Sharky,

The Rat is an excellent wake bait. hold the rod tip high and
make the tail kick as you slowly wake the bait accross the
surface. My editor at The Fish Sniffer got to experience the
effectiveness first hand in May on the Delta as he boated a 6,
4 and 3.5 in 45 minutes on Whiskey Slough

Rago himself recommends using the Generic Rat as a first
strike lure, throwing it as the first lure each time you set
down on a new spot.

I will say this, it is surprisingly more weedless than one
would think. It walks through hard cover very well, wood, pads
etc, even over the top of submerged grasses.

Fish it all the way back to the boat because you WILL get
explosive bites as you are about to pick the bait up to make
the next cast.

I prefer to use a heavy action glass rod because of the late
strikes, I throw 25 pound mono, but braid does well too. Chuck
it and hold on, they don't eat this thing because of hunger.

Dan O'Sullivan
Rago Baits "No Staffer" ;-)