Bluegill Swimbaits

[NoBassPro]

Anyone have any recommendations for bluegill style swimbaits in the $20 or so price range? I think the 4" size range would work best for me, other than that I just don't want to spend alot on something I'm not sure how well I will enjoy fishing. Also, can you work the sinking models decently without being able to see the bait?

Also, if any of you throw these in pike or musky waters, can you run a heavy mono or flouro leader without killing the action?

[JaxBasser]

http://www.mattlures.com/U2Gill.htm

Haven't used them but have heard nothing but good things about them. I really need to try them out eventually.

[NoBassPro]

I was thinking more along the hardbait lines, but I will definitely consider those

[NoBassPro]

Matt makes hard too.

Also Koppers live Target.

...Bill

I did know about his hardbait line and have heard very good things about it, however I'm not willing to spend that on one lure until I am sure I can make it work for me and not lose it to toothy critters.

I have not seen a bluegill swimbait in koppers line up?

[RyneB]

i have a Mattlures gill and i have had some success hear and there. The one thing i can tell you is it is not a bait i can throw all day. I can throw hollow body swimmers all day but not the matt lures. I fish real clear strip pits that have some vegetation and the mattlures is useless in summer and fall. But spring is where it earns its keep. I will find beds off in the distance and slow roll the gill to the beds and let it sink to the bed and if there is a bass there, it will smash that bait. If you fish a weedy and an area with a lot of cover, i would go with a hollow body bait. But if your in the open water, a mattlures is a solid tool in your arsenal.

[NoBassPro]

I was kind of hoping for something I could work over the tops of weeds, which gives me 2-3 foot usually. Maybe along some open edges. In all honesty, most of my summer bass come out of weedbeds, with pike holding the deeper areas. Small pike are everywhere though. One or two lakes I fish have musky in them and they don't seem so temperature sensitive. When it comes to the size, I know pike seem to key in on that size range in the winter, and I've picked up some real nice bass on tip -ups by accident, so I am just kind of guessing it would be appealing to bass in the summer.

[J_Pearson]

Mattlures U2... Oh my gosh! I've smoked so many fish on that thing it's ridiculous. It's hands down the most life-like bluegill swimbait on the market, and a size that's attractive to fish from 12 inches to tanks.

I'm a big fan, and you wouldn't be disappointed.

JP

[lavbasser]

Also, Black Dog Baits Shell Cracker. The G2 is 4 inches and about 20 dollars.

[deep]

Also, Black Dog Baits Shell Cracker. The G2 is 4 inches and about 20 dollars.

X2

Some other baits at the price range you're looking at would be the Tylure sunfish, and the CL8 bluegill bait.

I think Ryan (fish30acre) may be releasing a bluegill bait in near future. You might want to contact him. He's a nice guy, and did a custom sink rate and paintscheme for me at no extra charge.

[BassinMD]

Tru-tungsten has 4 inch 4 section swimbaits that are like 15 bucks and you can add weight to help them stay at any depth, had a lot of success with mine in bluegill pattern, swims true and is easy to maneuver as far as controlling depth and directional changes

[Greed]

I wish that the Mattlures Hard Gill was easier to find on the market.

[deaknh03]

Jackall Giron is awesome.

[BigMoneyGrip]

I have a few of the H2O lures that MonteSS mentions. I've had good lu with them and have no complaints. I also have a few of the TruTungstens also. Tackle Warehouse had them on closeout not that long ago, so you might check that out.

[JHudd11]

You could check out some of the SPRO swimbaits. Those are great and swim really nice in the water

[dudemanbro]

Check out the Jackall Giron on *** under the hard swimbait section.

I think its exactly what your looking for:

hardbait, bluegill colors, 4 inches, and only $20.00

[Primus]

i have a Mattlures gill and i have had some success hear and there. The one thing i can tell you is it is not a bait i can throw all day. I can throw hollow body swimmers all day but not the matt lures. I fish real clear strip pits that have some vegetation and the mattlures is useless in summer and fall. But spring is where it earns its keep. I will find beds off in the distance and slow roll the gill to the beds and let it sink to the bed and if there is a bass there, it will smash that bait. If you fish a weedy and an area with a lot of cover, i would go with a hollow body bait. But if your in the open water, a mattlures is a solid tool in your arsenal.

If you have the right rod it's an easy bait to throw and retrieve. Though I agree that spring is when it's at its best it's done well for me at times through the summer and fall especially when it's overcast and windy. I use to hesitate at spending 50$ for one of these baits, now I own several.

[Mattlures]

Thanks to all of you guys who recomended my bait. I apreciate it!

[webertime]

A slow sink 4" Spro is what you are looking for. The Tru Tungsten baits are OK but you need to keep an eye on the pins that hold them together. The floating mattlures u2 Gill is great on the outside of weedlines or worked in pockets like a frog/flipping hybrid. I also love my g2 shellcracker.

[NoBassPro]

If you have the right rod it's an easy bait to throw and retrieve. Though I agree that spring is when it's at its best it's done well for me at times through the summer and fall especially when it's overcast and windy. I use to hesitate at spending 50$ for one of these baits, now I own several.

yea, under low light conditions its usually easier to get fish to come out of the weeds, under bright conditions it seems you usually have to go in after them. at least i think thats what the issue is. not worried about throwing and retrieving other than I keep hearing getting them to do 180's is key at times, and thats not something I am sure I can do without seeing the bait.

[deep]

yea, under low light conditions its usually easier to get fish to come out of the weeds, under bright conditions it seems you usually have to go in after them. at least i think thats what the issue is. not worried about throwing and retrieving other than I keep hearing getting them to do 180's is key at times, and thats not something I am sure I can do without seeing the bait.

Used to have a couple of Matt's old hardgills, and I thought they were great. Now I have his "new and improved" hardgills. If the old ones were great, these are out of the world. I don't know if it's the joints or something else, but I have to try really hard to not "overwork" the bait. It comes alive in the water, and that's no exaggeration. I don't even fish the hardgill with the rod anymore, quarter and half turns of the reel handle makes it do 180's, and that's only one in the bag of tricks the new ones got. I've been fishing the new slow-sinker for only like 10 days, so it's sort of early to tell if my fish like it. But I LOVE both the newer hardgills I got- the slow-sinker, and a 2-piece wake.

[AK-Jax86]

I use a shad swim bait and it is amazing, its made by storm. I have a smaller one and a big one. The big one works great for big fish, the smallest one I caught was 3.4#

[North Ga Hillbilly]

The MCL gill has done well by me. A new comer to the scene, but a good performer for those of us who have tried them.

http://www.morgan-custom-lures.com/apps/webstore/products/show/3150752

NGaHB