Evergreen International Combat Rat Product Review #evergreencombatrat

Swimbait Review

Ready for Deployment, Evergreen International's Combat Rat

Date:	8/18/24
Tackle Type:	Lure
Manufacturer:	Evergreen International
Reviewer:	Cal & Zander

Total Score: 7.83 - GOOD

Introduction: From the Timberflash to the Noisy Dachs, Evergreen International is no stranger to topwater wake baits, but up until this year, the manufacturer has stayed away from the one topwater profile that has infested big bait slingers' mindset - the rat. This profile is so popular, it's become a sub-classification of big baits all of its own. 2024 marks the year Evergreen International joins the rumble and is ready to do battle with their very own Combat Rat.

Evergreen International Combat Rat Specifications
Type	Topwater Rat
Length	10.75" with tail / 5.8" without
No. Pieces	2
Joint Style	V-Joint
Weight	2.3 oz
Depth	Topwater Bait
Material	ABS Plastic
Variants	N/A
Hooks	2 x #1
MSRP	$54.99

Introducing Evergreen International's Combat Rat

Impressions: Evergreen International's Combat Rat is average in size and weighs in just over two ounces. It is a very manageable size and weight. The hook hangars are swiveling and the bait's tail is attached via a bait keeper type pin at the back of the bait making it very easy to replace. There are two spare tails in the packaging. It's a two-piece rat with a longer front section than back connected via two very interesting and unique flat metal plates stacked on top of each other.

The bait's features are clearly explained on the back of its box. Being an injected rat there is room for a stainless steel knocker but there is more to this rat than meets the eye

The bait's rear section has a keel like cut to it on the bottom, and inside the bait, just behind the front hook, is a steel ball that moves back and forth creating extra sound to ensure the bait is even more annoying to those crotchety old bass hanging out under the surface.

The bait's rear section is carefully sculpted

Real World Tests: We've been anxiously waiting for either Megabass or Evergreen to come out with a topwater rat, so as soon as the Combat Rat arrived, the anxiety to hit the water was similar to the anticipation we felt in my early days of fishing. But of course, before any of that, I had to decide on which combo to best extract the bait's potential.

The tail is fastened to the bait with a pin/barb bait-keeper type holder

Rod Choice: This bait is tailor made for Evergreen's update of our previously reviewed RCSC-78XH Wakebait (the new version is the RCTC-78XH). However, for me, it means I get extra time with one of my favorite sticks of the year, their Giant Dire Wolf. This six foot, eleven inch stick comes with a lure rating of up to eight ounces and can handle a wide variety of bait types. I wanted to extend its tests to casting and pitching the Combat Rat in a variety of situations.

Two spare tails are included in the packaging

Reel Choice: Paired with the Giant Dire Wolf is my Shimano '23 Antares DC MD. This is the one and only reel I've fished on this stick and found it to be a perfect pairing right from the get go. It doesn't hurt that this reel is built with big baits in mind sporting a tuned DC brake system to aid in launching heavy lures.

Ready for combat

Line Choice: The more I fish Varivas's Monster PE Si-X, the more I don't even notice it on the reel. This is a good thing because the last thing I want to think about while fishing is the state of my fishing line. It's held up really well on my Antares DC MD. My only complaint about the line to this point is it's not more widely available.

The Combat Rat is a mid sized rat that isn't too heavy to throw with lighter swimbait setups

Castability: At just over two ounces in weight, the Combat Rat can be considered average in weight for a topwater rat. This makes it easy to throw on just about any stick intended for big baits. With my supercharged combo, I didn't have to give it a second thought and found this rat to be very easy to cast and place in just the right spot. There were times, on super long casts, where my braid would loop around the front hook mid flight spoiling the launch, but that kind of goes hand in hand with such launches.

Something we always like seeing on big baits - swiveling hook hangars

Ease of Actuation: The important part, of course, comes when that bait hits the water. The Combat Rat has very good buoyancy with about half of its body in the water as it sits motionless on the surface. Click your reel over to begin our retrieve and that peaceful demeanor is transformed into a crazed, almost panicked swim.

The joint system on this bait is rather unique

The combat rat snakes, rolls, shakes, causing all kinds of commotion as it tries to swim, but it does so in a kind of fluid yet manic dance type of motion. At first glance it's a little off putting until you realize there's a method to the herks and jerks and that's to get that internal steel ball to move back and forth within the front chamber.

Position at rest

This knock combined with the squeaking caused by the metal plates in the joint make sure the bait is not just seen struggling on top of the water, but heard. With all the noise making strategies engineered into this bait, I like to imagine it's more like a blow horn kind of call than a polite dinner bell, and aggressive bass often like to react to that type of challenge.

The Combat Rat is available in seven different colors, some do a nice job channeling garage build patterns versus just solid production finishes

Next Section: One of the easiest rats to fish effectively?