Ima Roumba Silent Wakebait Topwater

One Bait. Four Imitations. Year-Round Confidence.

The Ima Roumba Silent Wakebait was designed by Bassmaster Elite Angler Fred Roumbanis — and it's been on his rod year-round ever since. The Roumba creates a natural, side-to-side wobbling wake along the surface that can imitate a crawfish scooting above shallow hydrilla, a frog hopping across lily pads, a rat or mouse skittering across the surface, or a bluegill coming up to sun. No matter the lake, no matter the season, the Roumba finds a way to get bit.

The Wake That Triggers the Strike

The Roumba's unique body geometry produces a wide, rolling side-to-side wobble that pushes a visible wake across the surface on a slow, steady retrieve. That subtle surface disturbance — combined with the bait's natural profile — triggers the predatory instinct in bass holding in shallow cover. Keep the rod tip up, maintain a slow steady retrieve, and get ready for an explosive surface strike.

Why Standard Topwaters Miss Shallow Cover

Walking baits and poppers require constant rod work and don't fish well over thick grass or through tight cover. The Roumba is designed to be fished with a simple, slow steady retrieve — gliding just below the surface film and creating a wake that draws bass up from below. It's the ideal bait for situations where you need a topwater that fishes itself through the nastiest shallow cover on the lake.

Fred Roumbanis on the Roumba

"The Roumba is an extremely versatile bait that I'll have tied on at least one rod year round. No matter what lake I go to across the country I know I'll be able to get 'em good on a Roumba. The reason is simple; I can imitate several types of baitfish with this bait. It can be used as a crawfish scooting right above shallow hydrilla, a frog hoppin' around open water lily pads, a rat or mouse skitting across the surface, or a bluegill coming up to sun."

The Right Pick If...

• You're fishing over shallow aquatic grass — milfoil, hydrilla, and coontail
• You want a topwater that fishes itself with a simple slow retrieve
• You're targeting bass around boat docks, laydowns, brush piles, and standing timber
• Walking baits and poppers are too noisy or require too much rod work for the situation
• You want a year-round topwater confidence bait that imitates multiple forage types

Best Retrieve Techniques

• Slow Steady Retrieve: The bread-and-butter presentation — keep the rod tip up and reel slowly to maintain the surface wake
• Pause and Wake: Reel a few feet, pause, then resume — the pause often triggers strikes from following fish
• Over Grass: Slow retrieve just above the grass canopy — mimics a crawfish or frog moving through vegetation
• Around Structure: Cast past docks, laydowns, and timber and retrieve along the edge — bass will ambush it from the shadows

Best Conditions

• Shallow aquatic grass — milfoil, hydrilla, coontail, and lily pads
• Boat docks, laydowns, brush piles, and standing timber
• Low-light periods — early morning and late evening
• Warm water temps above 60°F when bass are shallow and feeding
• Calm to lightly rippled surface — the wake is most visible in calmer conditions

Best For

• Species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass
• Techniques: Wakebait, Slow Surface Retrieve, Grass Fishing, Cover Fishing
• Imitations: Crawfish, Frog, Rat/Mouse, Bluegill/Sunfish

Key Features

• Designed by Bassmaster Elite Angler Fred Roumbanis
• Unique body geometry produces a natural side-to-side surface wake
• Silent design — no rattle, natural presentation
• 3 in body length, 1/2 oz (14g) weight
• Owner ST-36 #4 treble hooks
• Effective over grass, around docks, laydowns, brush piles, and timber
• Imitates crawfish, frog, rat/mouse, and bluegill on a single bait
• 5 color patterns to match any forage or cover type

Models & Colors

Tackle Express Tips

• Rod Tip Up: Keep your rod tip at 10–11 o'clock during the retrieve to keep the Roumba riding high in the surface film. Dropping the tip kills the wake action.
• Match Color to Cover: Bull Frog and Stink Bug are go-to colors over lily pads and green vegetation. Bluegill and Baby Bass shine around docks and timber. Albino is a low-light and clear-water standout.
• Don't Set Too Early: When a bass blows up on the Roumba, wait until you feel the weight of the fish before sweeping the rod. Premature hooksets are the #1 reason anglers miss fish on wakebaits.

FAQ

What makes the Roumba a "silent" wakebait?
The Roumba has no internal rattle — it relies entirely on its surface wake and profile to attract fish. This silent presentation is especially effective in clear water or when fish are pressured and spooking off noisy baits.

What rod and line setup works best?
A medium or medium-heavy 7'–7'4" casting rod with a 6:1 reel and 15–20 lb monofilament is ideal. Monofilament floats and helps keep the bait riding high in the surface film. Avoid braid — it sinks and can pull the bait under.

Can the Roumba be fished over thick grass without fouling?
Yes. The Roumba's body profile and hook placement allow it to glide over shallow grass without constantly fouling. Fish it just above the grass canopy with a slow, steady retrieve and the Owner ST-36 hooks will stay clean through most vegetation.