...I just wish they'd get delivered already.

http://www.castaicsoftbait.com/video/ragoVideo07.mpg

They're at TW right now

What's left is ghost rainbow in fast and slow fall as of 3/2/07. Enjoy:

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpageSWMJRAGO-JRRT.html?from=calfish

Where have I seen that tail action before? And who told Jerry to have his baits painted by Castaic? Hmmmmm....I don't know?

The baits look great!


Josh D.

What is the slow sink equivalent to as far as rof's?

ah dang i shoulda got a ghost trout too ;[

Just got my baits. They look good in person. They're quite soft and look like they will give good action. The paint jobs are very nicely done. The ghost rainbow shows the lead harness quite a bit through the belly but the rainbow color looks very good. These are going to catch fish.

The only things I don't like are:

No loop on the belly for a trap hook, that is disappointing.

The hook seems a size or two too big for the bait. Some people are probably happy for the larger hook but it stands out quite a bit. JMO.

2 of 4 baits had a depression in the side near the tail. It looks like the baits were pulled from the mold too soon or they weren't injected with enough pressure to fill the mold. I saw this same problem on the Platinums. I am hoping these indentations don't affect the swimming action.

Time and the whims of the bass will tell us more :)

Rob those dents are shrinkage dents. When the plastic is hot it expands. as it cools it shrinks. Those dents are very dificult to combat especialy with larger baits.

I got mine from tacklewarehouse today and threw it in my pool to check the acction. To my dismay it leans to the side when retrieved. Has anyone else had this problem? If so is there a fix? I don't want to wait three weeks to get another one.

The swimming action otherwise was awesome. My brother, who doesn't fish said, "damn that looks just like a real fish". This bait also sits perfectly horizontal on the bottom when deadsticked. It kinda rests on the tips of pectoral fins and the tail and looks like its hovering.

No belly ring is a shame. We need a class action move here:


JERRY:
PLEASE add a belly ring to your baits. Would make the baits a lot more fishable. Totally a bummer not to have a way to rig trap hooks on the belly without having to get totally commando.

MP

i believe he said he was going to release a belly ring later, in a second version.

He could have EASILY added a belly ring to that lead harness in the bait. I had to listen to a high pitch whine from Matt P over an email LOL. He was going ballistic LOL. Matt looks like we'll have to stinger it from the top. Very nice looking bait for sure. I can see the lead harness plain as day on the ghost color. It gives off a boneish color. I don't think it will be a problem for my stupid fish tho :)

Mike

Ok i will shed some light on this subject.JASON DROPPED THE BALL!!!!!
Not here to say the bait is not good just saying it's not the way Jerry originally designed the bait. It's shorter, some of the fins have been moved and there is no belly ring for a stinger hook.
Come on guys Jerry knows that there should be a belly ring, i guess Jason doesn't think so. And im not here to disrespect you Jason, i
have the up most respect for what you contribute to us fishermen.
Just trying to put a spark under your ars. Jerry has his rep on the line big time with this bait and i'd like to see it get done right.
GIT ER DUN!!!!!!
P.S here is the proto for the 10" Real Trout. Pete A

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/5753-10_inch_real_trout.jpg

Now that's what I'm talking about....}(

Dear PeteA:

You rock, and I love your brutal honesty and clarity on the situation.

If you are ever in Atlanta, hit me up, and I put you on fish. As well, if you want my left arm, or my first born child, its yours...i just want a 10" bait or 20 with the belly rings like in your pictures.

Heaven must be missing an angel! I mean a 10" bait? Available to the public? I thought you had to be a relative of Mr. Huddleston or a founder of swimbaitkooks.com-----I mean, swimbaitnation.com or something to get a bait thats >8" and available in more than 3 colors and 3 ROFs. Viva capitalism. I love the Hudd and all, but geezo, we've all been patient enough. Uhhh, the filmore color of Hudd isn't exactly innovation or WOW factor, and does a clear image exist on the internet anywhere? I need a bigger bait already.

I mean, its March 2007, and we are still waiting for someone to make a >8" version of a Hudd style bait, and guys are gonna cry foul about piracy and copy catting. Mr. Hudd, Jerry, Mr. Reaction strike, MattLures, or kidinyourgarage.com....someone with the skills and savvy just get it done. And please include a belly ring for trap hooks. I will buy them, and so will everyone else...by the gizzillions. Or as the southern folks say: oodle-ins....

Then, lets talk about 6-12 inch baby bass, bluegill, perch, shad, gizzards, etc here with the same anatomically correct stuff...basically port this stuff from a trout to other species.

Holler if you hear me!

MP

Matt....Word! :P The 10" is the best bait I have ever seen! Produce NOW!!!!!!!! Or swimbait fishermen will attack with pitchforks and torches! I hope you have 500 pre-made....cause they will be gone!

Hm, maybe if I give feedback earlier on I can have more influence on how these baits come out... Let's give it a try :D

That 10" bait looks promising, very promising. I know making baits like this is not easy and I know all the lure makers pour their hearts in to their baits but let's push things forward a notch and set the bar higher. Here's my criticisms of the 10" prototype:

Size of the tail: I have hundreds of pictures of planter trout and they don't typically have big tails like that.

Fin size: I think the fins could be smaller in general and rounded on the ends. I know Jerry's thing is the fins, that's cool but we just disagree :) The fins on that bait look cool from a stylistic perspective, but if you look at planter trout, their fins don't look like that. Most are stubby if they have any fins at all.

Fin Color: I'd like if the fins and tail were clear with silver/black flake. I could see not even painting the fins and tail, just putting dots on them. Fins are transparent, not opaque. Think from the bass' perspective underneath the trout.

Open Mouth: The open mouth looks neat too but I don't want to pick up weeds or get that awkward bottom hang up you get with open mouth baits. You know what I mean when you're reeling along and the open mouth hits something and catches on it, it jerks your rod almost like a bite?

First hook placement: I'd put the first wire loop on the belly further forward. Like draw a line from the trout's eye to the belly and put the loop there. Yes, that looks weird but sometimes I think stuff gets done with lures just because everyone else does it a certain way. Don't just do something because other people do it. Put the hook where it should be logically. Big fish grab trout by the throat, the hook should be right there, not back behind the gills.

Jerry - if it feels like I'm picking on you it's only because I see so much potential in your new baits. Good luck with all your endeavors.

A Real Trout or Hudd in 10" is a must. I have seen some bass chasing some big trout this year, much bigger than a Hudd.

I agree with a couple of things that Rob has to say about the bait. First of all, I still haven't seen ANY bait that truly looks like a planter trout, maybe the Stocker Trout if I had to pick a close one. Those trout are beat to S%$& most of the time when they put them in. Alot of the baits are just too "pretty" in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I know it will catch fish and I love all of Jerry's other stuff, but make an ugly, stubby finned, more silver or dull colored swimbait with that same kick and the same open mouth design, then it's a REAL trout.