Production Rats: These rats are what make rat fishing accessible to everyone. Most mass-produced rats are crafted from injected plastic, allowing for larger production runs and more affordable price points. Some are still made from resin by builders who have mastered scaling production to offer quality baits at a reasonable cost. Affordability doesn't mean these rats are any less effective. Injected plastic rats come with advantages like easier integration of weighting, knockers, specialized joint designs, a wider array of patterns - including translucent finishes - and remarkable consistency from bait to bait. For newcomers to the rat fishing game, or for anglers looking to lend a reliable bait to a friend still getting hooked, these budget-friendly options are the perfect gateway rats. While they may not have the artisan craftsmanship or collectible appeal of some higher-end models, they absolutely get the job done. Every ratter should have a few of these in their arsenal.

One of the best new injected rats is the Evergreen Combat Rat

Evergreen Combat Rat: Arguably the best new injected rat to hit the market in years, the Evergreen Combat Rat combines nearly every strike trigger into one well-built package. Its long, slender profile is expertly weighted for easy casting, and once it hits the water, it delivers a rich combination of sounds from an internal knocker paired with a cleverly designed dual-plated joint. This joint not only adds durability but also creates a distinctive secondary squeaking noise during retrieves. The only downside for me is the pin-on tail design, which can be blasted off during aggressive strikes.

A double plate joint design adds durability and a bit of squeak to this bait

Fortunately, the bait comes with extra PVC tails, and it's easy to swap in a standard worm tail with a bit of glue to keep everything securely in place. What I really appreciate about the Combat Rat is how effectively it draws strikes with its blend of sounds and actions, and how well it keeps fish pinned thanks to its rotating hook hangers.

Unlike resin rats injected rats can be translucent. One of the reasons this bait is so loud is because of the integrated knocker

Being an injected bait, it can also feature translucent patterns that resin rats simply can't match. Measuring 5.8 inches in body length and 10.75 inches including the tail, it weighs a light 2.3 ounces - making it less intimidating to cast than many other rats of similar size. Retailing at $59.99, the Evergreen Combat Rat is worth every penny and can be found at Tackle Warehouse.

The Combat Rat is easy to fish and reasonably priced

Spro Rat: The original injected rat, once known as the BBZ, the Spro Rat is the bait that introduced an entire generation of anglers to rat fishing. This cleverly designed rat features an internal knocker that replicates the signature knock of wood inside a hollow, chambered body. Easy to fish, loud, effective, and affordable, the Spro Rat remains a dependable choice for anglers seeking quality without breaking the bank.

The rat that so many anglers first fish, the Spro Rat

Its internal knock produces a surprisingly loud and enticing sound, and it comes in a wide range of sizes - from a compact 5-inch mouse size to a full-sized 10-inch bait, including the tail. With retail prices ranging from just $27.99 to $43.99 at Tackle Warehouse, the Spro Rat is among the most accessible quality rats on the market.

The Spro Rat is available in some wild colors, including a terminator looking chrome paint finish

Jerry Rago Alpha Rat: The Jerry Rago Alpha Rat brings many custom qualities to a more affordable production bait. Featuring Rago's classic slender profile, the Alpha is available in three sizes - 4", 4.5", and 6.5" - and can be fished with either a straight retrieve or subtle twitches. While the Alpha isn't the loudest rat on the market, it delivers a very consistent action that convincingly mimics a rat struggling or swimming through the water.

Blending custom design into an affordable design is the streamline Rago Alpha rat

Its streamlined, compact profile likely makes it an easy target for fish - a low-calorie kill - which may explain why it triggers so many bites. The Rago Alpha is a great choice when a more subtle, refined action is needed to coax spooky bass to commit. Priced reasonably between $42.99 and $64.99 at Tackle Warehouse, it's a solid bait to keep in your arsenal.

The Alpha Rat is small enough to be an easy takedown

Bucca Baby Bull Rat: Mike Bucca is one of my favorite custom swimbait builders, and I've caught countless fish on his signature shad baits. What sets Bucca's baits apart is their "imperfectly perfect" quality -an intentional realism that mimics nature's flaws. Often, it's that wounded, imperfect look that triggers more strikes. The Bucca Baby Bull Rat blends texture seamlessly into its compact two-piece body, creating the illusion of a wet, struggling rat.

A sculpted fur body helps make the Bucca Baby Bull rat look more organic

It produces a satisfying clack on slow retrieves and can also be fished with a walk-the-dog action. At just 3.5 inches and weighing 3/4 ounce, it's one of the smallest production rats available - light enough to cast comfortably on conventional rods. While the smaller size often attracts more, and sometimes smaller, fish, I've also caught some lunkers on the Baby Bull. Its compact profile means it's easy to keep one on hand in your box or boat, and at an affordable $22.99 each, it's a great option for all anglers and can usually be found in a range of different patterns at Tackle Warehouse.

A closer look at this bite sized rat

CL8 Baby Muskrat: If finesse fishing is your style, the CL8 Water Muskrat is made for you. Even lighter than the Bucca Baby Bull Rat, the CL8 Baby Muskrat is a unique blend of rat and crankbait, featuring a 3-inch body, a 6-inch total length, and weighing just half an ounce. Unlike most rats that produce loud knocks or displace a lot of water, this bait is all about tempting fish as a bite-sized snack.

For finesse ratters there is the CL8 Baby Muskrat

It can be fished slowly, but I prefer to deadstick or twitch it tightly near or under structure - or crank it back like a shallow-diving crankbait. Despite its small size, the CL8 Baby Muskrat is packed with thoughtful features, including realistic whiskers, a screw-in tail, and rotating hook hangers. Perhaps best of all, it's very affordable at just $19.99 each from Tackle Warehouse.

Even though the CL8 Baby Muskrat is less than 20 dollars it packs in some nice features including whiskers and rotating hook hangers

Next: Unconventional Rat Picks