Rage Tail Shad users

[Sam]

Hey Guys,

Man, am I dumb or what?

I sent a PM to Big-O because I could not figure out how to rig the things and then I find this post.

I stopped by The Fishing Hole in Waverly, Virginia on Monday and the guy and I could not figure out how to rig the things so I decided to use a jig-head with a long shank hook.

But I did not like the round ball sticking out of the shad's face.

I went to Green Top today and Ron and I could not figure out how to rig the shads. He had never noticed them so it was like the blind leading the blind on how to hook them. Can't wait to tell him on my next venture with the Bait Monkey to Green Top.

I see how to do it now and the 5/0 EWG Owner hooks I picked up today should do well.

I am going to throw them tomorrow (Friday, June 25) on the Chick even though my friends say the topwater bite is nonexistant.

So Big-O, if you see my message disregard it unless you want a good laugh.

Thanks to all for the info on hooking and how to fish them. Can't wait.

In fact, I may go to a local pond on the way home tonight and give 'em a try just to see how they do.  

[NEbassMaster]

Welcome!!!!

One thing you are going to want to do when trying to set the hook with these baits is not to let it sit for too long in the fish's mouth. Try to let it sit only about 1-2 secs. before setting the hook. When you do set the hook reel up tighten your line and slam her back!!! I usually hook up every time. although I have been missing some here lately.

Good Luck to You!!!

Thanks, I'm starting to get the hang of it.  Landed a nice 2lb'r tonight seconds after the Smokey Shad hit the water and I started to retrieve.  And that was in moderate rain!

The Rage Shads are awesome, I switch between them and the SPRO Bronze Eye frog.

[NEbassMaster]

The Rage Tail Shad is one of the best topwater baits to come along in a long time. If you've got shallow cover in the waters you fish, then it is a must have bait IMO.

Smokey Shad, Green Pumpkin/Chartreuse and Black Neon.

Brad

After testing them out these past few nights I agree.

So far the Smokey Shads are killn them, I have the white ones, but haven't tried them yet.

[Brian_Reeves]

When you're fishing the rage shads, I recommend a 4/0 hook.  They just seem to work a bit better for me, but 5/0s are fine too.  Another thing to experiment with is different retrieve speeds with different rod angles.  This bait has a ton of different actions.  By playing with it, you can make it real subtle or REAL aggressive.  

[moby bass]

There is no issue with it rolling over,amazingly.Just be sure to rig with the tail up.

There is with mine. I just can't get it to track straight unless I'm practically pulling the thing out of the water.  I have to let the line unspin after every retrieve. I'm rigging it like it shows but I guess I'm just doing something wrong.

[Brian_Reeves]

There is no issue with it rolling over,amazingly.Just be sure to rig with the tail up.

There is with mine. I just can't get it to track straight unless I'm practically pulling the thing out of the water. I have to let the line unspin after every retrieve. I'm rigging it like it shows but I guess I'm just doing something wrong.

What color, type of line and what pound test, and what size and style hook are you using?  Big-O will go on the hunt when it comes to any of his lures not acting right, so any info you can give I'll pass along to him if he doesn't see it here.  I have only had one out of god knows how many spin on me.

[Black Bass]

Hey Sam, I'm looking forward to reading your post tomorrow about how you did with a properly rigged Rage Tail Shad.  

[moby bass]

I've tried several combos. spinning and casting. Medium action rods, 4/0 or 5/0 hooks, weighted and keel weighted. I thought the keel weight might keep it more upright, but it didn't. Mono line usually 10#.  Standard bass fishing setups.  I've rigged the lure with the hook first, then tied it on.  I've put the hook precisely in the middle.  I did catch one small bass but it is impossible to fish this thing slow.  The tail just pulls it over on the retrieve and the rolling begins.  Like I said before, theres just so much more that works better for me, grubs on jigs, Senkos, even Gulp leeches on Erie dearies work.  

BTW FWIW, I just looked at the shad head on.  The tail lies so far to the left that it is parallel with the flat body of the shad.  If I push the tail all the way to the right, it still flops 180 degrees back over to the left.  Maybe this is why it rolls.

[rondef]

Moby, you must be doing something wrong. Have you gone to the ragetail site and looked at the rigging instructions? These things work great.  Send Big O a pm, I am sure he can help you out.

[moby bass]

Been there.  Doing everything exactly like it says.  Actually, this is no big  deal.  Its not like this is the only lure out there and I can't catch any fish on it and I'm starving because of it. I've got other stuff in my tackle box that doesn't work for me either.  I still think the tail might have something to do with the rolling.

