Making a classic Rattle Trap lure, But can I get it to float?

In this video I try my hand at making my version of a floating rattle trap lure. I run into some real challenges and make some rooky mistakes.
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[@EngineeredAngler]

Lots of you got it right...rattle number two was mine. Lots to improve on with this one. One of my complaints with the original floating Rattle Trap is that it casts like leaf in the wind. The one I made casts nice and straight...not sure why.

[@mike1261]

This one definitely had a few unique challenges. Magnets holding the BB's is genius, it's so simple and effective but how many folks would think of it! Most lipless crankbaits are designed to sink, so yours is a functional lure.

[@EngineeredAngler]

It really is!

[@JayLee-od8ob]

I know he's an engineer. Can we appreciate he's an amazing painter too. That's the part that blows me away every time

[@EngineeredAngler]

Thanks man.

[@surfcat2051]

Great build and explanation as always. I love to know the "whys" when it comes to building lures. Over 20 years ago when I started building wood lures I always thought wouldn't it be great if someone could explain the physics. Several years ago you showed up. Interesting you mention trout, we used to do well on rattletraps on their northern cousin the weakfish. For several years we slayed them on the Bill Lewis. Great video.

[@EngineeredAngler]

That's interesting...we have weakfish down here too, off the beach.

[@hankvana2149]

Nice build Franco! Floaters have their place but I'd rather have that lure - I often fish smallmouth bass with rattle trap style lures and this time of year the bass are hanging off the deep weed edges (12 feet) and rock piles (15 - 20 feet). Like the paint job... there are golden shiners in my local lake :) Cheers!

[@SiTengoTiempo]

Cool trick with the magnets to keep the bee bees in place. Thanks!

[@wesneal7913]

Always a good day when you post a video. That's a good idea using that look glass spray. You will figure out how to make your floating rattle-l- trap.

[@mikehodges802]

Number 2 sounds like the original to me. Thanks for this build, exactly what I was wanting to see. I had it in my mind that I would have to use some of those plastic beads that are full of air to help support; wasn't thinking about a middle piece of wood. I'm going to have to look into a build as I just lost my only and original floating Rat-l-trap this Saturday at the river and can't find any replacement that don't cost a car payment. Thanks!

[@EngineeredAngler]

I'm going to do another one that actually floats.

[@bobfronczek8118]

Great job lure looks great try 2 two in-line hooks or a treble hook in the back and in-line hook in the front

[@jackrussell3104]

Thank you my friend,my thoughts are maybe try round glass beads to reduce weight other than that you got the premise close

[@davidtitcombe4686]

A very interesting vlog and lure. My question is that still using the same thickness of material, if you used a smaller weight but glued it into the chamber would you get a better floating lure. My thinking is by moving back the weight to the edge of the chamber and flying it in place then it should float without going nose down if you wanted it to go through the water nose down, just move the tie eye. Two years ago wouldn't have had any idea but since watching you're vlogs I have picked up so much knowledge allowing me to think the above..

[@Max-nc4zn]

I made a floating lipless recently. One of my few lures that actually works.

[@fishyfish6768]

My very favorite fishing lure that is along the lines of the Rattletrap is the Heddon Sonic. You final product looks more along the lines of the Sonic than the Rattletrap. I’ve pestered Heddon to reintroduce the Sonic but they whine about the cost of recreating the molds. Since the parents have surely long been expired I hope someone will give us a clone of the Sonics in a variety of sizes, weights, with and with out rattles. The original had a super tight vibration and action and worked extremely well as a trolling lure. You have sparked a desire in me to try and reproduce the Sonic in some weighted larger sizes to get down to 15 feet or deeper where the bigger Stripers live.

[@EngineeredAngler]

Go for it.....making your own is more ratifying anyway.

[@stripermanly]

Good job Franco

[@leehowell4258]

That looks really good! May have to try this but I might see if I can sandwich some metallic gold vinyl between the wooden middle and the Lexan outer sections to really give it that mirror like look. I think rattle 1 sounded like the OG Rat L Trap and 2 was yours.

[@thefishingfinatic]

I wonder if dremmeling a slight cup on the head would give it more action? I remember seeing some rattle-traps with that cup on em.

[@TheVaktmejster]

Nice work as allways. I think one or two less rattle would compensate enough to make it float and not have too much impact on the rattle. 👍

[@EngineeredAngler]

I think so too.

