I spent a lot of time thinking about this lure and tinkering with it. In the end I was pretty disappointed. This was a bait that could have been something special. I'm not sure the baits are made any more, so my apologies for the late review:

http://www.calfishing.com/reviews/swimbaits/rago_baits_real_trout/index.html
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/lures/swimbaits/rago_real_trout/rago_real_trout_side.jpg


Write your own review:
http://www.calfishing.com/reviews/comment.html?product_id=1303

Another little bit of BBH (Big Bait History).
The original name of this bait was the "Frying Pan Bait", because it was not made in a Silpac Silicon mold. It was made, in a five dollar frying pan, on Jerry's stove, in Independence, CA., much like a pancake is made. Before the first 3D Generic Trout (I named this bait), there were no 3D hand pour molds, only injection molds. John Zank developed the first 3D hand pour molds around 2002.

I went to Jerry's house to see this bait, and while looking rough, I was completely blown away by the way it swam in the creek behind Jerry's house. The third 'frying pan' bait had a clear hard lip melted into the bait, and this evolved into another one of Rago's lures.

Although the first few were dynamite, OEM is what killed this killer design. Once the hand of the master crafter was not involved in the making of each lure, it became a different animal.
:+

Although this lure was not a sauces, one must remember that this lure was years before the Hudd that everyone is comparing this bait to (as far as sink rates, body finish, rigging, etc.)
From a handful of use plastic and a frying pan, this bait still has come a long way, IMO.

"Known as the person who introduced swimbait fishing to Japan"

FYI
Rod Thigpin has been hand pouring 3D 3 piece mold trout baits since the early 90's
DT

>FYI
>Rod Thigpin has been hand pouring 3D 3 piece mold trout baits
>since the early 90's
>DT

For everyone's information, Master Mold Maker John Zank had the first 3D hand pour molds since the early 80's a full ten years before the Thigpin's Stocker Trout. These first swimbait designs were sold on a very limited basis.
Who was first is really irrelevant; According to the Los Angeles Times article in the early 80's, John Zank is credited with developing the Swimbait, as well as the word "Swimbait" (Yes, before Worm King- even the owner of Worm King give credit to John for his designs, as well as the use of the word "Swimbait").

My first post was not descriptive enough--it was the first two, not three piece RTV hand pour mold to allow insertion of the hand pour plastic in much the same way as injection plastic is injected by machine into molds made from metal alloys.

"Known as the person who introduced swimbait fishing to Japan"

Tell It G!

Josh D

I hope you can understand my statement about the Thigpin's bait. Cap G had stated: "Before the first 3D Generic Trout (I named this bait), there were no 3D hand pour molds, only injection molds. John Zank developed the first 3D hand pour molds around 2002." I took this statement for what it said. When I and the others in my circle think of swimbaits we first think of The AC and then the other wooden baits that followed. The Stocker Trout then followed and was the first realistic Hand Poured 3D Plastic Trout "SWIMBAIT". Seeing the previous post I went to wikipedia and it says that the term "SWIMBAIT" is sometimes used to indicate a plastic "paddle tail" lure regardless of size or appearance. So I can understand what Capt G is saying. I have to be honest I am extremely biased when it comes to the Stocker Trout, It has consistently produced for myself and others I know. I am sure we all feel that way about a bait that produces for us. In no way am I trying to slight any other bait or its producer.
DT