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[The Trout Scout]

THE ALAMEDA RATTLER POPPING CORK: Tips to rig it and use it.

By Capt. Rex Harrison Hoyt

The Alameda Rattler, reddish orange top/green bottom (and even the reddish orange top/black bottom in the real cold of winter) has proven itself to be a very effective cork/float.

Whatever you choose to call it – popping cork or float, it is very effective for catching trout, redfish, flounder, drum, shark, etc. It has some advantages that other corks don’t have. Rigged and used properly it can be used year round with live shrimp, recently alive shrimp, fin fish or soft plastic lures. So here are some tips on how to rig it and how to use it.

Using a SPRO #8 barrel swivel ( http://www.spro.com/swivels.htm ), (a very small swivel for it’s size- but its 50 lb. test.), from the bottom of the swivel with leader attached slip the leader through the top clasp and pull it tight. The SPRO#8 swivel has less “play” or give to it, thus giving you a quicker feel when the fish bites. If it’s a trout when they feel that hook they can spit the bait quick, so you better set that hook quick, this is where the SPRO #8 swivel helps in that regard as it gives you a quicker feel on the bite.

After you tie your knot on the swivel, hold your line tight against the swivel at the top of the Alameda Rattler and pull your leader through the top clasp on the top stem. Wrap your leader 3 times around the top stem, up to five if you can, and pull your leader through the long slit on the side of it down to the bottom of the slit. Hold your thumb in the bottom of the slit just above the bottom stem preventing your leader from coming out the slit, and wrap it 3 times around the bottom stem, slip your leader through the bottom clasp and your set to set the length of your leader.

I use at least five wraps on the top stem and 3 wraps around the bottom stem of the 3 1/2" Alameda Rattlers. Using five wraps or more takes some skill. However, you’ll have extra line to lower your depth and/or cut off an inch or so of leader above your hook because of line fray from so many game fish bites. Thus, you will be able to maintain the proper length of your leader when clipping the frayed area next to your hook from trout and red bites. Just retie your hook and cut off an inch of leader due to teeth abrasions from game fish on bites on the leader near the hook. You can unwrap a bit on either the top or bottom stem of the Al. Rattler to keep the length the same after you clip the frayed leader when you retie your the hook.

Length of leader: as a rule of thumb, 20 -22" of leader is sufficient to work 2 - 6 ft. of water. However, I make some for the real skinny water I fish, with only 16- 18 inches of leader to switch to on an as needed basis when fishing 1 – 2 ft of SaltH20 for reds and flounder. Rigged this way you won’t have line cuts in your line either since you are using the leader.

Having the skill to use this wrap method also will allow you to change from the 3 1/2” Al. Rattler in 2 – 6 ft. depths, to the 4” or 4 ½” A. Rattler when working shell depths over 6 ft. plus quick. When using the Alameda Rattling Cork I fish 99% of the time with the 3 ½” Al. Rattler because it’s “sound” is just right and it is not to big and won’t spook a fish when it lands on top of the water in shallow water. However, the difference in size does matter for deeper water 6 ft. or over that you are fishing.

I also like to take off the Al. Rattler and free line for reds and flounder underneath the trout or when fishing passes with good current. Consequently, if you can use the wrap method, just take you’re Alameda Rattler off and free line…or just wrap it back on and “go up top” for trout. In the event you are wade fishing, the wrap method is important as it will allow you to free line guts with good current or use the Alameda Rattler to work the grasslines next to the gut and work your bait/lure as you see fit against the shoreline.

The bb’s in the A. Rattler imitates the sound of shrimp migrating in the water. Pop it often, keep the slack out of your line and don't be afraid to make some NOISE with it.

That's what the concave top is for. It is to help this cork/float to make a sound like a trout hitting the top of the water feeding when you "pop" it. So you have two things attracting the fish, the sound of shrimp from the bb’s and the sound of trout feeding by making a “whoosh” noise on top of the SaltH20 with the concave top it. It will attract the fish!

In fact, when I first throw it out, I “pop” it three times in a row to try and imitate a mullet skipping across the water likes it’s being chased by a big fish. If a mullet is being chased by game fish, you can usually count on at least three skips out of the water by the mullet, so I try and duplicate that nature scene with my initial cast. Then after your initial three “pops”, pop it at regular or irregular intervals, depending on the clarity of the water. Muddy water you’ll find that it needs a steady “pop. Trout green water, it’s a variable pop,..let it sit…jiggle..pop…sit them BAMMM!!! Or it could be 5 seconds – pop, 10 seconds pop, 5 pop – 15 seconds pop – 8 seconds pop and so on…and then, pay attention to what rhythm the trout are attracted to at that location and stick with what’s working. Another tip is if your in shallow water or see a fish working close to your Al. Rattler, just “jiggle” it a bit, instead of popping it and tease the game fish, that’s another effective use of the Alameda Rattler. Once you get this technique down, it’s a short jump to doing the same thing with a Rockport Rattler jig ( www.rockportrattler.com ) or a rattling Top Water lure. All it takes is confidence and knowing where the fish are!!

As far as leader there are two types. An inexpensive leader I use is 40 lb. Stren clear mono for leader. When you “pop” your Alameda Rattler it makes your shrimp come to the surface and then drop down. The 40 lb. mono gives you more buoyancy and the shrimp falls at a slower rate than with 20 lb. leader, thus giving the trout a better shot at your bait. A bit more expensive, but more durable against fray from game fish teeth and less visible in the water that I am also use is Seaguar 20 lb. Fluorocarbon leader ( http://www.seaguar.com/home.html ). I am using it with good success and it doesn’t fray as quick from trout and reds teeth. When the bite is on strong and steady for most of the day, especially during the fall and spring; and, your catching lots of fish, most leader will get frayed quick. In the event you hook into the trout or red of your lifetime during steady action for the better part of a day’s fishing, then during the latter part of your days fishing you may need or wish you had that extra durability and strength of the 40 lb. Stren clear mono or at least 20# Seaguar Fluorocarbon leader.

