New Z-Man® Rattle-Snaker® ElaZtech® cables and all soft plastics with fish-attracting sound
Among all the alien benefits of Z-Man ElaZtech baits, their enigmatic ability to “self-heal” even after numerous lacerations and hook pricks unlocks some pretty valuable bait mods. Hook a hook on a GOAT™, Turbo CrawZ™ or Jerk ShadZ™ two, three. . . ten different times. Catch a dozen large redfish or fifty largemouth bass. Re-rig the same “used” bait over and over again with almost no damage. ElaZtech is so strong that it has been known to occasionally outlast the hook. crazy right?
These same magical self-healing properties make superplastics ideal vehicles for numerous creative tricks, perhaps none more exciting than implanting them with fish-attracting rattles or auxiliary weights. That’s where an awesome little tool known as the Rattlesnake® emerges from his tackle box.
Adding the benefits of sound attraction to any soft plastic bait, the Z-Man Rattle-Snaker effortlessly implants small rattles in a quick and safe two-step process. Its patented tool design allows for the precise insertion of rattles, or tungsten weights, into bait bodies via a stainless steel insertion needle and push rod. Simply insert the tip of the tool into the tail, head or torso of the bait. Place a rattle inside the hollow needle of the tool. Push it into place with the push rod and it’s immediately wired for a fish-attracting sound.
Several years ago, recognizing the value of amplifying his favorite ElaZtech baits with maraca-like vibrations, Rattle-Snaker inventor Oliver Green endeavored to design a turnkey fishing tool. “I knew that if I could come up with a device capable of injecting a rattlesnake into my favorite soft plastic baits, it could be a big deal,” says Green, a southeast Florida coastal saltwater specialist.
“I found a lot of rattles, but surprisingly no one was making a tool that could inject them into soft plastics, let alone those harder-to-penetrate superplastics. I knew the tool needed to work with ElaZtech, both because the baits catch so many fish and because the material seals and has a way of essentially locking the rattle inside its body.”
While on “COVID sabbatical,” Green found the time to start working on his clever idea. “At first, I tried a barbecue injector needle, which gave me a starting point,” he recalls. “From there, I refined things down to a large hypodermic needle, which worked a little better. I finally found exactly what I needed in the body piercing supplies, which helped inspire my final design.
“I built the first rattlesnakes with wooden handles and immediately gave them to some of my fisherman friends. I learned right away that saltwater, freshwater, and especially bass anglers were going to be just as excited to get their hands on this tool.”
Further refinements followed. And finally, a finalized and patented invention emerged. Within months, professional anglers, including MLF/Bass Pro Tour angler Luke Clausen and numerous YouTube influencers, were singing Rattle-Snaker’s praises.
“Rattle-Snaker is one of the best new fishing tools I’ve ever seen,” says Clausen, who used the tool to implant rattles and tiny tungsten barrels into everything from a Ned Rigged Finesse TRD™ to a DieZel MinnowZ™ swimbait and a Hella CrawZ™ Template Trailer. “Inject your ElaZtech baits with one or more of these little rattlers and you’ll benefit from a subtle yet palpable sound attraction, especially important when imitating crayfish or other bottom-oriented prey.
“What’s really amazing about the rattlesnake is that once the rattlesnake is inside the bait, it stays put.”
Adds Green: “I have a Neko-rigged ElaZtech bait that I’ve been using for two years, and the rattles are still intact. Even if a large bass or redfish crushes the rattles inside the bait, I can just inject a new replacement rattle. One of my bass fishing buddies rides his speed worms with up to 4 rattles per bait. No doubt the experimentation will inspire some great rigging tricks.”
Equipped with a surgical steel needle protected by a silicone needle guard, the Z-Man Rattle-Snaker (Available October – MSRP $12.99) works with all soft plastic baits and for fresh or saltwater use. Packaged with 10 glass rattles, the Rattle-Snaker features built-in rattle storage or tungsten weights, coming soon. Replacement rattle 10 packs are also available at www.zmanfishing.com.
About Z-Man Fishing Products: A dynamic company based in Charleston, South Carolina, Z-Man Fishing Products has been fusing cutting-edge fishing tackle with technology for nearly three decades. Z-Man has long been one of the industry’s largest suppliers of silicone skirt material used in jigs, spinnerbaits, and other lures. Creator of the original ChatterBait®, Z-Man is also the renowned innovator of 10X Tough ElaZtech® soft baits, among the most sought after baits in freshwater and saltwater. Z-Man is one of the fastest growing lure brands in the world.