1/2 oz rat-l-trap is a large mouth bass machine.  Get some relatively heavy line (17+) and a 7' rod to chuck it out, reel it in fast, and boom- violent strikes.  I use this lure 95% of the time for NC bass all year and own several in case I lose one.  My son calls this the "secret weapon".  Stop messing around and order a bunch.  Silver with black trim is my fav.