The Alameda Rattler is effective with live shrimp or recently alive shrimp over grass and shell. The A. Rattler is also effective with live pin or piggy perch rigged using single/circle hooks underneath it in deep shell or around deep shell pads around wells.

Using the D.O.A. or Berkley Power Bait shrimp tail lures, Tidal Surge split tail soft plastics, Norton Bull Minnows or even using the SW Assassins underneath the Al. Rattler is effective in the fall and winter if you’re a lures only type of angler. Also, a Rockport Walking Shrimp will soon be available on my web site. These type soft plastics on a Rockport Rattler XMAX it’s just that much more lethal.

The Alameda Rattler has a patent number on top, so make sure that this patent number is present when you make your purchase. Some Academy’s may put other brands of imitation "rattlers" in the bin with the Alameda Rattlers, so watch out for that. Wal-Mart carries the Alameda Rattlers and keeps them in a separate bin, to the best of my knowledge. The other brands of rattlers will take on water quick, and you’ll have to replace it due to it’s sinking and not making the right noise since the bb’s inside will be sunk in water. If your rattler has water in it the bb’s in it won’t have the right rattling sound needed to attract the fish like the patented Alameda Rattler so change it. Believe me, little things do make a difference, especially when the catching is tough or slow. That’s why I like the Alameda Rattler.

Just think of the Alameda Rattler as a top water lure with a shrimp/soft plastic trailing it. Both rattling top water’s, the rattling Rockport Rattler ™ jig and rattling corks with shrimp/lures underneath are effective for attracting trout,… and big ones at that. That’s because trout and reds can hear. But, that’s another article.

With the Alameda Rattler making noise up top and with a live shrimp or pinfish, or a slow sinking soft plastic on a rattling Rockport Rattler XMAX w/ a soft plastic underneath it, then you have the best of both worlds and your fishing will be catching…..year round!

Capt. Rex
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Capt. Rex

"In its deepest self, fishing is the most solitary sport, for at its best it is all betweeen you and the fish." .....Arnold Gingrich.

[tyler]

Thanks for the great info.

[Kyle aka Kcon]

I agree Tyler, that is great info, but, you do know who makes the Rockport Rattler, right? You should be getting some in the mail soon! Nice info, lotsOspam............Kyle
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I fish, therefore, I am................Happy!

[The Trout Scout]

Your Welcome Tyler.

Looks like you and I should be expecting 2 dozen or so of the Alameda Rattler's in the mail poste haste.

When anglers get the SaltH20 Surf savvy stuff working their way, then they'll learn soon enough how productive it is when ya got a Rockport Rattling jig that you can work deep or work up top!!

Thank you for the kind words Tyler. You have a great website to help anglers that want to catch fish here in the coastal bend in a big way.

See ya around the dock; or, on the beach.

Better yet,......come fish with me and fish with my son!!

And bring your digital Tyler,....so you can catch a pic of my son catching fish on the Rockport Rattling silver or gold spoons in the surf this spring.

Who knows he just may catch a Major League "surf" trout.

That young All Star has already caught some Major League" bay" trout.

BTW, my son nor I are not hard to find, just look for a young angler wearing a RF-LL All Star Jersey with a bowed up rod in his hands chunking either a RR'er gold or silver rattlin' spoon.

Capt. Rex
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Capt. Rex

"In its deepest self, fishing is the most solitary sport, for at its best it is all betweeen you and the fish." .....Arnold Gingrich.

[redblazerguy]

I really dont understand... Think we can get some pictures on how to rig it???
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Wheres the fish?

[The Trout Scout]

Here's a couple of pics that should be of some assistance redblazerguy.

I clipped this off one of my rods that has Power Pro rigged on it.

Tie the mono leader on as shown on the SPro swivel and leader, bring it through the top clasp of the Alameda Rattler, give it 5 wraps around the stem and pull through slit, wrap around 3 times on the bottom stem and then through the bottom clasp.




The length of leader shown here is exactly 22" from the bottom stem of the AR'er to the eye of the Rockport Rattler XMAX hook. I fish a lot of 2 feet +/- SaltH20 so this keeps my lure just off the bottom and when I pop the cork, that brings my lure to the surface and then it falls slowly.



The rattle in the hook on the XMAX or RR'er jig underneath the AR'er gives a little sound to the suspended lure for the fish to hone in on once the AR'er cork gets the fish in the area.

I like to throw SW Bass Assassins, Norton Bull Minnows or Tidal Surge Split tails. The ones shown here are Plum/Chartreuse and Glow/Firetail, two of my favorites.

Also rigged this way you can use live shrimp or fin fish. A mullet, croaker, piggy perch or even a pin perch will make a lot of noise as it swims around and it's tail rattles the XMAX. The UltraPoint Mustad Black Nickel hooks will handle just about anything that you can catch, bay or surf.

The right kind of sound will attract fish, and then your fishing will be catching!

If I can be of further assistance, just let me know.

Have fun and good luck with your fishin'!!

Capt. Rex
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Capt. Rex

"In its deepest self, fishing is the most solitary sport, for at its best it is all betweeen you and the fish." .....Arnold Gingrich.

[John P]

Thanks for all the info Ill try it next time I get down there might not be till mid April caus 2nd week of april have a big week long trip to amistad with about 10 family members , godd luck to you all see ya whin i get down there

[redblazerguy]

Thanks alot. I appreciate the way you went out of your way to put those pics up.. Thanks again!!
_________________
Wheres the fish?