GEAR
SPEED TRAPS
FISHING THE LUHR-JENSEN SPEED TRAP
THIS CLASSIC CRANKBAIT HAS QUIETLY DEVELOPED A RABID
FOLLOWING AMONG A SMALL SECT OF ANGLERS
T
he Luhr-Jensen Speed Trap has been around for years. And
while the unassuming crankbait is largely ignored by the
masses, it has a cult following scattered across the country.
You can see its effectiveness if you pay close attention to
top-level pro tournament results, where, from time to time,
the Speed Trap pops up in the recaps of the top finishers.
The reason for its long-term success and loya l fan base owes
to the fact that the Speed Trap is much different than most
crankbaits on the market.
Speed Trap Basics
The Speed Trap is a compact crankbait with a squared-off
bill, narrow profile and long arching back. It’s constructed of
thin plastic, which results in an extremely lightweight bait.
The lip and body design, combined with the lightness of the
bait, produces a lot of vibration with a tight wobble. In effect,
the Speed Trap behaves like a wooden crankbait, yet with the
durability of a plastic lure. It can also be fished at a high
speed without rolling over – hence the name.
The Speed Trap is available in two models: The No. 18 is 2
1/4 inches long and weighs 1/8 ounce, and the No. 14 is 2 3/4
inches and 1/4 ounce in weight. Their manufacturer-listed
dive depths are 5 and 8 feet, respectively, but expect them to
run a bit shallower than that.
New vs. Old Version
Many anglers believe that “original” Speed Traps are bet-
ter than their modern counterparts – baits made since
Rapala acquired Luhr-Jensen in 2005. It’s the same sort of
story as the Storm Wiggle Wart and other classics, and the
theory goes that when the original manufacturers were pur-
chased and production shifted over to the new owner’s sys-
tem, some aspect of the manufacturing process changed
and resulted in baits that are a little different.
In the Speed Trap’s case, some pros believe there is a
major difference in the action of the newer baits, so they’re
closely protecting their supply of the originals. The current
versions include rattles, but some of the original versions
came silent, or with one rattle or multiple rattles.
Whether or not the difference is really that dramatic is up for
debate, but any Speed Trap will catch fish in the right situation.
By Tyler Brinks
FLW Tour pro Terry Bolton has been fishing the bait since
the early 2000s and says it’s at its best when targeting bass
that have been seeing numerous crankbaits and lipless
crankbaits whiz by lately. One of the keys to the Speed Trap,
besides its ability to run true at any speed, is that it offers a
different look to pressured fish.
“I have seen plenty of times where I had a good bite going
on a lipless [crankbait] and it just stops,” Bolton says. “You
can usually pick up the Speed Trap and go back through the
area and catch a few more because you fish it like a lipless,
but it doesn’t have the sound and action that fish are condi-
tioned to hearing.”
BAIT COLORS
The Speed Trap comes in a slew of colors (the larger
version has more options), including many craw and
shad patterns and some brighter shades such as char-
treuse. Bolton’s favorites are: root beer (chartreuse with
a dark green back and orange belly) and orange crawfish
for spring. For fall fishing, he likes Tennessee shad and
“NearClear” pearl shad.
NearClear Pearl Shad
Orange Crawfish
A Well-Kept Secret
48
The Speed Trap has a loyal following in several regions,
most notably in the Carolinas and around the California
Delta, as well as on grassy lakes up north where anglers fish
it above the fringes of vegetation.
It’s a lure that some anglers would rather not talk about
because it works so well, and also because not as many peo-
ple throw it since more modern square-bills became the go-
to for shallow crankbait fishing.
Rootbeer
FLWFISHING.COM I MAY-JUNE 2018