Big-O

Exactly....... Big O www.ragetail.com

Thankyou for considering the Rage Tail products. And a big thankyou to each of you who posted to assist wisconsin heat with information on this topic. As many of the responses noted there are several designs to choose from and each has it's time and place for an enjoyable fishing experience. To your mention of the Eeliminator, It is one of my mainstays on the water with C rigging and/or weightless as a topwater being my favorite uses. I normally fish the lighter colors as topwaters and darker colors for subsurface applications although time of day and color of water can alter my choices. Here is a link that might give you more information to understand rigging, fishing techniques etc. when using the Eeliminator. http://www.ragetail.com/Eeliminator.html If you are interested in similar information on any of the other designs, you can find it on the Rage Tail home page by clicking on "Rage Tail Products" in the top bar, then clicking the chosen bait design. Hope that helps and thanks again.... Big O www.ragetail.com

Terrific Fish man and Congratulations Ms. Keri is a terrific Gal too, at the Roadtrip last year I never saw her that she wasn't smiling and helping others to enjoy the festivities. Glad you're havin' fun with the Space Monkeys Big O www.ragetail.com

Hey ETB, now that's a real cool surprise for sure.....didn't know they were in that lake Great Photo too Big O www.ragetail.com

Actually the RH is 6" with tear tabs released and fished. The profile is larger than the BBH and more comparable to the standard BH Big O www.ragetail.com

Rage Hawgs are salt and coffee impregnated. Many of todays creature baits, typical to the Rage Hawg, can be altered or pinched down to change and/or reduce the overall profile. I have utilized this technique many times and with many different baits. Here are some ideas to ponder for pofile changes on the Rage Hawg....Each is a different look or presentation. 1) When the head of the bait is worn out - pinch approx. 1 inch off the top which removes the side arms as well. This leaves 1 and 1/2" area for a 3/0 or smaller hook. 2) Remove the side arms and the side flappers to make a 6" or shorter twin tail worm. 3) Pinch entire body off just above the side flappers for a bulky jig trailer 4) Utilizing #3, also pinch side flappers off leaving just enough material for securing the twin tails to the back of a jig. Threaded on the hook is my preference with this presentation as the tails add nice length as is. Since a baits overall profile size and action is so important to the fish, it's up to us to figure out what they want. Some Creature Baits are like a "Fishermans Smorgasbord". I hope a few of you have an opportunity to ck out these changes. After all, doing something different isn't only fun, on heavily fished water it's often the key to success. Big O www.ragetail.com

Now that's the way to do it right there......don't let the cold get in your way, just fish WTG Hat's off to ya and nice pic's too Big O www.ragetail.com

The Rage Hawg is 6 inches total length when fishing although in the hardshell clams (packaged) with all tear tabs attached, they're only 5". Design differences to others on the market are the RT flanges as well as tails sweep in opposite direction which take advantage of water flow and the front arms have full swimming action as well. Another design feature when jigged straight up and down is the side flappers expanding quickly and spring board the bait to flip it over and fall nose first. This action detail is provided on this video footage below. http://www.ragetail.com/bhvid_hsflash.html Hope you like'em Big O www.ragetail.com

Does color matter......IMO, absolutely YES, especially when tuning the bite. Very often when you are catching fish on a given color, there is a good possibility that you can tune the color to catch even more. And same goes with lure action, types, retrieval speeds etc. This is being proven more often today than ever before. As tournaments become more and more popular and fishing with partners more often than not, all who are experienced in this environment know that we as partners feed off of the others success and visa-versa. The tweaking of successful lure presentations (which includes colors) is ongoing until the weigh-in. Big O www.ragetail.com

When I asked the question about fishing the Rage Craws in winter temperatures I was referring to water temperatures just above freezing. In my Winter fishing trips, and I don't take that many, when the surface water is, say 35 degrees, I have not had much success with jerkbaits and crankbaits using them in the manner that is typically recommended (i.e. tight wobbling crankbaits and long pauses with jerkbaits), thus my question about Rage Craws with their "tight wobbling" claws. I do agree that horizontal movement must be extremely slow but I'm still uncertain about wobbling or side to side action once water temperatures are this low. Do you feel these recommendations still apply at these temperatures? By the way, that's a nice bass Big-O! Really informative discussion by all involved and covering some terrific details to boot. To slow the fall of a jig, there are 3 main things controlled by individual choice to consider: 1) weight of the jig 2) size and bulk of the skirt and/or trailer used 3) amount of water resistance provided by trailer from action received There are other things that will make slight variations such as line weight, type etc. but these IMO are the priority three. Many folks fail to realize the skirt factor but it is big as well. There was a time back when, that there was little or no received action from the trailer with the exception of what the fisherman added with his rod tip. Also the plastics then were not as finely tuned by overall design and with the latest in plastic recipes and designs, the action factor providing additional water resistance becomes as relevant for fall speeds as any of them. Big O www.ragetail.com

Another thought Roger, Rattle Traps cast like a bullet and cover vast amounts of water really quick. The loud noise that accompanies them possibly serves as a stimulant or wake up call for lethargic fish and since they can hear it from a distance, by the time it passes by they are much more alert and whammo "reaction strike'. Do I have my chin out there too ;D Big O www.ragetail.com

