Bill Lewis
Bill Lewis Lures is a renowned American fishing tackle manufacturer founded by Bill Lewis in the 1960s in Louisiana, USA. The company is famous for its innovations in rattling (sound-emitting) lures.
The company's fame is entirely tied to the Rat-L-Trap lure. Bill Lewis pioneered the production of lures that create loud noise and vibration underwater, mimicking the distressed sounds of injured or scared baitfish.
The Rat-L-Trap:
This is a lipless crankbait (a vibrating lure without a lip) that features internal metal beads (rattles) inside the body cavity.
It instantly became a sensation in the 1960s because it was incredibly effective for catching Black Bass and quickly gained popularity as a versatile lure for pike, walleye, and many other predators.
The success of the Rat-L-Trap made rattles (built-in noise chambers) a standard feature in many modern lures.
The company focused on the idea that sound and vibration are key attractants for predators, setting it apart from many manufacturers who concentrated solely on visual design.
Today, the Rat-L-Trap is one of the most widely copied lures in the world, and Bill Lewis Lures continues to produce both classic models and new lines of crankbaits and baits
