Rage Tail. Epic Fail.

[Uncle Leo]

Ok folks, just because somebody doesn't like them doesn't mean the world is coming to an end.

I personally cannot catch a fish on a swimbait for the life of me, but that doesn't mean they're bad. It just means they're not my cup of tea. No big deal, right?

So let's keep that concept in mind.

I know what you mean Glenn, the only Bass I ever caught on a swimbait are Stripers. They are a fresh water tuna ;D

Give it a try when they are busting on shad.

Let's talk some swimbaits!!!!!!!

[senile1]

New Angler stated:

I have used the Anaconda, Elliminator, Shad, Toad and Space monkey.

I agree with those who have stated that some baits don't work for some individuals.  However, before you give up on Rage Tail completely I would suggest you try the Craws and the Chunks.  You don't mention that you have tried them yet.  I use these as jig trailers and the action really does attract nice bass more often than not.   

[Captain Obvious]

Any presentation requires patience, give it a try and do not blame the bait

True but if you don't have confidence in a certain brand don't fish it. NewAngler isn't giving up on soft plastics, rage tail baits just haven't gained his confidence. He hasn't said that the baits are bad, they just don't work for him. Don't give up you'll find the brand that fits you and then your set.

[mudkart]

I'm with New Angler on many of his points regarding hype, etc. IMO, I don't see an application for the RT craw/frog type baits you cannot duplicate w/ baits from competitors (paca craw, horny toad come to mind). On the other hand, I've done well w/ the space monkey in the past, and the rooster caught me a keeper bass (and a snakehead) in a Potomac tx just this Tuesday.

[shootermcbob]

I like the rage tail baits, and have caught fish with them. I also use some zoom flukes, trick worms, and some GYCB senkos and swim senkos. I also really like the yum houdini shad. I have also caught a few fish on strike king 3X plastics finesse worm.

My point is there are several soft plastics companies out there, experiment until you find the ones that you have confidence in and throw those.

I am not sure comparing them to other plastics fished in "not exactly" the same places at "not exactly" the same times is fair.

[Dixon]

I think you have to have confidence in what you throw.  Very important

Swimbaits are for Cali and Texas lakes it seems like.

To me the rage toads just make more noise then the horny toad.

[rondef]

I agree, if you don't have confidence in a bait then don't use them.

[buzzcatcher]

Since you have some friends that use the RT line, see if you can trade the ones you don't like for some RT lizards in GP or JB depending on water clarity and maybe some craws in Black/Blue. Just a few to try, you WILL catch fish on the lizard. It is by far the best lizard out there, I have caught up to 5 fish before biting the head off and rerigging to catch 2-3 more on the same bait. Try that with a Zoom.

Also, the RT toad is second to none and even more durable than the rest. It WILL catch fish.

Buzz

[A.Do?]

It takes patience and confidence to learn a new technique or lure.

I had the same issues with jigs till i started nailling them left and right.

IMO All lure will catch fish. posting pix of a fish caught on lure xxx won't prove anything to anyone with any common sense.

You just have to go out there and use the lure, if you don't like it then stay away or put it aside till you're fishing with someone who has worked that bait with success. Watch them work the lure and maybe pick up on what you're doin wrong with it. 

I enjoy rage products but i don't fish them exclusively and sure as heck don't tell people that they will work any better than any other similar lure. 

[Hammer 4]

First, swimbaits work in waters from N.Y. to Cali..make no mistake about it..

Even in the high pressured city park lakes, I've managed to catch a few nice bass on the RT baits. The craw chunk on my jigs, their lizards work great weightless over the tops of weeds..

I also have the annie, the craw, and the toads. I have fished other toads, None of them comes close to creating the wake/bubbles the RT toad does, that dosen't mean that will work for you, but I certainly would give em a try.

N.A...I would only suggest that maybe you look at your presentations on these baits, and also the manner in which you rig them..Not sayin it's your fault for not gettin fish, but just see if there's something that may not be clicking.

