FINISH THIS BASS fishing phrase: Ripping…
Most probably said “traps,” and, for casual conversation, that’s right on point. However, when it comes to intentionally ensnaring baits in aquatic vegetation only to snap or rip them free, there’s much more to the tactic than the angling colloquialism implies.
For starters, the term “trap” — an abbreviated form of Bill Lewis’ innovative Rat-L-Trap — often serves a generalizing role for the lipless bait category, just as we often say “Coke”, “Frisbee” or “Jell-O” for any cola, flying disc or gelatin dessert. It’s one of those “you know what I’m saying” deals.
Folks get it, but to sink our teeth into this highly productive technique, we quizzed a handful of Elites who’ve shortened more grass than the Lambeau Field grounds crew. Some of their insights will help refine what you know about the technique, but we also have a few eye-opening nuggets to share.
RIPPING’S RIGHT ON SCHEDULE
Given the shallow movements of spawning season, this is largely a spring pattern. Florida jacks with the schedule thanks to those preliminary southern spawning waves that regularly occur as early as October. For our purposes here, we’ll keep it general and stick with the first handful of months, although the year’s latter quarter brings an interesting twist. (More on that in a moment.)
“To me, this technique is for when we’ve gotten past wintertime and the fish are in that phase where they’re