[roadwarrior]

moby bass,

Go back and watch the video with bait and hook in hand. Too many people on this Forum are fishing the Rage Tail Shad without issues, you have the bait improperly rigged.

:

[moby bass]

RW, I went back and looked at the video.  I'm doing everything, EXACTLY, as shown.  However, I just tried an experiment.  Recalling posts regarding boiling soft lures, such as the bluegills, to get the fins to act properly, I tossed a shad into a pan of boiling water for several minutes.

Now the tail no longer wants to flop to one side. Whichever side I put it on, it stays. It is nice and pliable.  I'll give it another try and see if it tracks straight.  If the tail stayed to one side, that would cause the lure to turn under and twist.  We'll see!

[moby bass]

I just came back from my local pond and I am pleased to report that, using the RageTail Shad that I boiled and softened the tail on, I was able to get the lure to track in a straight line like it should.  IT WASN'T ME AFTER ALL!    My package of lures apparently has a predisposition for the tails to lay on one side and remain that way on retrieve, thus causing the lure to roll.  On the boiled lure, the tail wobbled back and forth on both sides, almost looking like a corkscrew, and kept the shad planing on the top of the water.  The only time it rolled was on a pause and it rolled to whatever side the tail was on.  I even caught 1 bass!  I can't believe no one else had any issues with tails wanting to lay on 1 side.  I'm just glad to know it wasn't me.  I didn't think I was that stoopid!  Guess I'll boil the remaining 3 now.

[roadwarrior]

That good news! I am glad you got it worked out.

8-)

[djmax22]

The only problem I have had with the Rage tail is driving the hook home. This bait gets bit. I have had a lot of success waking the bait a few inches below the suface and then killing it. Great product.

[NEbassMaster]

I just came back from my local pond and I am pleased to report that, using the RageTail Shad that I boiled and softened the tail on, I was able to get the lure to track in a straight line like it should. IT WASN'T ME AFTER ALL! My package of lures apparently has a predisposition for the tails to lay on one side and remain that way on retrieve, thus causing the lure to roll. On the boiled lure, the tail wobbled back and forth on both sides, almost looking like a corkscrew, and kept the shad planing on the top of the water. The only time it rolled was on a pause and it rolled to whatever side the tail was on. I even caught 1 bass! I can't believe no one else had any issues with tails wanting to lay on 1 side. I'm just glad to know it wasn't me. I didn't think I was that stoopid! Guess I'll boil the remaining 3 now.

Must have been a bad batch.

[NEbassMaster]

The only problem I have had with the Rage tail is driving the hook home. This bait gets bit. I have had a lot of success waking the bait a few inches below the suface and then killing it. Great product.

Same with me, if I could just focus on pausing and then setting the hook instead of rippn it as soon as I see action, I'd land a lot of Bass...a lot, these things rock.

[Coonedawg]

I know this is a stupid question, but with the rage tail shad, do you keep the tail attached to the body by that little piece of plastic or do u cut it off.  

[Big-O]

Pop it loose Coonedog.....and welcome to he group

Big O

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

8-)

[tyrius.]

The only problem I have had with the Rage tail is driving the hook home. This bait gets bit. I have had a lot of success waking the bait a few inches below the suface and then killing it. Great product.

My only problems with the Rage Tail shad is the price.  They work great and are durable so they got that going for them.  I'll keep using them, but will grumble a bit each time I get a short strike and lose the tail or something else ruins the $1 piece of plastic.  Then I'll put another one on and catch some more and hope that one lasts a long time!  

The next time Dick's puts these things on sale I'm stockin up!!  Hopefully, I'll be able to get some Anaconda's then too.  Talk about a tease showing the details of those MONTHS before their release to us poor schmoe's!!!

[tyrius.]

Pop it loose Coonedog.....and welcome to he group

Big O

Coonedog,

When the designer of the lure answers your question you know you came to the right place to ask it!!!  

8-)

[SoCalRob]

I fished the Rage Tail for about two hours in the California Delta this weekend...I got two fish to come and check it out, but neither ended up hitting the bait. Meanwhile my grandpa had boated 4 - 5 fish on the buzzbait, so I'm not sure what it was, but the buzzbait worked better this outing.

Overall I am very impressed with the action but either I had the wrong color or my presentation wasn't so good cause I couldn't boat anything on it.

[rondef]

Give it some time, they will hit the ragetail.  I felt the same way at first but now I am tearing it up with these plastics.

[=Matt 5.0=]

I fished a Rage Tail shad for the first time yesterday. Is it common to have to burn them back to the boat to get the proper action? Just felt like it was going way to fast to get up on plain and start "working". Any slower and it would stay subsurface.