[@craigwilliams6184]

I’d love to see you do a strength test with twist ties in balsa wood. I made the mistake of making some of my first lures that way instead of through wires and I’m curious what they can handle. I just used super glue and twist ties for hook hangers and line tie.

[@EngineeredAngler]

Great suggestion!

[@SuperRobertheath]

I always take the front hook Orr or my rattle traps. It helps it not snag as bad. I wonder how that one would do without the front hook.

[@EngineeredAngler]

It floats with only one hook

[@502deth]

2nd one is the new one.

[@cliff6967]

Cool video. Maybe if you had used balsa wood as that central piece it might have floated? Like these experiments

[@EngineeredAngler]

Possibly!

[@leonharris1596]

I love your no-nonsense approach! Question...Is there a way to add rattles to an existing hard plastic swim bait? Thanks

[@EngineeredAngler]

Yes...I have done it. Just drilled a hole and put in BB's.

[@hookreelfishing]

2nd one is your's. Great video ++

[@keithrenaud3380]

The original lure looks flatter on top front. That might give it more action. Do you think a tail fin would harm the action on it? Another nice looking lure Franco and I'm guessing the original is the first one.

[@EngineeredAngler]

Since the lipless crankbait swims with the belly back and not the tail. A tail fin will have little impact.

[@carlbeel8390]

Awesome videos, keep it up 👍

[@EngineeredAngler]

Thanks, will do!

[@liamdale8678]

Do you have any videos where you cover buoyancy by wood type? I am new to lure building and have trouble getting the buoyancy of my lures quite right. I imagine the correct amount of lead (and positioning of such) could be reasoned out with a kitchen scale, but I’d love your take on it.

[@EngineeredAngler]

I cover the topic on nearly all of my wooden lure build videos. You should check out a few of the videos in this playlist kzbin.info/aero/PLEVBv_zywucRBsqOYuC2py1b3rgDKrsxW

[@johnnybenoit841]

Instead of metal bb's could plastic beads work to replace the weight? Also maybe smaller hooks

[@BushmasterJames]

I’m thinking #2. Or at least I hope so, I like that rattle a little better.

[@andrewmeigel2088]

I'm guessing #2 was yours. Great video, Franco!

[@EngineeredAngler]

Yes it was!

[@andrewmeigel2088]

@@EngineeredAngler I could tell from that rattle, the clear coat on the inside was a brilliant choice!

[@comfortablynumb9342]

Cool project. I think I remember having floating Rattletraps when I was far younger. I never had luck with any Rattletrap except for a massive lady fish once. Would it be possible to make a jointed version? I guess the rattle part would be harder but it could be a fish catcher.

[@EngineeredAngler]

I have never been able to make jointed lipless crankbait work.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

​@@EngineeredAnglerI was thinking it would be like a little glide bait. There were also Rattletraps with crank bait lips but I guess they didn't really catch on. Maybe jointed with a little lip would work?

[@riverratfishing]

Can this be made of wood only? This was an excellent video. Really appreciate all of your detailed work

[@EngineeredAngler]

Yes, absolutely

[@doginthecap]

Hi Franco. I enjoyed the video. I wonder if you have any scale you recommend - either a specific one (like if you threw a couple on your amazon list) or by spec. Would you say get one to the hundredths of a gram or is tens enough? Should I consider max weight too like for when I would want to do the weight by putting in water? I enjoy the channel.

[@EngineeredAngler]

I recently bought one that is perfect for this stuff I'm not sure if its on my Amazon store but I'll check and get back to you.

[@EngineeredAngler]

amzn.to/3DXdq9g

[@doginthecap]

Thank you! got it ordered.

[@liamhunter5994]

Nice one Franco, great work. My guess would be the first rattle was the original Rattletrap lure?

[@EngineeredAngler]

Yes it was

[@onlyfish]

Love your videos! I am struggling to get a bigger profile shad glide to make wide glides. Do you have any videos with tips on weight placement or joint angles?

[@EngineeredAngler]

Just about every video of making swimbaits covers the topic

[@jimsweat7963]

I think it would ve work if you used glass beads and only put 4 in it .great build though I'll have to try it

[@johnnybenoit841]

Maybe solid glass beads work?