Then again, we can always toss our swimbaits.. ;D

[rboat]

I have mixed outcomes on the RT products. I like the rage shad because it is a great buzzer that goes anywhere. I also like the anacondas, a different type of worm that works well in certain areas. I think the rage toad is ok, but I prefer others. I am trying some of the other RT products now so I cannot comment. Like most companies some of their products I like and some I have found others that I like better. Lures are tools and all will work under the right conditions. Keep some of your RTs you never know when it may work out to be the best thing you throw. The RT products went through alot of research, development, and field testing. They are good baits.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

I havent read this whole thread but just to throw my .02 in:

1) They have to be rigged PERFECTLY.If not then they don't perform.

2) They are about the most durable baits on the market and also take to mend it and lighter treatmets extremely well,thus making them well worth the extra money IMO. On a craw I can get between 8-10 bites or fish normally.

[burleytog]

Durability isn't an adjective I'd use to describe Rage Tail baits.  It is just the nature of the bait.  To achieve the desired action, the plastic is going to have to be thinner. 

I use them, haven't noticed that they have increased my catch rate.  I still have better luck using Yamamoto plastics.

[senko_77]

NewAngler, I didn't even bother reading many of the replies because I figured almost all of them would be people taking it way farther than they should.....

Here's my take on the whole thing. 

Ragetail baits are just another tool for an angler to use.  There are going to be days when they wild action triggers bites better than any other tool in your tacklebox, and there are days when that action probably turns those fish off.  I like trying the Ragetails and other brands on my trips.  There are days when the Zoom Horny Toad whacks em and then others when The Rage Toad kills them and the Zoom doesn't get bit. 

I'm a huge believer in RageTail on days that are tough and days that are on fire.  I think the crazy action triggers reaction strikes in lethargic fish, and also gets active fish even more active.  On just the so-so days that are the norm for me, I seem to do better on other baits. 

I really think that you should hang on to your RageTails a bit longer.  Don't go buy anymore, but don't go giving them away.  Keep throwing them every once in awhile and see if you can't gain some confidence in them.  We both know how important confidence in.  I tell you, I know when I put a Space Monkey behind a pegged quarter ounce weight, I KNOW I will get bit at some point during that trip. 

Message me next time you see me on FB, and we can try to figure out some solutions for your E-Ragetail Dysfunction 

[David P]

Im sorry but it bugs me to just throw a line of baits under the bus. If you cant catch a fish on a rage products then something is wrong.

I would take a rage toad over any soft plastic frogs on the market. Those things are awesome. Rage lizards are to me better then zoom lizards which is the standard on the market.

Ragetail line of products is flat out awesome.

If it's ok to praise the hell out of products, posting several threads about how great a product is, I can't see how posting a negative thread about a product is any different. He just gave his honest opinions.

I have purchased 2 packages of RT, caught 0 fish, and haven't tried them again. I'm sure they work, for many people, but whether they work any better then other products in similar categories would be tough to prove. They give anglers confidence, and that truly does help, so to all the people that love RT baits, keep on catching great fish!

   Negative threads like this aren't bad, in fact, I love to see them. So many guys think there's only ONE answer to certain situations and bait companies, the fact is, there's hundreds of baits out there. In many cases, 10 different baits will all catch the same fish. It's your choice.

[Big O Tires Angler]

I want to start off by saying that NewAngler in his first post stated multiple times that this thread was his OPINION. He never went on to say anything negative about the Rage Tail products, but shared his experience and dissatisfaction with the product.

I really like these types of threads because it brings everything back into reality. Everyone talks about how Rage Tail makes products that seem to always magically put 10 pounders into the boat.

I'd like to add that I've purchased multiple packs in several different colors of the Anaconda, Chunk, Craw, and Shad. I have NEVER caught a fish on either of these baits, and I have NEVER even gotten a bump. I've probably invested a good $100 into these baits and I've tried to give them a fair chance, but I just can never get the darn things to work.

Now, I know a lot of you are going to tell me that there is a certain way to work the bait...of course there is. That's how all baits work. There is no such thing as a lure that dives into the water and throws a 30 pound limit into your boat. And don't tell me to slow down or work it differently...I've tried. I think everyone on this forum knows that you have to slow down or speed up depending on what the fish want. This is all pretty common knowledge to all of us.

But, I'll continue to throw the Rage Tails from time to time hoping to catch something. Perhaps someday I'll catch a nice hog like you guys seem to do even with the baits still in the packaging.

