I am having trouble with this whole technique. Seems like I end up pulling a whole club of grass when I try to rip it out or just get hung up. Any tips or other links/videos y'all can suggest. I have dobyns rods from 733-735 that I can use for this. Thanks!

you gotta reel fast and keep it barely above so it just catches the grass, and you have to fish a little deeper grass that's a few feet below the surface. Rod tip up, ticking the grass and ripping it out.

This. Like all other techniques; it is a learned one. More time you spend doing it the better you get. I down size the hooks and or use lighter wire hooks that cut through the grass much easier. Sometimes I will even cut the bottom barb off the treble hook so it slides over the grass much easier.

its a great technique.. especially when they wont bite anything else... i do prefer rapala rattlin raps a little better in blue chrome..

It's called "ripping a trap through grass" for a reason. You do just that...when you catch grass RIP it out. This tears loose from the grass usually causing everything to come free of your hooks.

vx

Thanks for the advice everybody. So I would guess a heavier action would be better to have the backbone to rip it out

Heavy action 7'6" works best 20# fluorocarbon. S&P Rods in Zavalla Tx has the best rod for this. Ask him for his trap special. I know of several local Rayburn sticks that use them. Look around for a trap on a all black rod without logos in January.

Honestly, this was a technique I had to see done before my eyes. It can get frustrating getting stuck in that grass but you literally need to rip the trap almost like a hook set if your in that thick of grass. Andrew has got the setup aspect taken care of but maybe vary your trap sizes to get a better feel for it, also, downsize your hooks if that still doesn't work

Been trying it some at toledo. Mostly on the edges of the hay grass. Will adjust based on y'all's suggestions. I think it will be a trial and error until I get used to it. Thanks!

It's not near as easy in haygrass. Actually it's almost impossible.

Don't try to throw a trap in the hay grass. Use this technique in hydrilla or milfoil type grass.

This is an excellent topic. First, you need the right set up. 7'+ MH/mf or f rod with at least a 6.4:1 reel. I use 15 pound fluro. Rod up, fairly quick retrieve, and an aggressive pop, when hung. You can read about worming, ready retrieve, or yo-yoing traps, you really just need to sort out the conditions and he fishes mood. Be safe, wear your sunglasses, pants, maybe a jacket, rippin sharp hooks out of grass is dangerous, be prepared to know how to dislodge a hook from somewhere on your body...good luck!!

Good tips.

I would use the 735 rod for this technique and I use a 7.1:1 reel, but you can get by with a 6.3 or 6.4:1 reel. As suggested as well, RIP it out of the grass and hay grass it is almost impossible to do. Hope this helps. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

One of my favorite techniques, especially on Fayette, Dunlap, and LBJ. First, this is a submerged grass technique. You need a couple of feet of water to work with as lipless crankbaits sink fast. I use a 1/2oz model.
I use a 7' MH Moderate tip. I prefer all graphite so I can feel everything. A moderate tip helps keep those trebles from ripping out of the fish while the MH gives backbone for ripping it out of grass. You will need a fast retrieve reel. I use at least a 7:1 ratio. You need to pick up the slack line fast after a cast and you need a fast retrieve to keep the bait up. I use 12lb flouro line as I like the feel.

In my experience you don't need to bury the lure and rip out 10lbs of grass to get a strike. I like to tick the tops. Catch the grass just enough that it makes the trap shoot away when it breaks free. That's when the strike happens. You will need to hold your rod tip up high to keep it from getting buried.
With practice you will start to feel the difference between snagging the grass and when a fish hits it. Usually I feel the bite before I feel the rod load up. This is a reaction bite and they might swipe at it a time or two before fully engulfing it.