Big-O

Here is an article for your reading and viewing pleasure Strike King Pro Greg Hackney, nicknamed Hack Attack', set a new 3-day total with a whopping 109 lb. 6 oz. weigh-in at the FLW East-West Fishoff at Falcon Lake in Zapata, TX in November. His weapon of choice was the RageTail 10[ch8243] Anaconda worm in Bama Bug and Red Bug colors. When he spotted bass under the boat, he cast out past the school. Instead of turning on his trolling motor, he let the wind push the boat and drag the Anaconda right into the school. He never turned the first bass that took his bait. The big bass took the Anaconda and kept going, finally breaking the line. It was a monster. He sat down in his boat, and tied-on a new Anaconda. On the next three casts, he caught three 7-pounders in back-to-back casts one weighing 7-pounds 14-ounces, another 7-pounds 11-ounces, and yet another 7-pounds 8-ounces. On the first day, he ended up with 32 pounds of bass, and was in 4th place. On the second day, Greg caught two bass on the Plum 10[ch8243] Anaconda. He also used the new RageTail Lobster with his new Hack Attack Jig to show the bass a different lure. He used a green-pumpkin-colored jig with a perch-colored skirt and a watermelon-red Rage Lobster on the back. He put the Rage Lobster, which is a really-big craw, on the back of that light jig to slow-down the fall of this jig. The bass wanted a bait with a big profile that fell really slowly. He would drag the lure through the brush very slowly to get the fish to bite. The last day Greg caught four bass on the Anaconda and one bass on the Hack Attack jig. He weighed in 15 bass in the tournament and 12 of those were caught on the Anaconda, while three were caught on the Hack Attack jig. This was the first time he had fished the Anaconda in a tournament. He said the 7-pounders he caught during practice built his confidence in the bait. The Anaconda is a big worm but also has a really-big tail. About 2/3 of the worm's body is tail with a unique swimming action and a big profile that really turns-on the big bass. Hackney quoted, I've decided the Anaconda will be the only worm I fish. I caught nearly 110 pounds of bass using the Anaconda. He took home a purse of $25,000 and qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup. Not only did he set the 3 day FLW record, but he now owns the heaviest single day five bass limit at 39 lbs. 11 oz. Great job, Greg.

Right back atcha Fourbizz, I'm on my 2nd one already, you gotta play catch up now.... ;D Big O

This one is 13.40

fourbizz, Here is a video that shows the Anaconda http://ragetail.com/images/RAGE_TAIL_NEXT_GEN.wmv I don't think there is or ever has been another worm that looks or swims like this and as far as the Craw comparisons, your photos perfectly illustrate just how much difference there is between those two brands which is a substantial difference IMO. It is all other brands that copied that shape and design, not Rage Tail. As far as the prices of Rage Tails being higher than some of the others...I agree that they are. See we have found common ground now lets go have a beer Big O www'ragetail.com

Betcha that strong lookin' fish took you and your yak for a tow..... ;D Nice fish and terrific photo Big O www.ragetail.com

Great fish Macey and great Job Uncle Paul....You're showin all us Uncles how it's suppose to be done too Big O www.ragetail.com

Niieece ETB, they are starting to move around for you.. Big O www.ragetail.com

Wtg Brian....now thats why they call'em Brownies Big O www.ragetail.com

They all work well to me in fact the Annie slithers on the fall with just a 6/0 superline Gammy EWG but the KW hooks will fall a little quicker and let you fish it slightly quicker as well. Big O

Yipper...those gals need all the rest and relaxation they can get. Runnin from hooks all day wears'em out a bit....if ya know what I mean Big O

You know me better than that....When we get a chance to fish this year we can discuss the details....Another one of our area Lakes that is over fished and needs much less hype and pressure. Big O

Matt, I'm a little different there...I only share lunkers with the same water they were caught in meaning, immediate release. I only ask them to bite for me not change there entire way of life for me..... Big O