[paul.]

i like 'em.  and i like the guy behind 'em.  both the man and the baits are cool in my opinion.  i've caught a bunch of fish on ragetails and some good ones too.    and i've never seen a guy that goes to the lengths that Steve does to try to make sure folks succeed with his baits. 

but i don't reckon there's a fishing product out there that everyone unanimously loves.  and i don't reckon there's one that everyone unanimously hates either.  even the helicopter lure and the pocket fisherman have their fans i guess.   ;D ;D ;D

[Blue Streak]

I think if we look at the topic about worst baits you ever used you will see that everybody doesn't like something. Some of the best baits I ever used were useless to some in that thread.

[DINK WHISPERER]

The ONLY RT i have had success with is the Toad. But it is not a miracle lure by any means. Like stated above, they have there days like anything else. I bought every pack of RT toads at Wal-Mart when they put them on sale for $3 a pack! I ended up with like 37 packs! I agree on them being overpriced though. As soon as my inventory runs out its back to the Horny Toad........................................

[iceintheveins]

So far I've only used the shad, but could not be more pleased. It casts well and has a fantastic action, even at slow speeds. Yes they are somewhat expensive, but I caught four bass on one lure before needing to change. Using a parasite clip with them help. They come through weeds slicker than snot and the hookup percentage is very good, only missed one strike. Seems they take them and hold onto them.

[Catt]

I think everyone has a brand of lures they don't like or have had no luck with but the beauty of fishing is so many types of lures work.

I've caught bass half way across America with a Gene Larew 7 ½ Salty Ring Worm Cinnamon Pepper Neon/June Bug Laminated (Camouflage); yet I know a couple dozen people who can't catch a single fish on one.

I've had very limited success with GYCB Senkos while absolutely killing em with a Wave Tiki Stick.

Years ago Gene Larew came out with the HooDaddys and for several months we slayed the bass on Toledo Bend with them, the as suddenly as it started it died. The same thing happened with the Stanley TubaTube it went from hero to zero.

RageTail is here to stay

[Captain Obvious]

I think everyone has a brand of lures they don't like or have had no luck with but the beauty of fishing is so many types of lures work.

X2

[Dan:]

IMO All lure will catch fish. posting pix of a fish caught on lure xxx won't prove anything to anyone with any common sense.

x2

There's absolutely NO WAY to tell that a fish was caught solely because the right brand of bait was being used or if another brand or even style of bait couldn't have caught the same fish.

[grimlin]

NewAngler, I didn't even bother reading many of the replies because I figured almost all of them would be people taking it way farther than they should.....

Here's my take on the whole thing.

Ragetail baits are just another tool for an angler to use. There are going to be days when they wild action triggers bites better than any other tool in your tacklebox, and there are days when that action probably turns those fish off. I like trying the Ragetails and other brands on my trips. There are days when the Zoom Horny Toad whacks em and then others when The Rage Toad kills them and the Zoom doesn't get bit.

I'm a huge believer in RageTail on days that are tough and days that are on fire. I think the crazy action triggers reaction strikes in lethargic fish, and also gets active fish even more active. On just the so-so days that are the norm for me, I seem to do better on other baits.

I really think that you should hang on to your RageTails a bit longer. Don't go buy anymore, but don't go giving them away. Keep throwing them every once in awhile and see if you can't gain some confidence in them. We both know how important confidence in. I tell you, I know when I put a Space Monkey behind a pegged quarter ounce weight, I KNOW I will get bit at some point during that trip.

Message me next time you see me on FB, and we can try to figure out some solutions for your E-Ragetail Dysfunction

Best answer yet....I don't have much luck on my rage tail baits either.

So far it's mostly bluegills ripping off the legs and tails on these baits.  ;D

[Big Bait Fishing]

i also don't care to much for the rage tail baits i have tried (shad , anaconda , and the toad) they rip way to easily and i have found cheaper products that in my opinion work better . the bait i found i like the best out of them is the toad , jsut wish it was twice as big , that would be a winner . i even Pm'ed Big O about if there was any chance of them making a bigger size but he never even bothered to reply to me , so now i will not ever bother to buy these baits even if they did , nothing like being ignored to make you a negative fan of said products ...........