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G-Ratt's Signature Glidebait, only
Smaller. Match the Hatch with the Pistol Pete
| Date: |
2/26/21 |
| Tackle type: |
Lure |
| Manufacturer: |
G-Ratt Baits |
| Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 8.03 -
GREAT
Introduction: G-Ratt Baits is probably best known for their Kincanon
Swimming Rat and Sneaky Pete glidebait. Both of these baits were originally
handcrafted in small batches but are now much more readily available injected
plastic versions. Building on the popularity of the Sneaky Pete the company also
introduced a scaled down version, called the Pistol Pete, which is offered in
the same array of colors and is designed for situations when a smaller bait
better matches the hatch.
|
G-Ratt
Pistol
Pete
Swimbait Specifications |
|
Type |
Swimbait -
Glidebait |
|
Length |
5.75" overall
length to
the tail
(measured).
Body
sections
4.75" |
|
Weight |
1.2
ounces -
measured |
|
Material |
Plastic
body, Rubber
tail |
|
Sections |
Two (one joint) |
|
Patterns |
14 |
|
Rattles |
Yes, large
knock
bearings |
|
MSRP |
$19.99 |
Impressions:
The Sneaky Pete
Glidebait was
somewhat of a secret
for years. Those in
the know fished the
original resin
version and that
bait was responsible
for helping big bait
anglers catch
both trophy
largemouth and some
epic stripers. As
demand for the baits
grew Garrett Dixon
and the team at G-Ratts
decided it was time
to expand from the
handmade resin
baits to
injection molded
versions. The goal
of this was to make
the baits more
readily available to
anglers, as well as
make them more
affordable.
The Pistol Pete is
basically a Sneaky
Pete in a scaled
down size
In Fall 2018 the
company launched the
Sneaky Pete injected
plastic Glide Bait
with the same basic
dimensions as the
original, This
plastic version
measures 7.5"
length and a weighs
in at 2.4 ounces. The
plastic bait
features an internal
weighting system
comprised of metal
bearings isolated in
the belly portion of
the bait in both the head and tail
sections.
Casting the Sneaky
Pete is best with a
dedicated swimbait
rod but it still
isn't that difficult
to sling at 2.4oz.
The original resin
G-Ratt cost around
80-85 dollars a
piece, and the
new injected
versions retailed
for less than half
of that at $35.99
each. As popularity
of the Sneaky Pete
grew the company
introduced a second
version, a smaller
model, called the
Pistol Pete.
The Sneaky Pete is
very much a
traditional wide
glide swimbait and
represented a more
affordable option to
many competing JDM
and custom lures
The Pistol Pete has
all the features of
the original
injected Sneaky
Pete, just in a
smaller form factor.
The Pistol measures
in at 5.75" and
weighs only 1.2
ounces, making it
even smaller than
some deep
diving crankbaits.
While I have fished
the larger version
of the Sneaky Pete
for a few seasons
I decided to spend
some more time with
the Pistol Pete this
past year to
explore the
differences between
the baits, the
overall performance
of the smaller size,
and the applications
where the Pistol
might even offer an
advantage over the
original.
The Pistol is so
small it fits easily
in boxes designed
for jerkbaits and
crankbaits
Real World Tests:
To test the
Pistol Pete I fished
it side by side with
the Sneaky Pete and
for the purposes of
this review focused
on the performance
versus the larger
injected model,
instead of the original
resin bait, which is
much harder to procure. I
targeted largemouth,
smallmouth,
and spotted bass in
northern California
lakes using a
variety of different
setups spooled with
braid, braid
with fluorocarbon
leaders, and
straight
monofilament lines.
The Pistol Pete is
so light and easy to
cast it can be
fished with
conventional casting
setups
Sneaky little
Pistol: When
creating the
production version
of the Sneaky Pete
lead designer
Garrett Dixon spent
a lot of time
perfecting the
weighting system in
the bait,
positioning steel
bearings at critical
areas in the belly,
and also allowing
some of them to move
within chambers
to create a deep
knock with each side
to side movement of
the bait. The result
was a bait that
replicated the
original resin
design but generated
more sound, and was
also available in a
much wider range of
patterns than the
original hand
painted models.
One of the benefits
of the new mass
produced baits is
they are available
in a much wider
range of patterns
Anglers familiar
with fishing
traditional lipless
glide baits will
find the Sneaky Pete
very intuitive to
fish, simply cast
and impart action
with a combination
of retrieve speeds, pauses, and rod
twitches. A regular
cadence will get the
Sneaky Pete to swing
side to side in a
wide S-Pattern, and
a
varied retrieve
can get the bait to
dart or swing around in a
more erratic
fashion.
The first difference
you will notice with
the Pistol is how
much smaller the
bait is. Though it
measures 5.75" in
length the profile
and total volume of
the bait is so much
smaller that it
immediately looks
like a baitfish.
One handed casts
with the Pistol Pete
are effortless
Next Section: Sometimes the smaller bait wins... 
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