Wake baits are phenominal lures, I can't tell you how many times I'd be fishing a topwater and a bass would swirl on it but not take it, very frustrating to say the least. Now that doesn't happen using the wake bait, I never had a fish just follow it or swip at it and miss, probably the only lure I ever used that the fish just seem to commit to right away. The wake bait was one of the lures that I needed a new rod for and it got me thinking and wondering how many other anglers use these lures. I've tried several and while they are all pretty good my absolute favorite is the Manns Waker Elite, it is a big bulky lure that really moves a lot of water and makes a nice big bulge on the surface but the best part is no matter how fast you reel it the bait always stays near the surface. That is the key as these work extremely well in clear water but you have to burn it and other wake baits I tried would dive around a foot or so when burned and because they went deeper they didn't make that wake or bulge on the surface. So what ones do the rest of you use?

Lucky Craft Rick Clunn, MS Mini Slammer, Sub Warts all work great. While speed is sometimes important, I don't find buring them critical to your success with them. Rod angle plays a bigger part in how deep they run as well. With a moderate to fast retrieve, I use a tip up, and drop it as the bait gets closer to the boat.

I've messed around with wake baits some, but they never worked better than ok for me. I basically think of them as a buzz bait with treble hooks.

Manns Walker and Subwarts for me as well. I think the advantage of the wake bait over the buzz bait is that you can slow down and/or pause with a wake bait where as with a buzzer you have to keep it moving, although I do like a to let a buzzbait "dip" every now and then. They all catch fish, that's what I know.

Strike King Wake Shad if your looking for big bites, Mann's baby -1 if you are looking for numbers.

Lucky Craft Rick Clunn, MS Mini Slammer, Sub Warts all work great. While speed is sometimes important, I don't find buring them critical to your success with them. Rod angle plays a bigger part in how deep they run as well. With a moderate to fast retrieve, I use a tip up, and drop it as the bait gets closer to the boat.

That is precisely why I like that Manns Waker as I can keep the rod pointed at the bait and it still makes a wake at high speed. I agree with the fact you don't have to burn them and I normally don't in most places I fish but there are 2 bodies of water were the wake bait really produces but only when you burn the bait and I believe it is due to the water being gin clear, you can see the bottom in 14'. A friend of mine discovered the burning techique with a square bill, the front hook got tangled on a cast and he was trying to get it back to the boat fast and ended up catching a fish. I tied on the wake bait, made a few cast and didn't think it was going to work but I made one last cast and began reeling super fast and wham, 4lb smallie, the next 3 cast produced fish.

LC RC 3.5 - I've had good luck with this bait.

Rapela DT 01. Caught several very nice bass on them last year in a chrystal clear pond I fish. Buzzbaits and walk the dogs wouldnt produce but wakebaits sure did.

I use a LC Gerald Swindle Mini SSR as a wake sometimes. I have had great luck with it.

MS slammer is my favorite and 3:16 baby wake.

Ima Roumba. That has been a very productuve bait. I bought a Black Dog Shellcracker from Webertime and it will see some serious water time this year. I'm a believer in that bait. Right Franco ?

I'm gonna expand my wake bait arsenal this year. Last year, the only one I threw was a Koppers Bluegill & I didn't get a whole lot of bites on it, but then I slammed a 4.5-5lber on it & my confidence in it went up drastically. I've picked up a couple Waker Elites & Roumbas to have something other than a 3.75" 1 3/8oz bait to throw this upcoming year & I can't wait to get out there & throw all 3 of them.

Ima Roumba

LC RC 3.5WK. They have an identical lure available on their website that is supposed to be released soon, but I haven't seen it in stores. The RC 3.5's are still available on line.

Roumba and a Mouldy's Hawg Wobbler in the 7/8 ounce.

Buzzjet Jr.,Roumba,Rosso Corsa Calappa and Lucky Craft Bull.......

Cotton Cordell CJ-9 in Smokey Joe. Old standby, very popular around here in the spring. Recommend upgrading the hooks, I like to put a feathered treble on the tail. Stripers love them too.

wow can't believe no one has mentioned BPS Nitro EGG. Loud knocker, good colors, two sizes, big fat profile, moves a lot of water. Definately the incredible edible EGG

Talk about moving water.......

The 4" Bull moves a lot of water indeed. MUCH more than the Egg, I always forget about that bait because I only have a couple of them. Yet every single time I fish them, I catch BIG fish on them.

Talk about moving water.......

Not trying to be a smartass, but what are those baits? Are they Japanese?

I don't recall ever having seen these, and would really like to know.

Not trying to be a smartass, but what are those baits? Are they Japanese?

I don't recall ever having seen these, and would really like to know.

http://www.luckycraft.com/EPGLure/BullFish.htm

They are a 2 oz. bait so I have no need for them here. Unless I am muskie fishing!

Not trying to be a smartass, but what are those baits? Are they Japanese?

I don't recall ever having seen these, and would really like to know.

Here is a link that will give you a good feel as to how this bait works and yes you will catch big bass using it....

http://www.luckycraf...ialblog/?p=1779