Yes Micro, any swimbait hook will suffice just make sure it is 5/0 min. The action of the Anaconda illustrated on this video is with a 3/16 oz SB Hook. http://ragetail.com/images/RAGE_TAIL_NEXT_GEN.wmv Big O www.ragetail.com

Hey BassinBoy, To your question of durability, I think RT Chunk will out perform any other high action jig trailer. As to your Hope for them to be great trailers, I think they will out perform any other jig trailer. We need to and should listen to all opinions, as well as research for ourselves without bias to find actual facts and with that said, "If a fish will eat a jig" and your jig is rigged with a RT chunk, and it falls within seeing or feeling distance of that same fish, that fish will eat your jig. After 45 yrs of fishing jigs year around, and working and fishing with the best Pro's in the industry (and not just SK Pros), I haven't seen any high action trailer that was capable of putting too much action on a jig or caused the angler to not catch fish. This is often the angler fishing or moving the jig improperly, too fast or too slow that brings about this result. I realize that you didn't ask for a jig fishing history lesson but hope that answered your questions with as many facts as possible. Now find the fish and I hope you become a Jig'a'Maniac like me.....It's a fun way to be. Fish Safe Big O www.ragetail.com

13.90 Big thick fat healthy lbs but not quite as big thick and fat as my 235 old heavy worn out lbs ;D Big O www.ragetail.com

Well friends and neighbors, I found a baby doll that was hungry for a Lobster dinner and we dined in the moon light. The evening was pretty cool but the tussel got me warmed up. Worth the shivers and the shakes for sure....only 4 fish in 4 hrs but all were healthy. Should have got there earlier and not stayed so late due to cooling down quickly after sunset. 9:30 pm, 1/2 oz SK elite Model jig and RageLobster trailer, 7' med hvy Falcon Cara, Shimano Curado w/50 lb Suffix braid. My standard everything rig. Big O www.ragetail.com

On the Red side I tend to like Redbug because I have tested it against Plum when Plum is the proven color on one body of water and stayed neck'n'neck with it. What redbug gives me is two shades darker color leaning to red and green and sometimes it is THE ticket. Big Tex has everything wrapped into one....one side is Black/neon which is black w/red flake and other side is deep peanut butter brown w/orange and green flake. I like it as well as anything for a variety of water color and clarities. Hard to beat green pumpkin anytime and there are several different color schemes off of this like one of the two colors that Greg Hackney used at Falcon to set the record, it was BamaBug which is green pumpkin one side and green flake on the other. Red Shad is popular too as is Watermelon Red. Heck, I guess I like most all of them at different times depending on the water and the day. Please don't underestimate the 5/0 to 6/0 keel weighted hook slow swim presentation in any depth of water. It is a slow and tedious process but worth learning. Most bodies of water have never seen this technique ever before and the fish are telling me that more and more. Hope when you pick your colors, you slam the Monster you're lookin' for....after all aint that what it's all about. Big O www.ragetail.com

Wire buzz - Cavitron is tops Soft plastic -UUhhhh.....Rage Shad for me How'bout you Bobby M..... Big O www.ragetail.com

Good comment Dan and U B right on the KW hooks, I have used a 5/0 or 6/0 light keel weighted hook when it is a bit windy and there is some heavy chop on the water....Casts further and makes the Toad or Shad ride the waves really well without skipping out as soft plastics often do in those conditions. Big O www.ragetail.com

Hey there Fish2 live....back at'cha friend and hopefully you have already followed Kent's advice and ckd out the video and photo instructions that are on my website....Having said that, I advise 4/0 to 5/0 ewg superline or heavy wire hooks. Favorite being Gammy and Daiichi. Run hook into nose between 3/8 to 1/2 deep and reinsert beneath the base of tail. Remember to face tail upright as if setting flat on a table with tail up. That's how she runs and pop the little tear tab loose before throwin it... Like Ryno said about lightweight swimbait hooks, but I prefer them in the same sizes I mentioned, allow longer casts and wake bait action as well as top water. Have fun and keep in touch... Big O www.ragetail.com

Our office is checking schedules to see if I am going to be able to be there with you folks...I promise to try my best....and I might bring some of my secret stuff if I can make it...... Big O www.ragetail.com

