Big-O

Zel, now "Ain't that what it's all about"....fishing with and helping friends to get more excitement and enjoyment thru sharing info that has given us the same...You're a great example of what is going on in this Forum and happening more and more often. And it's not just us old guys either, I see all these young guns getting in there assisting with valuable info and being totally unselfish with their attitudes as well. Some say the world is going to the dogs..... "Not in this part of the world it ain't".... U-Da-Man-Zel Big O

Here is some info that might help on most if not all buzz style frogs. 1) Bigger hooks are most always better, 5/0 EWG heavy wire would be a minimum for me and I prefer 6/0 myself on a Rage Toad. 2) Buzz frogs are made to buzz at a med/slow to quick pace, but to be able to stop them and let them fall in pockets etc. is often the ticket for more finicky fish, and the faster they fall the better in most cases. This will often draw a reaction strike because the fish sees the bait buzzing overhead and is sometimes hesitant thinking "should I or shouldn't I", then suddenly the bait stops buzzing and drops in the basses living room at a medium pace so that the bass says to himself.. "MISTAKE" and BAM! I find that this style of presentation is best achieved with the keel weighted swimbait hook. Some use a 3/16 oz, but I prefer 1/8 oz. You can view details on my website Toad product page. Toad info http://ragetail.com/ragetailtoad.htm When you use a light keel weighted hook you can throw'em a mile and follow the hooking procedures as noted on the Rage Shad page to insert keel weight hook without boring out nose. Shad info http://ragetail.com/ragetailshad.htmll The weight also helps baits to land upright 100% of the time and allows swimbait or wake bait action below the surface. Versatility is everything in my book, and with a light swimbait hook I can get it with this presentation. Hope this info helps someone get more strikes on buzz frogs because it is now my favorite presentation for'em, and that's a "Good Thang" Big O

Oh man I really hate fishin that nasty stuff....When we goin!!! ;D Big O

Glad you like the toads Ron but I like the looks of the water you're fishin, It's awesome. Big O

Muddy's a Jig-a-Maniac now. And theres no turning back Pal, it only gets better from here. Good on ya! Big O

ICAST was unbelievable Mike and glad we finally met as well. I appreciate and thankyou for your comments, I enjoy what I do in bait designs but enjoy the friends and relationships that are developed because of it even more. You were one of my first new friends here at Bass Resource and a great friendship it has become. Big O

Wow Pondhopper, a 14" Rage Anaconda hmmmm.... that would be a bigger than big, huge, extra large, giant, humongous worm, snake, serpent, lamprey,eel type of bait because the 10 incher is an eyeful in the water...... I don't want to be responsible for scaring any bass the death!!! That wouldn't be nice now would it? ;D http://ragetail.com/images/RAGE_TAIL_NEXT_GEN.wmv Big O

Well now that just makes me plum SLAP HAPPY Thanks for the comments and glad you folks like'em Big O www.ragetail.com

Welcome K_Dub and glad to have you aboard... If you can smile, you can fish and thats what it's all about Big O www.ragetail.com

It' about time you showed up Ole Timer. Where have you been? I'm an old guy too and need some help with these young'uns. Don't wait too long to jump in, we don't have that much time left and this younger crew is kinda fiesty... ;D Big O www.ragetail.com

Deepwormin, what a name!!!!!! Don't get no better than that. Welcome to the group friend, "All of us here have alot of fun, cause all of us here fish alot" Big O www.ragetail.com

First offering of colors that are darker are June bug and also Okeechobee Craw which is green pumpkin and blue flake. There are some other cool colors and I will post them soon. Big O Here you go Shorefisher, Colors on Anaconda are plum, watermelon red black, red shad, june bug, green pumpkin, okeechobee Craw, red bug, big tex, double header and bama bug.

Micro, your bottom illustrations are correct. I tested the baits for SK as well and have never penetrated the back of the bait for rigging, and hook up percentage is equally as good and catch rate to casts made, is much improved, probably due to improved performance or action. Can run it both faster and slower with improved action and vibration. In my case, faster to cover more water and get in more cast until the fish are located and slow down to pick on'em. I am not the originator of this idea but I definitely broke some of our guys from that bad habit because I caught as many or more in each case. I do add scent gel like Megastrike to'em also. Not sure it matters that much cause the fish normally slam'em as you know, but I'm picky about scent. It is a hollow body with a .090 thickness of soft plastic between a wide gap hook and the fishes jaw. I'll take those odds all day long. Give'er a go and when you get into the fish, lets talk about it Big O

Bocabasser, the Space Monkey is a master of deception, the only way you can fish it wrong, is to not fish it at all. He is a little Spazz Creature Frog with an attitude. ;D Video http://ragetail.com/images/RAGE_TAIL_NEXT_GEN.wmv Big O

Nice fish Bluegill, Big O

Flechero, the Zone is a wonderful place and happens more often now in my fishing experiences than ever before. I learned this thru guiding for years and realizing that My Zone happened regularly and most always after I had my client solid in the fish. I RELAXED Nowadays I fish without an agenda and I am much more at peace in this wonderful adventure we call fishing. Better to say "Just enjoy the moment" and you will find that The Zone is not far away.. Big O www.ragetail.com

Bronzeback, I have found that serious tournament participation at all levels cause the majority of burnout situations along with guiding at an intense pace. This puts the emphasis on performance issues which in turn actually blinds your thought processes from your original intent or love of fishing. The situation that you are now involved with like fishing for fun with LBH etc. is exactly what you need to re light the candle. And be careful not to turn it into a BONFIRE again because that gets too hot to sustain for a long period of time. I would venture to say that if you could go back to the beginning and start reliving those times, you would get your desire back. I did and I'm glad I did. Big O

Hey Skip, we have all worn trash bags at one time or another and glad we did. Great pics and keep up the good fishin' Big O

I like tungsten as well but I'm not sure it really makes the difference because I haven't noticed an improved strike ratio over lead. Big O

Brad, the latest info I have on ship dates is mid October but I will keep you posted if that changes. Hopefully earlier cause I need'em too!!!!! Big O http://ragetail.com/images/RAGE_TAIL_NEXT_GEN.wmv

Thanks Robert, You and Glenn caught me at a busy moment but it was great to meet you as well. We will have to get to work and get some baits on the shelves so that all of us can play. Thanks again Big O http://ragetail.com/images/RAGE_TAIL_NEXT_GEN.wmv

Here is an illustration that came from my website on hooking the Rage Shad with the swimbait hook. Use same procedure on tube style swimmers. Notice that you don't run the hook thru nose of the bait from the front end, instead under the chin area. This keeps nose from boring out when the weight is forced thru thus causing the bait to slip down the hook. With this method, the bait must be rigged then tied to line after rigging but it's worth it to me because it forces me to retie more often keeping a fresh knot. Some people use a screw lock hook which is nice if you don't mind the bait flying off the hook when fighting the fish. I lose alot of baits like this when I'm really in the fish. Remember not to run hook completely thru (as last illustration shows) on hollow body baits and just let it float inside the hollow cavity. Big O

Couldn't have said it better Basspro and your hook choice is absolutely correct on swim tubes style baits. Big O

Rondef, I am not that familiar with your area but with S t r i p e r s in the area as well I would think that you might want lipless cranks in shad colors and possibly jiggin style spoons added to your list. Sounds like a fun trip. Big O

Matt, now that is an awesome looking bait, great timing too because is you are right on point with the swim bait craze. Good going Mr. Matt Big O