The Rat's Out Of The Bag!

Rat-L-Trap SUPER- NATURAL and KNOCK-N-TRAP series have the looks that kill!

Maybe it’s the way they sound that sets them apart from all the rest.  Face it; Rat-L-Trap isn’t exactly a new company, and the lipless crankbait isn’t nominated for a best new actor award, but it has certainly demonstrated an ability to flat out catch fish from all corners of the US for well over 20 years.  Whether you’re burning it just under the surface at busting smallmouth, ripping it through grass for largemouth, or targeting suspended and deeper fish by counting it down; this bait just does it all.  And now the company that started it all has raised the lipless bar a couple notches.

One look at the SUPER-NATURAL series and you’ll see for yourself just how super delicious these baits look.  Newly designed colors and patterns like Candy Craw, Blueberry Perch (below), Blue Shiner, Pinch’n Peach, and Fathead Minnow, are applied using cutting-edge technologies and are incredibly lifelike.  Packed with the same sound you know and love, and finished off by razor sharp Mustad hooks.  When comparing them to others on the market the best way to describe the difference is to imagine looking at two televisions.  One is the big, wooden console from 1985, and the other is a 1080 flat screen wall-mounted next to the 10lb bass you caught at Lake Guntersville with your Dad on your first Rat-L-Trap that he gave you. 

If you’re looking for a bait that’s a bit louder than a soft tap, and will provide you with the “Hey, I said get over here” size rattle, the KNOCK-N-TRAP will give you just that.  Shake it a couple times and you’ll see right away that it’s a much deeper, bigger sound, in the same size bait.  What you’ll also appreciate is that they’ve added a K to the tail of each bait so you can identify it from other Traps quickly and easily.  Gold Black Back, Sexy West, Chartreuse Flash (below), are just a few of the colors available that will immediately jump out at you as must haves for any body of water. 

Here are a few other things to remember.  Each Trap comes with a case that you can close again and again.  Each weighs ½ oz, and are 3 inches long.  Most importantly, Rat-L-Trap lures are made in the U.S.A.  Bottom line is that they’re made here, with the highest quality, and are built to last.  The fish know the real deal when they see it, and now you do too!

Review: The Last Knife You'll Ever Buy

Knives Of Alaska delivers the quality of old for today's outdoor enthusiasts.

About 8 years ago I was in need of a new hunting knife when a friend of mine introduced me to Knives Of Alaska (KOA) with the warning that "this can get costly and addictive"!  My friend was right on both accounts.  My first KOA purchase was the Jaeger and it quickly lead to many more for myself, as well as a few as gifts to close friends.  The knives themselves were designed to withstand the harshest weather in Alaska, across glacier fields, swamps, mountains, and tundra.  Charles Allen, President and Owner, delivers quality and dependability to each and every knife.

Years later that first knife is still my favorite.  The Jaeger is sleek, and powerful.  It's the perfect representation of what happens when sophistication and elegance are matched with raw power and strength.  The D2 carbon steel is dangerously sharp, and the scar on my left hand is living proof of that (while it was absolutely my fault that I cut myself at all field dressing my buck in single digit temperatures is of no consequence).  Take a look at these features:

Category:	Jaeger Boning Knife
Item Number:	00113FG
Metal:	D2
Rockwell Hardness:	58-60
Bevel:	18 - 20°
Knife Length:	8-1/4"
Blade Length:	3-1/2"
Weight:	3.6 oz

The knife itself is a "Full Tang", which means the metal runs the full length of the knife; from the tip of the blade, to the butt of the handle.  This is important because it won't sacrifice strength by having a transition in the middle where the blade meets the handle.  Offered in two styles, Suregrip and Stag (both pictured below), the differences are purely aesthetical. 

Suregrip handle and leather sheath

Stag handle and leather sheath

For anglers looking for fillet knives, the Steelheader and Coho are excellent pieces of fine craftsmanship.  Both are only available in suregrip, but offer your choice of either a black or orange handle.  These knives hold their edge extremely well, allowing the user to easily process a full days catch without needing resharpening or touching up.  This is crucial to anyone who prefers to clean their fish at designated areas prior to returning home for the day.

Category:	Steelheader
Item Number:	00315FG
Metal:	440C
Rockwell Hardness:	58-60
Bevel:	12-18°
Knife Length:	10.875"
Blade Length:	5.75"
Weight:	2.8 oz

Category:	Coho Fillet Knife
Item Number:	00086FG
Metal:	440C
Rockwell Hardness:	57-59
Bevel:	18-20°
Knife Length:	13"
Blade Length:	8-1/2"
Weight:	5.3 oz

All KOA knives come with a lifetime warranty to the original owner on the handle and blade for "...defects from workmanship and materials and from breakage under normal use."  While the sheathes, leather included, are not covered by any warranty, you can be confident in the craftsmanship.  I've put my own cases and knives through rigorous weather and carrying, and can honestly say that they still look as they did the day I purchased them with very simple maintenance.  I have no doubt my grandchildren will someday carry these very knives of mine.  That's saying a lot.  They are the finest knives made today and I know you won't be disappointed.