BBZ-1 Rat Pack ~

[A-Jay]

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.

Three seasons ago, it was the A-Rig.

Two seasons ago it was the vibrating jig.

Last year the Ned Rig was the all the rage for me.

There were plenty of trials & tribulations associated with learning to fish these baits.

Success did not come quickly, but I kept at it.

Turned out to be a good choice as each has proven fairly effective for me.  

 

  So for this, the 2020 campaign, it’s going to be the Spro BBZ-1 Rat.

While I haven’t fished a ton of true wake baits in the past (at least not in fresh water), this one has really peaked my interest & curiosity.  

And after watching a few you tube videos of these baits getting totally pulverized by very respectable Green & Brown bass, in waters & situations that seemed very similar to what I routinely encounter here, I placed an order for a modest ‘beginners kit’.

Two each of sizes 30 & 40, along with a few extra tails.   

The Bait Monkey was very pleased.

 

 

 Starting out, I expect to need long casts so I plan on throwing the 30 size (1/2 oz) rat on what is essentially my walking bait rig – 7’ M/F spinning gear spooled with 20lb Sufix 832 Braid. 

The 40 size (1 oz) rat will be presented on 7’1” MH/F casting gear spooled with the same Sufix braid in 30lb. (my Whopper Plopper rig). 

Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, I fully expect the occasional Pike or Muskie to feast on Rat Meat, so like many of my presentations made on Lake Menderchuck, the Rat Pack will always be sporting a decent trace of wire between the braid & the bait.

 

In conclusion, (once I actually get some open water) I plan to keep this thread running with updated Reports, Pics & if I’m exceptionally fortunate,

some vivid video of any & all ‘Rat Pack’ action that occurs. 

We’ll start with this season and see how it goes.

 

 More importantly, I’d like to invite & encourage all BR members who may have similar experiences with these baits to share them here as well.

 

So there ya go – It’s vermin or bust.

A-Jay

 

[GreenPig]

I've got a couple 50's. Hopefully they'll produce for us. I've had a couple huge blow ups predawn that completely missed the bait.

[A-Jay]

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.

Three seasons ago, it was the A-Rig.

Two seasons ago it was the vibrating jig.

Last year the Ned Rig as the all the rage for me.

There were plenty of trials & tribulations associated with learning to fish these baits.

Success did not come quickly, but I kept at it.

Turned out to be a good choice as each has proven fairly effective for me.  

 

  So for this, the 2020 campaign, it’s going to be the Spro BBZ-1 Rat.

While I haven’t fished a ton of true wake baits in the past (at least not in fresh water), this one has really peaked my interest & curiosity.  

And after watching a few you tube videos of these baits getting totally pulverized by very respectable Green & Brown bass, in waters & situations that seemed very similar to what I routinely encounter here, I placed an order for a modest ‘beginners kit’.

Two each of sizes 30 & 40, along with a few extra tails.   

The Bait Monkey was very pleased.

 

 

 Starting out, I expect to need long casts so I plan on throwing the 30 size (1/2 oz) rat on what is essentially my walking bait rig – 7’ M/F spinning gear spooled with 20lb Sufix 832 Braid. 

The 40 size (1 oz) rat will be presented on 7’1” MH/F casting gear spooled with the same Sufix braid in 30lb. (my Whopper Plopper rig). 

Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, I fully expect the occasional Pike or Muskie to feast on Rat Meat, so like many of my presentations made on Lake Menderchuck, the Rat Pack will always be sporting a decent trace of wire between the braid & the bait.

 

In conclusion, (once I actually get some open water) I plan to keep this thread running with updated Reports, Pics & if I’m exceptionally fortunate,

some vivid video of any & all ‘Rat Pack’ action that occurs. 

We’ll start with this season and see how it goes.

 

 More importantly, I’d like to invite & encourage all BR members who may have similar experiences with these baits to share them here as well.

 

So there ya go – It’s vermin or bust.

A-Jay

 

[PhishLI]

Pick up some chartreuse and pink tails. Sometimes it's a difference maker. I keep a small tool in the box to drive the toothpick out. Makes swapping tails a breeze.

[TnRiver46]

I can supply you with unlimited live (or dead) bait in that species if you’d rather try that...... they come pre scented, you could save on mega strike 

[A-Jay]

17 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Pick up some chartreuse and pink tails. Sometimes it's a difference maker. I keep a small tool in the box to drive the toothpick out. Makes swapping tails a breeze.

Thanks for the tail color tip ~

Got the pink just need the Chartreuse.

All set on the tool & the extra picks (pic)

A-Jay

 

[Tizi]

you are going to have fun fishing those rats.  nothing better than a topwater blow up!

[Black Hawk Basser]

They look rather tasty, but only one critique: They should have put a bit of cheese in the mouth for a little added flash.

[Hower08]

I fish the bbz1 rat in the blue and white color. It is a fish catcher that's for sure. One thing I have noticed though is atleast with mine i have to constantly tune the line tie or it will not run even remotely true. 

[A-Jay]

2 minutes ago, Hower08 said:

I fish the bbz1 rat in the blue and white color. It is a fish catcher that's for sure. One thing I have noticed though is atleast with mine i have to constantly tune the line tie or it will not run even remotely true. 

