Rat-L-Trap, the world's best known lip-less crankbait is holding the 1st Lake Fork "Rat-L-Trap Shootout Tournament" this Saturday. Anglers can only use Bill Lewis Rat-L-Traps, including the Tiny-Trap, Mini-Trap, Rat-L-Trap, Mag-Trap, Mag-Force Trap, Super Trap, BlueWater Trap, High Def (HD) Trap, Vibra-Trap, Pro-Trap, and Spin-Trap. No umbrellas rigs allowed--you have to give the fish a chance! Modifications by painting, staining, or modifying/silencing rattles or internal weights to your lure is permitted. You may also change hooks. I think every largemouth bass angler worth his salt has a couple of Rat-L-Traps in his tackle box or bag. What made them such a great lure was the unique rattle noise generated on a quick retrieve. Also, it's an easy lure to use. Just reel fast and be ready for rod jerking hits. Largemouth bass aren't the only fish the wobbling bait catches. Saltwater fish like them; stripers will viciously attack a racing Trap. Even catfish can't resist them. It's interesting to look at the beginnings of the popular lure. Bill Lewis, the originator of the lure while fishing one day on Toledo Bend noticed a bunch of boats congregated along a timber line. On closer inspection he saw that the anglers in the boats weren't fishing, but watching another pair of anglers catching trophy sized fish, one after another. As Bill moved in for a closer look, he recognized the two successful anglers. One was his fishing buddy that had picked up some of Lewis' new lures the day before. Bill called out to his friend, asking the logical question: "What bait are you using?" "That silly lookin', rattling bait" his friend announced. "You've gotta be kidding. I have some of those, but we didn't use them more than a few minutes" Bill said. "Can we have a few more?" his friend asked. "Not today" Bill replied. Those that witnessed the debut of the future all time bestseller had no doubt that this lipless crankbait was something very special. During his drive home that day, one other thing happened which remains one of Bill's most creative moments. As he was manually operating the broken down windshield wiper of his old car, with one hand on the wheel and one out the window, he thought to himself "Rattletrap--that's what I'll call it!" The rest as they say is fishing history. Fisherman's Inn, located at 2933 Texas 154, Quitman, TX 75783, 903-878-2137 is the tournament headquarters. The tournament will launch from the Minnow Bucket Marina, 3035 Texas 154, Quitman, TX 75783, 903-878-2500. More information can be found at http://goo.gl/yzFZgs. Photo: John Alejondro Dyle landed this 7.14lb bass on a Rat-L-Trap.