Every lure manufacturer has their own version of a creature bait. Some are better than others in our opinion but we are always willing to try a new entrant in this crowded segment.
Why? Cause they catch fish!
The new Strike King Rage Tail DB Structure Bug, (DB being short for Denny Brauer) is the subject of our review today.
What’s all the rage about?
Like all Rage Tail products, the Structure Bug has the Rage flanges on the tips of those parts of the bait that are designed to move. In the case of the Bug, that means that there is a flange at the tip of each of the large front facing pincers, on the tips of the small, center aligned legs, even on the tips of the two antennae.
The bait is ribbed top and bottom with a groove down the center that both hides the hook point while providing an area with less plastic for the hook to go through on the hook set.
This creature sports a definite top and bottom with small molded in eyes being the key feature that differentiates the two. On top of that there are two small antennae for a more realistic profile.
The DB Structure Bug measures 3 3/4 inches in length, comes seven to a pack, with the available colors being proven Strike King standards but we would be happy if there were more colors available.
As is the standard with Rage Tail Products, the Bug comes to you in a plastic clam shell package to keep the baits in their intended form from first to last. The moving parts are attached to the each other and the body respectively but can easily be separated for additional action. Oh yeah, these also use the proven coffee scent as an attractant.
So all this being said, does this thing catch fish?
Fishing the Structure Bug
We first used this for dropping through holes in grass. After all, it is named the Structure Bug, right? We rigged it on a 4/0 flippin hook with a 1/2 pegged weight, no punch skirt with all the digits left attached.
All we can say is that the profile of the Structure Bug allows it to easily slide through grass, matted cattails, lilly pads and other surface vegetation very well.
On the fall, even with leaving all the appendages attached, this little bug has some built in action thanks to those little flanges. The larger pincers have a subdued wave while the little legs add a shimmy to the bait.
Yup, we caught several bass using it like this so we figured we would try some other rigging options to see weather or not the Structure Bug was more than a one trick pony.
Next on our list was a pivot head jig. Once again we left everything the way it comes out of the package just to see what the action would be like.
No, it didn’t disappoint. Crawling it along the bottom, the front claws float and wave easily with every twitch of the rod tip while looking very natural swinging freely behind the jig head. End result, more fish on the Structure Bug.
And more ways …
So we figured we would start separating the digits. We started kinda bass ackwards by only detaching the small feet from the sides allowing them to utilize all of their built in action. We caught some bass this way too.
We were on a roll and needed to replace a torn up bait so we just separated the large, front claws to see if we could get a strike that way. Sure enough, this creates another, distinct action that we caught more fish on.
Finally, having to replace another beat up Bug, we went all in by separating all four appendages and the antennae. Ya know what? We caught some more bass using it this way.
So the bottom line is that the angler can choose a little, a little more, or the most action the Bug is capable of depending on how many of the appendages you allow to flap freely.
After having some fun with the pivot head jig, we gave it a whirl as a jig trailer behind a swim jig.
We had good results with this option but were burning through the baits.
Finally, we rigged it on a belly weighted swim bait hook just to try yo-yoing it around the edges of grass. Danged if we didn’t catch some fish this way too.
We were going to try skipping it under some docks but by the time we got to thinking about doing that, we had destroyed every bait in the one pack that we had.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t salvage any more using super glue. Trust me, we tried but all plastics get to the point that repair isn’t possible.
Don’t misunderstand, this didn’t all occur on one trip. We’ve used the Structure Bug on each of several trips when the conditions appeared prime for the lure as it was being tested against other baits of the same type.
Power or finesse, take your pick
One of the benefits of the Bug is that it can be used on heavily pressured fish as well as having the ability to draw strikes when the bite is slowing.
Depending on your choice of rigging, this bait serves multiple purposes. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that it isn’t useful outside of flippin into structure.
We’ve fished other Rage Tail products but, in our memory, can’t say that there is one better than the Structure Bug. Is this the best Rage Tail yet?
If it isn’t, we’re certainly hard pressed to name the one that is!
The only downside to the Structure Bug is its lack of durability. We haven’t been able to get any more than a few fish on a single bait. The plastic is soft which undoubtedly helps it generate the action that it has but the flip side of this feature is that it gets torn up quickly.
So, you’ve gotta pick your poison. Catch fish and run through baits or don’t get bit and don’t use up baits.
The Structure Bug is a multi-talented lure that does get bites and can be rigged a number of ways as a general purpose bait or finesse lure. Just don’t expect that one bait is all you’ll need for a good day on the lake.
| Strike King Rage Tail DB Structure Bug | |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating |   |
| A capable option for power or finesse | |
See ya’ on the water …
