- Read our review guidelines
Mouse and rat lures can be a great choice for topwater bass fishing and can also be used to catch other larger species of fish.
But there’s a time and a place to bring these bad boys out. You want to keep these guys in your arsenal and bring them out at the right time.
But when?
With so many different types of topwater lures out there, we thought we’d give you a few tips on using rat and mouse lures specifically, so you can try them out and maybe catch more bass on your next trip.
What Makes A Good Rat Or Mouse Lure?
A lot of the time, rat and mouse lures are designed to be used near weed beds, so many of them are weedless. This is so that you don’t get your lure caught up in the vegetation, and end up quitting in frustration.
Rats and mice lures can be either hollow and hard bodied, similar to topwater frogs lures. They will usually come with hooks attached and sometimes they may have hooks that curve around their bodies. Good lures should also have a natural swimming action that mimics a real-life mouse or rat.
Some lures will also have a lip or bill at the front, similar to a crankbait. These can be ideal for using when you’re close to the edges of vegetation or near the banks. However, if you’re looking for a rat that might cover open water a little better, then one without a lip may be a more suitable choice.
When And Where Do You Use Mouse Or Rat Lures?
Summer
Mouse and rat lures are generally topwater lures and the summer can be one of the best times to use them. Summer will tend to be when weeds and grasses are most abundant on a lake, for example, which can cause land mammals to end up in the water as they make their way from one place to another.
However, during floods or heavy rain can also be a great time to fish with rodents, as rodents will naturally tend to be forced out of their burrows and holes during this time because of the water rise.
Video: Rat Fishing Made Easy! 101 Guide
Shoreline Fishing
Because rodents will often naturally be found at the water’s edge, this can be a great place to use rat and mouse lures.
You’ll probably have seen real rats, mice, or other rodents at your local river or lake and you’ll probably have noticed that they tend to stay close to the edge where they will usually have protection from weeds, grasses or wooden structures. These areas can be ideal for using rodent lures.
However, sometimes rodents may have to swim in open water, to cross rivers, for example. So areas between shorelines or weed beds can also be good spots to use rats and mice.
What Tackle To Use With Rodent Lures?
Medium heavy or heavy powered, moderate action rods around 7 feet can be useful for fishing with rodent lures. Slow action rods can also be ideal for moving baits like rats and mice.
A medium gear ratio of around 6:1 can be a good all-around option to use with rodent lures, as it can give you the versatility to slow down or speed up your presentation.
Braided line may be your best option for rat and mouse lures, as it will tend to float and can give you the strength you need for fishing around cover. Braided line of around 30 to 50 pound test strength could be ideal.
> Recommended lines for fishing bass
5 Best Rat And Mice Rodent Fishing Lures For Bass
1: Spro Bbz-1 Rat Swimbait
- Length: 3 ¼ inches
- Weight: ½ ounce
This Spro Rat lure is a 3 ¼ inch topwater lure that’s designed to attract big bass. It features a hinged body to give a realistic swimming motion and an articulated tail for added lifelike movement.
It is made of hard plastic but has a foam interior which helps it float. The addition of the square bill allows it to swim just below the surface, like a real rat would. It also benefits from having two Gamakatsu treble hooks.
2: Savage Gear 3D Rat Lure
- Length: 7 ¾ inches
- Weight: 1 ounce
The Savage Gear 3D Rat has been designed based on the 3D images of real rats to give improved movement in the water so that it more closely imitates a real rat swimming along.
It’s a pretty large lure, which is designed to attract large bass. It features a hard body with a nylon mesh joint in the middle for realistic swimming and benefits from soft feet, ears and tail for added movement.
It also features a bill to help it dive and swim under the surface and a treble hook that can be rigged on the top if you’re fishing around heavy cover.
3: Truscend Rat Lures
- Length: 3 ½ inches
- Weight: ¾ ounces
These Truscend Rat lures are hard bodied lures designed for bass fishing. They come in a pack of three and feature metal hinged bodies for added movement when in the water. They also feature soft rubber tails and 3D eyes for a more realistic appearance.
Each rat lure benefits from a square bill and sharp treble hooks. They are designed to float and attract attention when they’re fished.
4: Livetarget Hollow Body Mouse
- Length: 2 ¾ inches
- Weight: ½ ounce
The Livetarget Hollow Body Mouse lure is a weedless topwater lure that is designed to be walked across weed mats and vegetation. It is a soft plastic lure that is built to float on the water and create realistic movement as it’s reeled through the water.
It features a double hook that is curved around the body to prevent getting caught up in cover. It also benefits from a tail and skirt legs to give it a more lifelike appearance in the water.
5: VTA VTA Topwater Mouse Lure
- Length: 3 ½ inches
- Weight: ½ ounce
This Topwater Mouse lure features a mouse-like body with a steel ball inside and a rotating tail that is designed to cause vibrations and attract attention from bass. It is a hard bodied bait that is built to float but should also shallow dive if reeled in at speed.
The mouse also features two sharp treble hooks.
Tips For Using Rodent Lures
Continuous Movement
Reeling your rodent lure continuously may be more effective sometimes than a pause and retrieve technique.
This is often because rodents will often tend to swim from one spot to another without stopping, as they are land animals going from A to B, unlike frogs which may pause.
Wait To Set The Hook
When you’re working with topwater lures, particularly rats and mice, it can be a good idea to give the bass a few seconds to take the lure before you try to set the hook, as you might end up losing your fish. It can also be useful to set the hook in a sideways motion rather than jerking your rod upwards.
If your potential catch does let go of your bait, you could slightly jerk your rod to move it a little after pausing and you could entice the bass back to your “injured” rodent lure.
Go Big For Big Fish
Sometimes, the larger the lure, the bigger the bass, and this can be particularly true when it comes to rat lures. Rats are generally large prey when it comes to bass food sources, which can mean they attract the larger fish. Yup, big bass ain’t scared!
Some smaller bass may pass on a rat because it’s too large whereas large bass may be unable to resist the potential meal. Smaller sized rodent lures, such as small mice, may attract a higher number of bass because of their more manageable dimensions.
Gone Fishin’ (Conclusion)
Rat and mouse lures can add another element to your bass fishing game and can let you catch big bass. Try them out during the summer months when bass are hitting topwater lures.
Let us know (down below) about your favorite rodent lure or where you’ve had the most success. And help your buddies catch bigger bass by sharing this guide with them.