6 minutes ago, Derek1 said:

Got a couple on the 50 in morning dawn. There only about two pounds, but boy do they absolutely hammer it. 

Nicely Done ~

It will be a while before I see any top water action.

Btw, I do understand how tricky it can be to get a decent fish pic fishing by yourself,  but if you're releasing these fish, rolling them around in the dirt beforehand might not contribute favorably to their survival. 

Just saying.

A-Jay 

On 4/21/2020 at 8:46 AM, TBAG said:

I've got a 40 on the way, and from other suggestions in another thread plan to throw it on my new 795sb rod with 20lb mono. Sounds like that might be too much of a rod?

 

On 4/21/2020 at 10:08 AM, Dangerfield said:

It'll be fine, but you should track down a 50 size for that rig.

I've had my 40 for a while but it hasn't had the chance to leave the package. I've got a 50 on order too. I'm anxious to throw it on my 795, it's my entry into swimbait fishing even though the 40 is still mainly considered a topwater? Oh well, I'm ready to give it a whirl but the weather has been terrible on the days I'm free from work to fish, go figure right? Hope everyone is staying safe! 

 

 

Untitled by Caleb Bender, on Flickr

 

The 40 feels right at home on either of my jig rods, 735c and lew's custom lite magnum jig. The 8.1 reel makes it impossible to wake unless I'm moving like molasses.

13 hours ago, TBAG said:

 

I've had my 40 for a while but it hasn't had the chance to leave the package. I've got a 50 on order too. I'm anxious to throw it on my 795, it's my entry into swimbait fishing even though the 40 is still mainly considered a topwater? Oh well, I'm ready to give it a whirl but the weather has been terrible on the days I'm free from work to fish, go figure right? Hope everyone is staying safe! 

 

 

Untitled by Caleb Bender, on Flickr

 

The pics above where my fist two fish on the 795. What a blast it was to throw the 50 on it. It cast it really well, and also really loads up once there hooked. The 50 attracted a few followers as well. I had so much fun with it yesterday I ordered another morning dawn for a spare, a brown 50 for a place I go with some musk rats, and a morning dawn in the 40 size. My first outing with the 795 and the rat were great. Now it’s all I can think about. 

Just added a rat 30 this weekend in chrome. Thanks @Bluebasser86
 25 really struggles to wake, 30 is a bit better and only the 40 is a true wake. Oh, I added another species to the list:

 

Get a black one for night fishing!

After throwing the 50 size for a bit I realize it's not really very big at all.  The 30 size must be like a popper. 

1 minute ago, JediAmoeba said:

After throwing the 50 size for a bit I realize it's not really very big at all.  The 30 size must be like a popper. 

The 30 is tiny in comparison.

I'll be on the water in the morning ~ 

Targeting green bass for a change and the RAT is already rigged & ready !

Let's Do this . . .

A-Jay

2 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

After throwing the 50 size for a bit I realize it's not really very big at all.  The 30 size must be like a popper. 

I fish it on a spinning rod and 20lb braid...

Edit to my post above:

 

Turns out both my smaller rats are both 30s, not a 25, which must be tiny. I have a bbz-1 shad 25 and it's barely 2 inches long - fun fact, I've caught rainbows on that too (citrus shad). Back to the 30s, these are more squarebills than wakes, they do wake. For what ever reason, my MD colour sinks more then the new chrome one but it's also 2 years older and has seen many esox. I use my cranking rod for the 30s, and if it's got a jerk/crank tied on, I'll use cast them on a 703sf. The 40 is great one my 735c, 5.5 gear ratio is the perfect wake.

 

Bill Siemantel gave me a prototype original size rat at the Bass A Thon several years ago before released for production to try out. I still have it and initially fished at dusk during a night tournemnt. My best success was waking the rat paraelell to brushy steep shore line areas and tulies areas. I think the original size is now the 50 size.

Caution at dusk and night be aware of owls!

Tom

PS, adding a worm for a tail to a musky size wooden jitter bug makes a good rat.

On 3/31/2020 at 4:41 PM, A-Jay said:

At the beginning of each of the past few seasons, I like to select at least one ‘new to me’ presentation to try my hand at during the upcoming open water period.