Thank you for the heads up ~

I'll be watching for that.

A-Jay

[BassinCNY]

I bought one over the winter to try this year too. The grey rat color in the 40 size. I'm interested in seeing how it fishes.

[Smells like fish]

Do rats rattle?

 

For some unknown reason I would want to throw without the tail attached 

 

Word of warning to ya- keep your box of trap style baits apart from them, rats and traps don't mix ?

[georgeyew]

1 hour ago, Smells like fish said:

Do rats rattle?

 

For some unknown reason I would want to throw without the tail attached 

 

Word of warning to ya- keep your box of trap style baits apart from them, rats and traps don't mix ?

They don't rattle. But might click a bit when the back and front sections knock. You definitely want the tail. It gives a swimming action that makes the rat look real.

[basser27]

I just bought a 40 in morning dawn color. I’ve had the largest size for a few years, but don’t throw baits that large anymore so it sits in the closet

[Bluebasser86]

I HIGHLY suggest the 30 size in Chrome for smallies. I'll have to dig out mine and post a picture, she's a little chewed up. I love having clients fish it on guide trips. The morning starts with them looking in disbelief and the day ends with them asking where they can buy one.

[A-Jay]

6 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I HIGHLY suggest the 30 size in Chrome for smallies. I'll have to dig out mine and post a picture, she's a little chewed up. I love having clients fish it on guide trips. The morning starts with them looking in disbelief and the day ends with them asking where they can buy one.

OK ~ First thing I said to myself after reading this was "Really  - a Chrome Rat ?".

 And as of 1 minute ago, there's one coming to add to the Rat Pack - 

Thanks for the suggestion.

A-Jay

 

[NYWayfarer]

12 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

OK ~ First thing I said to myself after reading this was "Really  - a Chrome Rat ?".

 And as of 1 minute ago, there's one coming to add to the Rat Pack - 

Thanks for the suggestion.

A-Jay

 

Same thing I thought.maybe he is April fooling you with the Terminator BB1?

 

I would have to get a gray one in the smallest size first. Looks like the squirrels that like to swim across the river I fish. Perfect match the hatch.

[A-Jay]

41 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

Same thing I thought.maybe he is April fooling you with the Terminator BB1?

 

I would have to get a gray one in the smallest size first. Looks like the squirrels that like to swim across the river I fish. Perfect match the hatch.

Perhaps ~

But if @Bluebasser86  had sent this as the 'recommendation' 

I may have been a bit more skeptic. 

A-Jay

 

[Dangerfield]

I've been hooked since someone posted this video in the Bait Monkey thread.

 

First time out with the Morning Dawn 25, caught 7 Northerns and 2 smallies - It's more of a crank than a wake. You gotta go painfully slow with the 25 to get it to wake constantly. I wish I went with the 30 or bigger I heard they wake better. Nothing like the brownies in this video but I've had to place another TW order all thanks to them. I gotta have that 40 in grey.

 

I'd get more but I've got a 2 shellcrackers that fit a similar profile/presentation.

[PhishLI]

Don't forget Morning Dawn, AJ. Killer. Everything bites it.

[A-Jay]

10 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Don't forget Morning Dawn, AJ. Killer. Everything bites it.

  That's Pretty Cool ~ 

Very Stout Walleye on a Purple Rat - on topwater - at night - 

Almost reads like a joke . . . but we know it most certainly is NOT.

Thank you for the recommendation. 

A-Jay

 

[fishwizzard]

I used the 50 rats a lot and caught a lot of bass, large and small on them.
 

 They are a pain in every aspect however. They’re very heavy and chunky to throw witj anything other than swimbait tackle dispite only weighing ~2.5oz, but the ability to walk them in place makes me want to use a lighter rod.  I also have my best luck with them casting very close to cover, which is again difficult because of how poorly they cast.  The tails also break on me constantly, even a good bass thrashing around with one of his mouth has broken tails on numerous occasions. I started replacing the tails with hot pink trickworms but I’m not convinced they are as effective as you don’t get the clicking noise the stock tails provide. 
 

I also use some of the 40 size rats as well but they have their own issues, Mainly not being boyant enough, you have to just crawl them along to keep them on top and I’ve also found they don’t seem to walk as readily as the big ones.  The tails also break on them with about the same frequency.

 

Every time I have a tail break in the middle of a good bite and struggle to replace it or cast one into a laydown and lose it I swear that I’ll never buy another, but they are effective enough that I keep going back to them. 
 
I did recently picked up a bunch of BD Shellcrackers to try to replace both the 50 and 40 rats with.  If SPRO made a “45” inbetween size and used a stronger thread for the tail I would be all over them.

[MassYak85]

Like @fishwizzard said, don't overlook it as a shallow water cover bait. Especially around wood. It walks very well in place so you can keep it next to prime pieces of cover for a long time. 

[Smells like fish]

Good lord now you got me looking at rats to buy. I'm digging that sexy foxey Helsinki rat flavor... Yes, Sexy Rat!! 

[Derek1]

I have the 30 and 40 sizes. Haven’t thrown them much. I did commit to it one afternoon. This is it so far. They are fun though.