If you're dragging in the gravel or rocks I might go to a football head jig and otherwise like Catt mentioned, any of them will suffice for casting Big O www.ragetail.com

Indy...I'm from Texas but there are plenty of high traffic lakes here as well and I am a big fan of upsizing in pressured waters. I have been very successful with that strategy especially early and late or deep water or on heavily stained to murky water. Big O www.ragetail.com

Checks in the Mail Kent.... ;D Big O www.ragetail.com

Hey BR Family, Thanks for all of your support for me and RageTail designs. We are having terrific success because of you. BassResource is my home away from home and definitely my favorite forum for communicating with real 'died in the wool' bass fishermen and friends. With the topwater season soon approaching, thought it would be handy for you to have the following article that was recently written to assist each of us with our soft plastic frog and toad baits this season. Hope it is of benefit to you and let me know if I can be of further assistance. Your Big O Pal, Steve Parks RageTail Designs www.ragetail.com Roll Over...Toad All of us topwater Finatics have seen this happen many times when throwin' soft plastic frogs and toads and many of us will just say,"well it catches fish on its back too" AND IT DOES. But that same group of us will have to admit that we would like for it to run on its belly more often than not because the bait appears to work better and gets more strikes when it's running right side up. Are all toads and frogs destined for a future of uncertainty, not knowing how to be "The best Toad they can be".... I think not. When facts are known, many of todays popular Toad designs will actually perform flawlessly when placed on the hook correctly. Often prior to the actual design phase, one will study the market place to determine the size and weight of a hook that is most popular with a given style of baits and why they are popular. Having this information helps to alleviate the possibility of future problems. Now that we know the "Toads Desires" and the Designers Mindset, lets learn about the fisherman. If we pay close attention to the original shape of many toads, their belly is very much shaped like the bottom of a boat hull. Let's imagine if we drastically changed the shape of our boat's bottom....how would it ride? For those of you who don't have a boat, just trust me, it's not a pretty picture. If we apply this same analogy while placing a soft plastic toad on a hook, we can start to see a bigger picture. Maintaining the integrity of the original shape of the bait will definitely get your Toad started on his physical therapy session to give you better results. Wise ole Froggers Like Strike King's Pro Mark Davis will some time point the head up slightly or bow the frogs belly down just a little while hooking to add insurance for making it run upright everytime or possibly change the tone or action provided. Now we're back to the all important hook. RageTail Bait Designer Steve Parks, says that the hook that an angler chooses and the method of hooking the Frog is possibly the most important aspect of receiving the correct action on any given bait design. He said prior to designing the RageToad, the market study showed that a 5/0 to Extra wide gap hook was a big favorite to many Froggers for a couple of reasons, one was improved hook up percentages and another was the added depth to the keel effect. He also said some of the top Pros were using hooks as large as 7/0. Another popular trend was using the Heavy Wire Hooks (Superline) as they added even more weight to the keel effect, as well as handled the larger fish in the thick stuff. Steve says that one of the biggest culprits to poor performance on Frogs is when some fishermen skin hook a Frog for weedless application. If done correctly there is no change to the shape or integrity of the design, but often an angler will actually bow the back of the bait up too much to hide the point of the hook in it's back, This done excessively, will take the designed keel effect from the bottom of the bait and reverse it to the top which will make a soft plastic Frog run on it's back everytime. He said that on his Rage Toad Design, he supplied a recessed hook slot in the back of the Toad that is dimensioned so that when properly placed, a 5/0 or 6/0 EWG hook point will lay perfectly hidden just below the Toad's back and can be inserted or skin hooked in the front of the slot for absolute weedless applications. And all without changing the original keel design or shape. So what have we learned after this brief discussion on soft plastic Toads....A toad wants to be all he can be...A designer wants to produce the best design....and a fisherman wants to catch the biggest and the most fish... Well maybe with these little nuggets of information, we can all be happy and better enjoy our next Topwater Frogging adventure..... Strike King Lure CO