Why not :+

Seriously, I think that baitfish colors will work on any lure, if presented correctly. The bass are used to seeing and chasing other 'bass' as forage. I think a rat with bass colors will just help the lure adapt to the fishes environment.

Especially with a big lure like this. I think the bass are just attacking it as a meal. They don't know the difference between a bass and a rat?

I make crawdads in baitfish colors. I fish them when the bass are feeding heavily on baitfish, but I want to fish slower and closer to the bottom. Bass don't have the ability to rationalize like we do, determining that rats aren't green. At least no rats that I've seen :o