Ok.  I'm getting really interested in these dudes, but I don't know really anything about them.  So guys who are wake baiting out there (not to be confused with wake boarding), whats the lowdown on these things?

A couple of questions to start it off...

Where are you using them?

What presentations have been paying off?

When is the best time to use them?

What are the -must have- wake baits out there?

Which sizes and colors are preferable?

How effective are they as a topwater vs other topwater lures?

Are there any good, cheap ones out there?

And last question, wood or plastic?

Thanks for any help.  I'm looking at the new Strike King Wake Shad, but I really don't know what I'm looking at.  I've never used any baits like this and they seem to be a bit pricey.  I'd like to be a little educated before I buy something that will probably cause my wife to beat me. ;D

I have never fished them Brian, but saw one being tested by one of SKLCo  product buyers and it looked pretty cool. Ought to be killer in the right situations.

Big O

Thanks for asking because I've been meaning to. I got a baby wake a couple of months ago and it looks great in the water, but I have no idea what I'm doing. I also have no confidence.  I need some tips.

Here is a few that I have been using this year with the exception of the Roumba. I have seen it in action and it's something to behold.

http://www.***.com/descpageDEPBAIT-DBJ.html

http://www.***.com/descpageHDCLUCKY-LCFATBD.html

http://www.***.com/descpageMEGABHARD-MBGZ.html

http://www.***.com/descpageCRANKIMA-IRC.html

http://www.***.com/descpageJACKCRANK-JASS.html

I have been doing real good with them in the early and late hours of the day when the fish are most active. Be ready to feel a strike like you've never felt before. Make sure you have a good grasp on the rod.

I've been using my Ima Roumbas recently.  I've got a few big Manns, but I've never really fished them seriously and haven't caught anything on them.

The Ima Roumbas are daunting when you first use them.  The are sorta big plugs.  Retrieved slow they ride on the surface creating a huge wake.  Retrieved fast and they ride just below the surface.  You can fish them like jerkbaits or twitch baits, too.

The thing about the Roumba is that is has a Super WIDE wobble.  I mean it is a wide wobble.  It litterally looks like a small fighting fish on the end of your line.  

I've only fished them a few times and have caught a whopping two fish on them.  But I've seen some big bass follow them.  I've already learned that they get more attention in the evenings than at other times.   I'd fish them whenever there is surface feeding.  

I like fishing them.  I never really liked fishing buzzbaits.  Wake baits, IMO, are a fun alternative.  

Ive got some Deps Buzzjets but haven't caught anything on them yet.  

I think I'm looking more at the jointed wake baits.  Do those types of lures dive at all or can you burn them over the surface?  

Jackall makes some good jointed wake baits.  The Mikey series and Dagored are good baits.  River 2 Sea has some jointed wake baits as well.  These are the two brands I have used personally.  There are many others though.

Brad

I'm a big fan of the 3:16 wake jr.  I've been stickin some good fish on them lately.  

I very rarely catch a fish by just reeling it in.  I fish it almost like a jerk bait (jerk jerk - pause - slow roll - jerk jerk - pause)  I just stuck a couple fish last night by just dead sticking the bait.

I like to use them in any low light condition.  Cloudy, early morning, late evening, even night time.  I have never had any luck with blue bird skys and sunny though.

It was hard to fork out $90 for a bait, but I figured if it breaks off, it's going to float.  The M.S. Slammer is a pretty sweet bait too,  I prefer to throw it at night since it's wood and can take a cast into the bank.  It's also cheaper and comes in a few sizes.  Haven't had any luck with it but the A.C. Plug as well.  You don't need any special rod.reel to throw it.

BTW Brian, I've been off this site for awhile, where you able to get any fish with the mattlures I gave you.

I've been catching well with wake baits. I use them mostly around floating docks (don't have a boat). I try to use the largest I can find, they seem to draw more attention. These have worked for me:

Gan Craft OSA 115

Deps Buzzjet und Deps Buzzjet Bone

O.S.P Daibuzzn'

Evergreen Timberflash Noisy Dachs

Jackall Flat Bone Clicker

On the Flat Bone Clicker I replaced the rubber tail with a blade for more noise.

All of these baits you can find on ebay.

Most of the fish I catch on a slow steady retrieve. Dead sticking also works sometimes.

I like the customization t-rig.  Did you notice any difference on the wake it gives off or just the noise???

Branuss, I hung into a nice, non-targeted species with it.  I got about a 50lb flathead catfish next to the boat...the first bite on the baby bass...and the d**n thing rolled, popping the line.  I fought that fish for like 30 minutes.  I guess it just wasn't meant to be.  Sorry man

Brian, I've done very well at times with the River to Sea V joint wake bait size 95 Chartreuse Shad, for me these have outperformed the more expensive Jackall Mikey baits. The most productive jointed crank style that I've trid so far has been  the Lucky Craft RC 2.75" Wake baits in the Purple Shad, well worth the money IMO.