Bill Lewis

Bill Lewis was a decorated World War II bomber pilot that grew up in the small town of Laurel, MS. He was an interesting blend of an artist, a salesman, and a fierce competitor. His brother Jack spoke of Bill selling minnows on the street as a kid. Bill went on to be a highly sought after football recruit, but went to war for his country before ever seeing any time on the field in college. After flying over 30 missions in WWII, Bill returned home and went to art school in Chicago. Thereafter he worked as a commercial artist in Dallas, TX and Jackson, MS. During that time Bill’s passion for fishing and his entrepreneurial spirit started to lead him into designing and selling fishing lures.

Bill made many attempts and took great risks in starting a fishing lure business before making it big. When most people would have called it quits and gone for a safer career path, Bill pressed on always finding a way to continue pursuing his dream. Then in the 60’s he developed a true champion of the fishing tackle industry, the legendary Rat-L-Trap®. When he heard the Rat-L-Trap coming through the water and saw his buddies catching fish like never before he knew he had something special. Bill also knew he needed a good name for this bait. Driving home from Toledo Bend one day in his old Ford station wagon, it hit him, he’d just name the lure after his car, the RattleTrap. It was noisy, but dependable like no other!

Today the Rat-L-Trap brand is the number 1 selling brand of hard-baits that are Made in the USA. With over 350 size and color combinations, The Trap™ is the undisputed king of lipless crankbaits.