shad's to give something else a try. Plus I really think that Sexy Shad color will work well here on St. Clair.

I've never tried the Diamond Shad's.

Falcon

fooman reply :

I haven't tried the SK Red Eye Shad yet but have used all the others..I think differant baits give out differant sound or have a differant action..Usually I have found that when they quit hitting on Rat-L-trap I can switch to a Rattlin Rap or Frenzy and go back and catch some more fish

arthurspooner13 reply :

Some i'm getting the sense that the Rapalas would probably be the best choice?

farmpond1 reply :

Quote
Some i'm getting the sense that the Rapalas would probably be the best choice?

With all due respect to Fooman and Maltese falcon, I wouldn't draw a conclusion from just two responses. Rat-l-traps, Cordell Spots, and most lipless crankbaits will produce well-if that's what the fish want. Everyone has a personal favorite.

CFFF 1.5 reply :

I personally only fish Berkley Frenzy Ratl traps. They have a best shape and catch the most fish for me. Never like the Bill Lewis traps, but I haven't tried the rapala or the S.k. but would still get the berkley frenzy.

jrhennecke reply :

I fish both the Rat L Trap & the Rattln Rapala with most of my fish coming on the Trap. They have just a little different sound and action and can both be effective.

rondef reply :

I use all three and have good luck with all three. I have caught my personal best using the XPS rattle shad that Bass Pro Shops sell. I caught a 5.5lb and a 5.25lb lmb using the XPS Rattle Shad.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_90539_100005005_100000000_100005000_100-5-5

fooman reply :

Quote
Some i'm getting the sense that the Rapalas would probably be the best choice?

I'm not saying Rat-l-traps or Rapala's are best..I'm saying buy more than a couple brands(its an excuse to buy more lures ;D):Rat-l-traps,Rapala,Frenzy,Yo-zuri,LC,Bass Pro..

If 1 brand is not producing try another,they all make a differant sound and the bass will tell you which 1 they want that day..The next day it might be a differant brand..

Some days they may not want any sound at all ,thats when a lipless with the bb's removed comes in handy..

Dont limit yourself to 1 brand

ejtaylor822 reply :

Rattlin' Rapala is my go to lure. Baby bass pattern. Have some of the Rat-L traps, but for me, personal preference for the Rapala's.

Both are good lures, try a couple of each. You will soon find a favorite.

Eddie

SCBASS reply :

One of my favorites is the Cotton Cordell Super Spot. I think they have better action at slow retrieve than a Rat-l-trap. Another plus is that they only cost $2. Just get a few different kinds of lipless cranks and see what you / the fish like the most.

Catt reply :

There are no strengths or weakness in either one, its personal preference; just differences in sound & vibration.

1. Rat-L-Trap

2. Diamond Shad

3. Rapala

Cigarlover 1 reply :

I agree with Catt.

I don't fish the Strike King but the majority of my lipless baits are Rapalas and Rat-L-Traps and I can't see that one out performs the other.

I guess to answer your question I would say go with which ever one you can find cheaper.

ohiobassmaster93 reply :

rat-l-trap is first my favorite...next is the rattlin rap...then the stike king

bass wrangler569 reply :

I don't think that you can pick one lipless crankbait that will always perform the best because they all have different sounds. That said, if I had to choose I would go with Rat-L-Traps.

Tin reply :

Catt hit it on the head. But I would change out the hooks on any Lewis before fishing with it.

Nwfisher reply :

I have a Frenzy that has produced well in chart/black. L.Craft makes a great lipless with heavy rattle to it. My go-to lipless is from River2Sea. Haven't tried the rapala or trap.

Grey Wolf reply :

Try differant brands and see which work the best for you.

michbass reply :

Had good luck with small mouth and a couple large with the Red Eye Shad. Then the pike came

jjbassjj reply :

has anyone tried spros aruka shad....that bait is amazing ;D ;D ;D

LCpointerKILLA reply :

those would be my last 3 choices

anyways, I spend a lot on tackle, but I'm going to try and help you out.

Rattle Trap: 4$

S.K.: 5$

Rapala: 3$

Bass Pro XPS rattle shad: 4$

I have 2 XPS rattle shads in some weird colors. I have caught fish on them, they run pretty well, and have a good action. I think thats your best low priced bet.

Stringjam reply :

Rapala's are about the worst low-speed vibe you can buy.

The best inexpensive vibe for my personal preferences is the Cordell Super Spot. You can elicit the action at nearly any speed from crawl to burn, and when you drop them to the bottom they tend to sit on their nose fairly well.

Rapalas fall flat on their side, and if you try to fish them slow they just drop their action.....no big deal if you just crank em' in at a good clip - - but there's more ways of catching fish on these baits than just that.

The BPS Rattlin' Shad is another good low-cost bait.

iceintheveins reply :

Rattlin Raps do not have the wobble and wiggle the Rat L Trap does. Rat L Traps are great lures, I never replaced any of the rattlin raps I lost, I just switched to all Rat L Traps.

However, there are two lipless cranks that blow a Rat L Trap out of the water. That would be a Cordell Super Spot, and the best one of all, the Bass Pro Shops XPS Rattlin' Shad.

burleytog reply :

Any particular reason you are limiting yourself to just those three models?

The xCalibur xr50/xr75 comes out of the package with quality hooks (can't be said for the Rat-L-Trap or the Super Spot), has a great rattle, and comes through grass like nobody's business.

arthurspooner13 reply :

Quote
Any particular reason you are limiting yourself to just those three models?
The xCalibur xr50/xr75 comes out of the package with quality hooks (can't be said for the Rat-L-Trap or the Super Spot), has a great rattle, and comes through grass like nobody's business.

Well, i wasn't really limiting myself to just these 3, i've just rarely ever fished lipless cranks before and was trying to get a general idea - and figured that Rapala and SK are two brands that i trust, and Rat-L Trap seems like the original brand.

RoLo reply :

Quote
has anyone tried spros aruka shad....that bait is amazing ;D ;D ;D

Yes I have, and yes they are

9753

Rat-L Trap vs. Rattlin' Rapala vs. S.K. Diamond Shad 2025

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