Sorry, folks. I just couldn't resist that bit of teasing. It simply was too good to pass up.
Be assured, however, this is no joke bait. Rather, it's a realistic surface and shallow-diving critter crank called the Bettencourt Rodent (see right). The manufacturer is Bettencourt Baits of Clinton, MO.
Like other lures in the Bettencourt lineup, the Rodent is far from conventional and relies on triggering characteristics not found in other lures. Each and every lure is built one at a time, all by hand, and each one can be customized, to the extent of having custom paint jobs, modifications, or even personalized with your own name.
From its matted fur, to the beady eyes and leathery tail, the Bettencourt Rodent is incredibly convincing. Some say it can easily fool anglers, as well as bass. The lure is made from a combination of wood and fur, with high-quality VMC hooks attached to the bottom of the body.
All the fun begins when you start to retrieve the Rodent. It floats at rest and can be fished slowly across the surface. It's realistic in action, and by twitching the line, you are able to make the bait appear to struggle to stay afloat while remaining in a fixed position. You also can jerk it to make splashes like a plug, but for the most part, it runs quite silent.
The Rodent is not relegated to surface duty. With a fast retrieve, it will dive a little more than two feet. It runs with a slight rocking motion and can be burned across the water to try and generate reaction strikes.
How well does the Rodent work? Bass, especially bigger ones, will explode on the bait. The majority of strikes, however, come at the surface or slightly under the water after the bait has made contact with structure. In any event, when bass commit to the Rodent, it's quite a spectacle. "One minute, you are watching the bait skirt across the surface, then a sudden splash results in a fish dragging the bait underneath the water" is how one person described the action.
This amazingly lifelike lure looks and moves like a living, breathing rat taking a dip in the water. If you are targeting big bass, or are looking for a flexible new topwater alternative, the Rodent may get the job done. It comes in three sizes: 3.5" (5/8 oz.), 5" (7/8 oz.), and 8" (2.25 ozs.). The suggested retail price for the 5-inch model is $22.95.
Lower your rod tip and give the bait a little tug and s-l-o-w-l-y start cranking, and the bait rights itself and begins to struggle and swim. It will dive to approximately two feet. When you stop the retrieve, the bait once again falls over on its side and floats on the surface.
Because of the design and weighting of this bait, it can be fished in a start-and-stop or dead-stick fashion.
As reflected on the LandBigFish.com website, the lure only is available in a 1-oz. version at a cost of $39.99.
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