Custom Resin Rats: Just like with glide and wake baits, resin remains a popular material among custom swimbait builders, and for good reason. It allows makers to produce more consistent, highly detailed baits in greater quantities than traditional wood. Resin rats can be creatively weighted and tuned to deliver a range of fish-attracting actions, from crisp knocks to wide, sloshing crawls. These baits are also built tough, capable of withstanding brutal strikes without missing a beat. While they may lack some of the handcrafted uniqueness of wooden rats, resin rats are typically more accessible and affordable. They're meant to be fished hard - right through chipped paint and battle scars, and still keep performing.

When it comes to resin the OD Rat is among the very best

OD Rat: The OD Rat is an OG in the resin rat world and remains one of the most respected and proven resin rats out there. What sets it apart is the unique resin blend used in its construction, which produces a knock that sounds remarkably similar to wood - a deeper, more resonant tone than most resin-based rats on the market.

The OD Rat can easily be mistaken for wood with a deep knock and high float action

The OD is available in a variety of sizes, from standard to XL, and comes with multiple lip options, including Lexan, carbon, and even ultra-durable PCB. What I love most about the OD is its head movement - the way the front of the bait drives action through the body and into the tail creates a fluid, aggressive swim that triggers reaction bites.

The reason the bait is so loud is due to the resin and the flat joint design

The bait is made with a range of lips including carbon fiber and PCB

It's also one of the easier resin rats to walk, and thanks to that distinctive knock, it excels as a search bait over open water with a steady retrieve. Most anglers pick up an OD directly through the builder, at shows, or secondhand - that's how I got my white OG version, which has become a go-to in my box. Follow OD on Instagram to stay up to date on drops and to check out the impressive catches this legendary rat continues to produce.

There is a reason why the OD Rat is so sought after, it flat out catches!

Toxic Micro Mink: Toxic Baits was born in the heart of the California Delta and is the creation of Ceasar Chavez - a custom builder who knows how to make baits that flat-out catch fish. Beyond his lure-making skills, Ceasar is one of the most genuine builders I've met. He's a huge advocate for the swimbait community, organizing events like the popular Toxic Day, which brings together builders and passionate anglers from across the country.

The Toxic Micro Mink features a more subtle design but can easily be mistaken for many different prey

The Mink may appear simple in design compared to more elaborate rats, but that's part of its magic. Its clean, somewhat generic profile makes it incredibly versatile - it can be interpreted by fish as a rodent, salamander, lizard, or even a small fish, whether fished on the surface or as a subsurface wake. Made from Ceaser's signature resin, the Mink emits a loud knock thanks to its flat-joint design. The dual-hinge construction not only adds durability, but also controls the range of motion so that the rear section knocks hard on the edges while keeping the bait stable and consistent on the retrieve. It also cranks down deeper than most rats, giving it added versatility.

The Micro Mink has a flat joint design with two connections giving it a  more consistent swim and loud knock

Notice the wide gap which allows the rear section to swing widely then knock against the edges of the front section

The Micro Mink measures 5.5 inches with a 4-inch tail and weighs in at 3 ounces - light enough to throw all day with the right setup. One of the coolest things about this bait, and all of Ceaser's work, is that he still hand-paints each one with rattle cans, giving his baits a raw, street-inspired aesthetic that's become a hallmark of the Toxic brand. Durable, deadly, and accessible at $130, the Micro Mink is an excellent option for anglers looking for a reliable, hard-hitting rat with a distinct attitude and proven pedigree. Anglers can get Toxic Baits from the brand's online store.

Ceasar also makes an even larger rat, a Muskrat to be exact

Lunker Fighters Zombie Gerbil: Lunker Fighters is a brand owned and affiliated with Illude Baits, but unlike Illude's wooden creations, Lunker Fighters are crafted from resin. While the lineup features many unique designs, some baits are essentially resin counterparts to Illude's wooden originals - such as the Zombie Gerbil.