One new presentation per year?  

 

Official bait monkey recommendations are two per week!!

2 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

One new presentation per year?  

 

Official bait monkey recommendations are two per week!!

4 hours ago, WRB said:

 

Caution at dusk and night be aware of owls!

And look out for ospreys during the day!  Had a near miss on wakebait a few weeks ago and lost an S-Waver to one last year.   

4 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

And look out for ospreys during the day!  Had a near miss on wakebait a few weeks ago and lost an S-Waver to one last year.   

I have had problems with osprey's during day time using trout swimbaits, no issues with rats.

Tom

23 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

After throwing the 50 size for a bit I realize it's not really very big at all.  The 30 size must be like a popper. 

The 30 dives quick down to about 5" or so when burnt. You need 1 ? 

What you throwing your 50 on? Bait store has a black 50 I thought bout getting as my swimbait wake lure. I have a light 2-4 ounce swimbait setup with 25lb big game. Or my 7'6 frog set up hvy fast but 40lb braid? 

4 minutes ago, Smells like fish said:

The 30 dives quick down to about 5" or so when burnt. You need 1 ? 

What you throwing your 50 on? Bait store has a black 50 I thought bout getting as my swimbait wake lure. I have a light 2-4 ounce swimbait setup with 25lb big game. Or my 7'6 frog set up hvy fast but 40lb braid? 

I throw the 50 on a Dobyns fury 795 sb with a Lews super duty wide spool 20 lb big game.

18 minutes ago, Smells like fish said:

The 30 dives quick down to about 5" or so when burnt. You need 1 ? 

What you throwing your 50 on? Bait store has a black 50 I thought bout getting as my swimbait wake lure. I have a light 2-4 ounce swimbait setup with 25lb big game. Or my 7'6 frog set up hvy fast but 40lb braid? 

I really dont need a size 30.  I have a bunch of subsurface baits and some top water rats.  What I do need is a Bull Rat or a Johnny Rat!

 

I throw my 50 size rat on a 7'9" heavy with a Lexa 300.

29 minutes ago, JediAmoeba said:

I really dont need a size 30.  I have a bunch of subsurface baits and some top water rats.  What I do need is a Bull Rat or a Johnny Rat!

 

I throw my 50 size rat on a 7'9" heavy with a Lexa 300.

Don't need one? Really? We may have to send the monkey brothers over to make you see things correctly! Just get one and you can name it bull or Johnny ?

I figured on getting the 25 and 50 to complete the set... Then start filling in with all the colors ?

Its true, the monkey on my back is relentless or I'm a hoarder idk

13 hours ago, WRB said:

Caution at dusk and night be aware of owls!

Tom

 

Had one grab a musky jitterbug several years ago while night fishing. I hooked him good too. All I heard was a giant splash, thought I had a monster, broke my rod and everything. Line kept going up and up, thought it was trying to jump until I realized it had gone up for way too long and I saw the owl fly in front of the moon and it hit me what had happened. He crashed into some blackberry bushes on the shore and the hooks pulled out thankfully, no idea what I was going to do otherwise.

@A-Jay congrats on your first Rat Bass!  

 My First Rat Trip was a 'small' success.

I did catch a couple but I think the bait was longer than the bass were.

Will admit to being pretty happy to get them through.

Looking forward to throwing the rat again very soon.

May take a couple of the biggest size to Mexico with me - just to see.

 

 

?

A-Jay

 

 

 

@A-Jay, what was the rod and reel set up you used in the video? Was it a 30 sized rat or a 40?  

5 minutes ago, Teal said:

@A-Jay, what was the rod and reel set up you used in the video? Was it a 30 sized rat or a 40?  

That was a St Croix LTB 7'1" MH Fast,  

Quantum EX200, and Power Pro Maxcuatro Spectra Line 40lb

with a 3 ft trace of Sunline Defier Armilo Nylon Line 22lb for a leader. 

I tried using the AFW wire I like for leader, but it actually jacked up the action of the rat so I changed it.

Without the wire, it's only going to be a matter of time before I end up donating a rat to the Pike Gods.

?

A-Jay