[@FreedomFishing]

Have you done a test on the strength of plain old closed ended screw in eyes in the specialty resin straight from a casting? With no epoxy or glue added?

[@EngineeredAngler]

If you mean the factory made eyes with actual screw threads, yes... The eye opens up before and actually let's go

[@FreedomFishing]

​@@EngineeredAngleryes those screw eyes. I started installing them with the closed part facing the fish (rear of lure), so the force of the pull is on the solid shank part vs on the opened ended side. Hoping that prevents the screw eye opening up on a big fish. 🤞

[@AlbrittonTribe]

That`s a awesome lure, I might try to make one. I think its the one you made. When are you doing a another giveaway?

[@EngineeredAngler]

Not sure yet

[@jameshagerman7681]

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Cotten Cordel make a floating lipless crankbait for a few years?

[@EngineeredAngler]

Not sure.

[@Straight0uttaCrofton]

could you fill it with a lighter type of bb, like a plastic bead or would that not be noisy enough?

[@EngineeredAngler]

That would have been an easy solution...I was blind to it at the time. I actually have plastic beads that I could have used.

[@502deth]

how about a one piece internal through wire and a 3d printed shell?

[@EngineeredAngler]

Worth a try

[@rickandkell75]

Novice question for you. What size and type of wire do you use for your twist loops?

[@EngineeredAngler]

I try to be sure to show the wire in its package every time I use it in a video. It's 174lb stainless steel leader wire. You can find it in my Amazon store.

[@phillipallen2578]

#2 What if you filled a portion of the top cavity with micro spheres?

[@EngineeredAngler]

It would be heavier...microspheres are heavier than air.

[@davidcopeland7616]

My guess is #2 Being that salt water is more dense, wouldn’t their be a chance that it will still float ?

[@EngineeredAngler]

It might suspend

[@aaronh8975]

I have a very unique one of a kind lure that is hand carved. It falls in the category of jerk baits but it shines when being trolled. Extremely erratic behavior. This thing does not exist online anywhere. I would like to bring this to market. Any pointers on where to start? This is one of 4 lures that survived musky northern and walleye, I've kept it for for over 15 years solely because this one only swam right with 4 ounces of weight added 4 feet up the line

[@EngineeredAngler]

I'm not very knowledgeable about the commercial and production scaling of the lure business. To me the hard part is scaling up production. A good lure will find a market. Good luck.

[@bonesstones6584]

Man I really dig that funky lure porn music! 😂 The second one is your lure.

[@danielnystrom6117]

Would it work to make it out of wood and make the middle and sides out of abs? Just to make it lighter

[@EngineeredAngler]

It would work the way I made it, if I hadn't forgotten to remeasure the volume. Totally doable.

[@danielnystrom6117]

I commemted befor you changed it. Looks awsome rho. Shame with the memory to remeassure it. But on it again

[@erdincsahin9723]

Which type of wood do you use?

[@EngineeredAngler]

I try to use light wood, cedar or camphor most of the time.

[@juderyan1284]

I guess the second one is yours.I wish these days lures were less than $1 thanks.

[@edgarnolasco5627]

Number 2!

[@AlbrittonTribe]

How strong is the wire on balsa?

[@EngineeredAngler]

Much stonger than the balsa

[@phillipallen2578]

Guess I should have said micro balloons, or would they have worked?

[@EngineeredAngler]

No...if the Volume of the body doesn't change the only thing you can do is reduce weight by removing material.

[@ThomasSavko-jp9sl]

Number 1 is the original rattle trap.

[@tork62077]

#2 is the original

[@EngineeredAngler]

Nope

[@jessec8562]

Guessing #1 rattle is yours.

[@EngineeredAngler]

Nope

[@bryanhammond7783]

#2 is yours

[@TheCopperVillageAngler]

#1 rattle is Rattletrap. #2 rattle is your lure.

[@capfit]

N2 is original

[@toddbfreeman]

#1 engineered #2 rat trap

[@EngineeredAngler]

Nope

[@i2aspire]

Number one is yours

[@EngineeredAngler]

Nope

[@wetkneehouston6293]

#1 is yours

[@EngineeredAngler]

Nope

[@benpoppy8079]

Titanium hooks.

[@andrewskitoyukak48]

#2 is yours.

[@EngineeredAngler]

Correct

[@booster4470]

#2

[@nathankrueger3586]

2