Anglers that like Illude designs but want the lower price and consistency of resin can explore the Lunker Fighters lineup

The Zombie Gerbil is an adorable rat-style bait with a compact 4.5-inch body, paired with Illude's signature tail to reach a total length of 9 inches, and it weighs 3.5 ounces. Unlike the Rad Rat or Zombie Rat, the Gerbil uses a large flat-joint design. While it produces a solid knock on straight retrieves, it truly excels as a walking-style rat.

PB&J is a popular pattern for Lunker Fighter baits and is offered on many of the baits including the Gas Rat, Zombie Rat, and Zombie Gerbil

With subtle rod twitches, the Gerbil clacks loudly and displaces plenty of water, making it particularly effective in tight spots and for drawing bass out from heavy cover. One of Lendl's goals in creating the Lunker Fighter line was to offer his signature designs at a more affordable and accessible price point.

The Zombie Gerbil features a large flat joint and is an excellent twitch bait

The Zombie Gerbil typically retails for around $125 and is available in a wide variety of Illude's signature paint finishes. Some of my favorites - Whiskey, Dirty, and PB&J - all feature a white belly that gives fish an easy target to lock onto. Lunker Fighter baits like the Zombie are made available via occasional drops from the Illude store.

The Zombie Gerbil is very durable, which is another benefit of resin over wood

22nd Century Nezzumma Rat XL: The 22nd Century Nezzumma Rat is crafted by legendary swimbait builder Scott Whitmer, who has been perfecting his signature Triple Trout swimbaits for over four decades. These handmade rats measure 6.5 inches in body length - and 12 inches including the tail - and weigh a hefty 4.5 ounces, making them among the larger rats available today.

The 22nd Nezzumma (or Nezz) Rat is a large hard hitting resin rat from a very respected maker

Whether retrieved steadily or twitched subtly, the Nezzumma looks fantastic on the water. It's an excellent choice when you want a bigger profile to provoke aggressive strikes or embrace a "go big or go home" approach targeting trophy bass. What I appreciate most about the Nezzumma is its high-quality custom build without the steep price tag that often comes with garage-made baits. At a retail price around $129, it delivers serious value and performance.

The V-cut model features an extra joint which gives it a more slinky motion and a secondary knock

For anglers who prefer a continuous retrieve style over twitch-and-knock, there's also a larger, three-piece V-cut version measuring 13 inches and weighing 4.9 ounces. Both versions are well-built, designed for serious swimbait anglers ready to throw XL baits. Just be sure you have a dedicated big-bait rod and reel setup capable of handling 5-ounce-class lures to maximize casting distance and accuracy with these giants. Anglers can find both of these 22nd Century Nez rats at Tackle Warehouse.

One of the easiest rats to fish effectively is the PB Rat

PB Rat: The PB Rat traces its origins back to wooden designs, but today's versions feature refined resin builds ranging from one-piece to triple-jointed models. My personal favorites are the PB 2-Piece and PB 3-Piece wakes. Similar to the Toxic Micro Mink, the PB sports a more generic profile, but it's the bait's action and sound that really drive strikes.

The three piece model is a little more like slosh style rat

The two piece model is a traditional knock style rat

The resin used is both durable and lightweight, mixed in a variety of vibrant colors and patterns. The 3-piece rat boasts a 7-inch body and stretches to 13 inches with the tail, yet weighs only 2.5 ounces - making it easy to cast on lighter setups. I'd categorize the 2-piece as a knock-style rat with a medium-pitched knock, while the 3-piece swims more like a slosh-style rat, moving water with an almost snakelike rhythm on the retrieve.

Cal with a PB Rat fish

Equipped with Owner ST-36 trebles, and featuring patterns poured directly into the resin bodies rather than painted on, these rats are some of the most durable out there. Even after multiple seasons of fishing, they tend to look nearly new.

The resin in these rats means there is no paint to come off, and allows for a very wide range of colors

PB Rats are also relatively easy to find and reasonably priced for custom builds, with the 2-piece retailing around $129 and the 3-piece at about $149. Thanks to their light weight and consistent action, the PB Rat is one of the easiest rats to fish effectively - and it's often one of the first resin rats I recommend to friends as they get comfortable with the technique. A complete range of PB Rats can usually be found at Tackle Warehouse.

This purple PB Rat got it done on a subsurface wake retrieve
 

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