I wrote to the Rat-l_trap website for their recommendations for fishing the Texas surf. This is their reply.
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I think your best bet would be the 1/4 oz. Mini Trap and 1/2 oz Rat-L-Trap. Chrome Blue 140, Chrome Chartreuse 141 are good when the sun's out and the golds: 143, 144, and 145 are all good in overcast or murkier waters. 97(Red Head) is good in stained water too. A good chartreuse like the 56 is also
good in low light conditions. But when the sun's up you can't go wrong with the chrome.

For super-clear water and highly pressured fish I'd go with light lining a 1/8. oz Tiny Trap. It wills surprise you the size fish this bite size bait will catch when the won't hit anything else.

BTW, we're running a nice Father's Day Sale on our site now so it's a good time to load up.
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Any comments?

I've wondered about using Rat-L-Traps. Thanks for the info.

I believe you can catch just about anything on a rattle trap but the 1/4 and 1/2 oz seem a little small to me. I've caught redfish on the bigger traps like 1 oz. For decent red fish you probably should be using about 20 lb line and you'll need a heavier bait to be able to throw good. Just depends on the equipment you are using. Spinning gear will allow you to throw a lighter lure than casting.

I don't live in Texas, but here in GA I have caught many, MANY trout and reds on rat-l-traps. I prefer 1/2 oz size, but they will hit as small as 1/8" (the problem being they like to take it all the way when it's that small.)

There are a couple of YOUTUBE videos of angles in Lousiana using Ratl Traps while trolling to catch Trout in Lake Ponchatrain right along the I-10 Bridges.

I do know if I had to pick ONE artificial bait to use the rest of my life a Trap would be right up there at the top of the list.

I read here on the forum a while back 3/4 oz gold for for redfish, and hot pink for trout. Im a once a year saltwater fisherman and actually been searching around for a PINK Ratltrap and cant find one, searched BassPro, and even online.

You can order 3/4 oz pink shrimp rat-l-trap off their website.

http://www.rat-l-trap.com/index.php?page...t&Itemid=89

Adjust the color near bottom of the page to get gold.

Send us a pic of all the fish you catch. Good luck.

An overstock online sale on Rat-l-Traps. Not sure how great the prices but you can decide.

http://www.overstockbait.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=rat-l-trap

I like the 1/2oz, 3/4oz, and 1oz rattle traps but the info they gave you on colors is pretty much what I use.

If the Trap isn't a saltwater model, change the split rings and hooks.

Whats are good rings and hooks to use, I'm trying to convert a few fresh water lures around.