PB Rat Lights It Up With a Little Slosh and a Lot of Boils (continued)

Can Take a Beating: Most of the time, when discussing waking rat baits and their composition, wood trumps resin and plastic everytime. It's not even close. But wood baits eventually succumb to the stress and wear of performing night in, morning out, and all day long. Resin is actually more durable. Case in point? The PB Rat's resin is durable. So much so even after repeated catches and use, I found minimal evidence of hook rash. Perhaps this is due to the fact my collection has some how reproduced and multiplied and I've allowed each member of the band to have their own solo careers, but I would have expected more hook rash on one or two of the obvious favorites.

One really interesting feature about the PB Rat is how the makers integrate color into the resin to create those crazy swirl patterns in the bait's finish. That's one of the reasons the bait's hold up so well is that the color is integrated into the material. There is no paint to scratch or flake off, and wear and tear does little to alter the bait's look or character.

Tails are easily removed for replacement or customization

When to Throw: When it comes down to it, any topwater bait that doesn't walk or pop and is intended to be fished on the surface at a steady retrieve so you get that v-shaped wake behind it is a wake bait. The majority of topwater rat baits are wake baits. I find wake baits most effective from about post spawn well into the Fall. The ones that make noise, like the PB Rat, can be fished twenty four hours because when it's dark, fish can track the sound and of course, when there's daylight, they can track sound, silhouette, and surface disturbance. The PB Rat is a 24/7 type of bait.

Design/Ergonomics: Because they're resin, these baits are also relatively light for their size and super easy to cast and work. If you don't like the tail colors or want/need to swam them out for whatever reason, it's really just a soft plastic worm held in place by a screw lock similar to what you find on a centering pin. Just pick a similarly sized soft plastic worm of your choosing and replace.

Price & Availability: The one issue I do have with this bait is the price. I'm not normally very critical of this aspect in any product, but there are hand made, wood baits that retail for less than the PB Rat. Granted, you often have to wait for long periods of time to get some of the more coveted wood creations, but you're paying for that personal, hand carved, painted craftsmanship. Obviously, the PB Rat is hand made, but there's not nearly the same degree of artistry involved as say the Illude Rad Rat.

Since about September of 2020, PB Rat has really cranked up production and has offered bait drops through their Instagram and Facebook pages

Since about September of 2020, PB Rat has really cranked up production and has offered bait drops through their Instagram and Facebook pages. Select fine retailers like Coyote Bait and Tackle and the Hook Up Tackle occasionally have inventory as well, so if you really want one, they are accessible and available. With garage baits, that's often 90% of the battle right there - finding them for sale. That is good news for anglers that want to fish one of the hottest custom baits on the market.

The PB is hot. Even Mo thinks this new rat is tasty!

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