What rattlebaits have you found to be the most effective?
River fishing with rattlebaits is a new concept for me. In lakes and ponds, I have the best luck with XCalibur's versions. Hi-Viz Red or Chrome and black back in the Spring, and Red or brown craw in the summer.
Ken is a jig and twister guy, and that often works well for me, but somedays I just aint feelin' it and wonder if I am missing something I could be getting with a more obnoxious bait.
Rapala Rattling Raps and the Bill Lewis Rattletraps with the sure set hooks and oval split ring. I don't care for the hhoks on the other Bill Lewis models and don't like the price or the big damn hook on the Rapala Clackin Rap.
I have been fishing faster water like riffle areas and neckdowns. I generall use just enough speed to keep them just above the bottom and will throw them across, up or down stream.
I cover as much water as possible, looking for the most aggressive fish. Heavier tackle[medium to medium heavy spin] 17 lb MCCoys Mean Green or Trilene XT. I do have a spool with 12LB Vanish Flurocarbon I play around with.
They cover lots of water, are effective any direction in current and trigger aggressive fish, what's not to like.
If you go back to the original In Fish study reports on rivers[year 3 I believe] that's the lure they recommend for rivers.
What a long, strange trip it still is .
Put a glide in your stride, a dip in your hip and come onto the mother ship .
