Can't Hook Up With Rage Tails...suggestions?

[Phelptwan]

I've been out a few times this year and tried out some Rage Tails I got from MTB over the winter.  They have gotten a TON of action but I have not hooked up once with them.  Sunday morning I was out and I got a hit on nearly every cast and tore up a pile of them (tails just pulled right off).  I decided to try rigging up a crawler harnes type thing, but just kept getting snagged.  Tried wacky, but had the same issue.  T-Rigged seemed to get a ton of hits but no hookups. Tried C-Rigging them as well to get a bit further out, but same deal.  Waited a bit longer on the hits to set the hooks but was just pulling on water. Switched to Senko's and didn't get as many hits but caught fish.  What am I doing wrong?  

 

Fishing was done with similar colors.

[Senko lover]

I don't know, man. I have a fabulous track record with them. Maybe they were blugill, not bass???

[F14A-B]

What hook? What size hook? Are you line watching your strike or using a feel tactic? Answer these & we can assist you better..

[einscodek]

I don't know, man. I have a fabulous track record with them. Maybe they were blugill, not bass???

Was thinkin the same thing.. bluegills love nippin at the flappy claws esp if its over the beds

[00 mod]

First thought was bluegills.  Also where are you located and water temps?  Rage tail baits have a ton of action, and even though I catch plenty on them in colder water, sometimes the bass want a more subtle presentation like a senko.

 

Jeff

[atcoha]

agree with those guys, the bait stealers like to nip at them. Check your hook size, maybe short strikes on a small hook?

Good luck.

[Phelptwan]

I don't know, man. I have a fabulous track record with them. Maybe they were blugill, not bass???

 

Nope, watched many of the strikes.  Looked like they were just hitting the tail and running with it.  A lot of them threw it out of the water as well. 

 

What hook? What size hook? Are you line watching your strike or using a feel tactic? Answer these & we can assist you better..

 

Was using 3/0, 4/0, 5/0, 6/0 EWG's at various times.  Might try a exposed jig head next time around.

 

First thought was bluegills.  Also where are you located and water temps?  Rage tail baits have a ton of action, and even though I catch plenty on them in colder water, sometimes the bass want a more subtle presentation like a senko.

 

Jeff

 

Located in Michigan.  Fast moving dammed up pond.  As said, was getting more hits on the Rage Tails, just not able to hook one.

[Shockwave]

Wow.  Texas rigged Rage Claws are my go to when I need to get some confidence going.  Does the pond have any structure or lay downs along the bank?  I would imagine if you threw it in a brush pile, you'd have to get bit eventually. 

[gardnerjigman]

Wow.  Texas rigged Rage Claws are my go to when I need to get some confidence going.  Does the pond have any structure or lay downs along the bank?  I would imagine if you threw it in a brush pile, you'd have to get bit eventually. 

 

Don't think getting bit was his issue. Just can't hook up. 

[Phelptwan]

Don't think getting bit was his issue. Just can't hook up. 

Pretty much this.  They were definitely getting more action than everything else I was throwing, just nothing really inhaling and running.

 

I actually had a similar problem in the same area two years ago with Spro Frogs, just hitting the skirts and not taking the frog.  I ended up trimming the skirts quite a ways back and they started working for me.

[rippin-lips]

What rage tail bait were you using? I don't see it mentioned anywhere.

[JoePhish]

Try some Megastrike on them.  The bass may hold onto the bait longer.

[ItsTig]

Very strange. I have been using the Anaconda worm and the Cut-r tail worm that came in some MTBs without problems. I have always put them on a MegaStrike finesse shakey head, which has a 2/0 hook, and I have not had any hookup problems. Bluegill do love to nip at the ends of these baits if they're around, but since you said you saw bass with your lure it's hard telling. The only thing I can really think of is give them more time to actually eat the bait if they're short striking/playing with it. If you normally go for an immediate hookset try waiting twice as long, which may be hard to do, but if they're spitting it so quick it's hard to get them on the first strike unless you can watch em eat it. Once you feel 2,3,4 strikes/tugs then whack em. It's a strange dilemma, and hope you are able to increase your hookups.

[primetime]

Slow. Then Slower, and the brilliance of the Rage Tail baits is that you really do not have to move them much to create action.....I find that my favorite technique on many days during the Dog Days of Summer is chucking a Weightless Anaconda Worm or Rage bug (Sometimes I use the Mojo Rig for weight) and I barely move the bait, maybe I move it 3-4 feet every 30 seconds, and the baits move plenty when you are not moving the rod, especially if you have some current.....The great thing about the Rage Baits are the fact they are Heavy and Soft, plus that Flange catches water and Hook size does make a big difference as other's mentioned...

 

I have learned a lot from watching the videos on this site for using soft baits even though I have been using them for 30 years...I still learn something new every time I watch a video or fish with someone new, so I like to brush up on the basics at times, and the Texas Rig only has a few hundred variations in some fashion....But when in doubt, go slower or just kill it.

[bigbill]

Wash your hands before fishing. Do not pump gas when going fishing. Make sure your tackle box has no oders. Try a scent.

Do not put used plastics in the new bag of plastics.

[WRB]

You are located in smallmouth bass areas of the country, are fishing for smallies or LMB?

First and foremost RageTail craws are designed to be a jig trailer, using them as a creature bait can be done such as a T-rig craw or on a keel weighted hook.

Smallmouth bass try to de claw a crawdad and a RageTail has fast flapping claws that the bass grab onto first, so you need to develop the proper timing to get a delayed hook set.

Tom

[Phelptwan]

Bait was a Rage Recon.

[Jmoose]

It"s either bluegills messing with you or your hook is too small and doesn't take up enough of the bait.

[tomustang]

Nope, watched many of the strikes.  Looked like they were just hitting the tail and running with it.  A lot of them threw it out of the water as well. 

I don't believe it. Im saying bluegill just like the rest because it's the main reason why it happens.

If your watching it occur then you should know better not to pull a bait tail out of a fishes mouth, you're also throwing out the possibility of having a line/sensitivity issues.

[Phelptwan]

I don't believe it. Im saying bluegill just like the rest because it's the main reason why it happens.

If your watching it occur then you should know better not to pull a bait tail out of a fishes mouth, you're also throwing out the possibility of having a line/sensitivity issues.

 

You don't believe I can tell the difference between a Bluegill and a Bass in clear water?  Or you're saying you don't believe I can see the fish in clear water?  I'm confused what you don't believe.  

 

I'm not really sure I know what you mean by "know better not to pull a bait tail out of a fishes mouth".  I stated many times I let it sit for longer and they would spit it out.  Please educate me here.

 

Not really sure about your statement about line/sensitivity issues either.  How so do you mean?