Rat Baits for Big Bass, Pike and Musky: Unlocking Explosive Topwater Strikes
There’s something primal about it. Rat baits slap the water, spit air, and scream easy meal. Big predators don’t overthink that. They react. That split-second aggression is exactly what rat-style topwater lures like the FishLab BBZ Wake Rat trigger. They disrupt the peace with sound and chaos, and bass, pike, or musky can’t resist investigating. Get that wake rippling across the surface, and you’ve dialed directly into feeding instincts.
When to Fish a Rat
Rat baits don’t claim all hours, timing matters.
• Early low-light: first light or last light when surface action is calm.
• Heavily pressured waters: when bass grow wise to the usual suspects, a rat’s frantic presentation stands out.
• Targeting big fish: trophies want drama.
• Warm seasons or clear skies: fish are bold, surface-active, and hungry.
If the water lies still and the fish are chasing fast, a rat will likely spark the blunt, explosive strike it was engineered for.
Where to Fish a Rat
Think structure with a story, where predators expect trouble.
• Heavy cover and laydowns: rats mimic something fleeing cover or escaping debris.
• Shallow flats or weed edges: ambush zones for predators just under the surface.
• Still, pressured lakes or ponds: the chaos of a rat breaks routine and forces reaction.
Meet the Wake Rat
FishLab’s BBZ Wake Rat, designed with Bill Siemantel, is built to look and sound like a fleeing rodent, but refined for modern anglers.
It comes in two sizes: a 2.5 inch one-piece for subtle presentations and a 3.5 inch two-piece for added flash and presence. The patented segmented tail sends out ripples that call fish from a distance. A steady retrieve gives a deep gurgle and bubbling wake, while twitches create an aggressive walk-the-dog action with loud internal rattles and knocking sounds. It’s built tough with stainless split rings, black-nickel trebles, and a replaceable tail for longevity and customization.
Available in five tournament-tested colors: Black, Brown, Grey, Bone White, and Morning Dawn, it covers a wide range of conditions. From largemouth and smallmouth to pike and musky, the Wake Rat is a versatile topwater bait for heavy cover or pressured waters.
Rat baits won’t always catch numbers, but when they connect, it’s usually with the fish you remember. The BBZ Wake Rat gives you that chance.