Hey senile1, I am also of the opinion that cold water says "Slow as you Go" when fishing jigs, but it is my experience that the rate of fall, the speed that I move the jig and the speed that I cover any given structure with the jig is the biggest determining factor for catching the fish. Just because they are cold doesn't necessarily mean that they disapprove of a particular action that your chosen bait provides. Please remember, this is my opinion only and based on my personal experiences....from 40+ yrs of jig fishing. For example, winding Rattletraps in late winter or early Spring here in TX is popular. Fishing this fast moving, loud and annoying bait is a proven technique for many big fish but often you have to repetitively cast at certain structure before you can get the fish to hit. When the fish are cold, allowing them to have the time to get things going mentally and physically is important. This is not to say that when a bait falls or runs directly in front of a fish and at the proper speed, that the fish won't immediately strike, but more often than not the fish has to overcome it's lethargic state and cover some amount of water to find the bait. Fall rate, speed of retrieve or the actual speed that I move the jig thru the fish's lair is priority one for me. To senile1's question of, "is a Rage Craw subtle enough for cold water use".....For years, I have used only Rage Tail Chunks, Baby Craws, Craws or Lobsters as jig trailers year around and that's not because I have a need to pet my own pride but moreover, I have a need to catch fish here's one from last Jan. on jig n Lobster and thanks for all of you folks who commented. Big O www.ragetail.com

rowyourboat, This information can be found under rigging thru out our websites but for your convenience: The Rage Craw can be rigged with a variety of hook sizes and styles depending on the type of presentation you are looking for. Texas rigged using a bullet weight from 1/8 oz to 1 oz depending on the amount of wind and water depth when fishing. ¼ oz is standard. For casting with a drag and stop, or lift and fall retrieve, an un-pegged weight is very popular. For flipping or pitching in brush or trees, a pegged weight is advised to keep the bait and weight together which helps you to better navigate the structure as well as provide a more vertical presentation. Using the Rage Craw as a Jig Trailer is very popular when a slightly larger or longer profile is desired over the standard chunk size trailer. It can be used on the standard skirted football, flipping or casting jigs, or on a stand up jig head as well. Carolina rigged is also very effective using as light of a weight as necessary for the wind and depth conditions. This technique allows the bait to free swim at any and all depths which is very attractive to the fish. Another up and coming rig is using a keel weighted hook. This allows the bait to fall with a different profile and action and is extremely effective for finicky fish in shallow water and over grass or moss beds. Light or low wind conditions are best for this style of presentation. Completely weightless using an EWG hook in the sizes mentioned below, gives an excellent finesse top water presentation that allows a gentle fluttering, flapping top action and lets the bait slowly fall in the grass pockets when needed. Any of the popular hook designs are effective with the Craw which includes Standard offset worm hook and EWG hook. Preferred sizes are 3/0 to 4/0 in each. Have fun friend and fish safe Big O www.ragetail.com

Matt, Open air conditions, extreme heat over a long period of time, or direct sunlight over an extended period of time can cause damage. As long as they are still in the bags and appear in good condition, should not be a problem. Big O www.ragetail.com

If there is a topical gel scent better that MegaStrike, I'm not aware of it. Fishing trash with Soft plastics is much easier with the additional lubrication and MegaStrike is both effective and durable. There's a tube in my boat, in my tackle bag and in my buddies tackle bag because he stole it from me ;D Big O www.ragetail.com

Yeah I have to order them sometime....If I'm out of'em and need'em quick, calling *** everytime. They always have colors even when SK is out. A guys gotta do what a guy's gotta do Big O www.ragetail.com

Light weight set up 3/8 or less in relatively calm conditions is very productive in a variety of depths and especially shallow water. Big O www.ragetail.com

In the wind a light weight swimbait hook works extremely well. The bait surfaces easily so it will allow you to swim it in choppy water without it skipping out. Another benefit to that set up is subsurface swimmins and/or wake bait presentation. Glad you like'em Big O www.ragetail.com

Hope you like'em and you might want to ck out the rigging Inst. on the Eeliminator Big O www.ragetail.com

There's a link in a post above referring to an interview with Mark Menendez and below is a link that details uses and rigging info as well http://www.ragetail.com/SmokinRooster.html Big O www.ragetail.com

Hey Wayne, Thanks, I ordered some too cause I'm out of two colors I need by Saturday. Here's a link to a recent interview where Mark Menendez discusses the Smokin Rooster http://www.ragetail.com/ragetalk/index.php?topic=1217.msg9802 Glad you like'em Big O www.ragetail.com

I agree with ya Glenn......I think that the WBT was under marketed and under funded from the beginning. I also think that this is a real set back for the fishing industry as a whole.....I don't think that it was ESPN's intention, because they are obviously not in the business of providing the entire fishing industry with new marketing avenues. The majority of us want to see more quality fishing lakes and rivers with better management practices, better access and facilities for both tournaments and family environments. Seeing these hopeful additions in our future are dependant on the amount of participation and sincere interest generated at local, state and federal levels. Since Women are 1/2 of the adult voting and buying population, and they average having more influence on children than men....Common sense would say that a very important part of the fishing industry's potential and future is in their hands. The real and obvious benefit that the WBT had in this industry was reaching this huge and basically untapped demographic that could provide new opportunuties for growth in many aspects. But this type of marketing challenge can't be taken on a short term basis. Making a gender specific tourney trail for the Gals was an innovative and good strategy in my opinion, but missed the boat on innovative long term market planning.

Hey Kenny, Here's a link with some info on the Space Monkey and if you scroll down to bottom right of that page, you can click on the Next Generation Video and see the action of it. I mainly flip, Tx and C rig it, but will run it weightless or on a keel weighted hook in the grass. http://www.ragetail.com/ragetailspacemonkey.html If you ck it out and have questions, let me know..... Big O www.ragetail.com

We might have scored some new colors for the next offering and will post'em when I find out Big O www.ragetail.com

Anywhere and anytime with lightweight Tx or C rig. 6" and under. Also weightless or on a light keel weighted hook with spinning tackle in shallow grass. Lizards are a terrific go to bait when the bites tough. My advice is keep it slow and keep it on the bottom. I think the fish get so mad at'em, they just can't help but hit it If you fish'em a little, I think you'll like'em alot Big O www.ragetail.com