Livetarget Hollow Body Sunfish?? reviews?

[68camaro]

7 hours ago, MDBowHunter said:

 I also believe that if a fish will hit this that same fish would hit a hollow frog without hesitation. 

I think this is a fair statement. However, I still bought one as variety is the spice of life.

[Preytorien]

17 hours ago, primetime said:

Ok Thanks, I will go 90mm then...I am not a confident person with buzzbaits so I will go smaller to start so I get more action. I purchased way too many big swimbaits and then found out I am not a patient person. I wasn't sure the 90 was good but glad to hear it...I have a Loon Color in my cart right now, I don't know what else to get at Bass Pro since they seem to be a bit more expensive than most, and I don't need any new tackle really. I figure I use it to buy some new Toys.

Thx.

Loon is exactly the color I have, the fish seem to like it

[Paul Roberts]

15 hours ago, MarkH024 said:

Not sure why the gill is being called gimmicky. Bluegill get injured and sometimes die slowly at the surface. Sometimes they flip themselves up in mats or pads and swim/flop on their side to get back in the water. It's no different than a spook imitating a baitfish, why's that not gimmicky? 

Hope you're OK with me jumping off from your post. Not at all wanting to disparage anyone's excitement over a new lure -esp mid-winter! But... the accompanying infomercial vid I watched about this lure was memorable in its... ridiculousness. I'm responding more from the hyped up nature of the vid as any one here.

-Most bluegill I've seen injured and dying slowly at the surface did so bc they swallowed a worm on a hook. They aren't littered around out there for bass to pick off. And there are MUCH better ways to mimic -even suggest- a weakened or dying sunfish (to bass).

-Bluegills flipping up onto mats and pads (as they show in the video) is darn rare IME; not something either bass or angler could count on. I highly doubt the designers of this lure actually saw this frequently enough to imitate it. Instead, they simply made an eye-candy sunfish and put a double hook in it. Of course it lays flat and has virtually no action -esp something Spook-like. Now that would be getting somewhere.

-If it's no different than a Spook, this sunfish bait should catch just as well as a Spook in open water. And it won't. Probably the most effective trigger of a well-designed Spook-type bait is the direction change followed by the length of the glide.

The problem with designing a slop bait is the sheer density of veges. Not much you can do with a solid mat but make some disturbance (or punch through) and in the case of a topwater, almost anything can cause a blow-up. Now... break that mat of veges up some and triggering opportunities begin to happen. And a rotating pancake would not be my choice.

I strongly suspect that this lure is destined for the dark corners of tackle boxes everywhere. Or... maybe framed on a wall? But it would be a human wall, not a bass's.

Apologies to all possibly offended. Cabin fever is setting in. 

[MarkH024]

First and foremost, no offense taken. At the end of the day, I don't really care the personal opinions of anyone here about their fishing choices. I'm good with what I know and what I do. So take this as a friendly discussion from me and shedding light from a different angle.

I see dying bluegill (sunfish) more often than you'd think, in pads/slop and open water. Come fish the midwest northern waters where Northern Pike are ferocious predators and are predominately the apex.  So much that it can create a tough situation when targeting bass.  You'll see fish with razor slits all over them from pike swiping at them. The fish may get away initially, but sooner or later they rise up and if you've ever fileted a live fish, they'll move around for quite some time. 

The image below is not even in the dead of summer when the slop is at it's worst. (Wisconsin)  I fish some pretty dense junk in the summer/fall months as do many others here.  The water below me in that picture is probably 20 inches deep with your random holes that drop to 3-3.5 foot. Some areas get to 12 inches that I fish regularly and catch nice bass.  There is enough areas of where the pads separate to open water allowing you to do the side to side (spook like action) with any slop bait, (frog, mice, LT Gill etc..).  Is the new gill the best tool to use, maybe not. But it's exactly that, a tool.  Often I see bluegill and even bass getting stuck up on these giant weed bogs simply chasing/being chased. You can bet when teh frog bite is dying and if I see any signs of gill breaking surface I'll be tying one on. The water is clear enough in the lake that they can certainly see differences in profiles and maybe that fish profile triggers a big bite. You can only eat so much frog legs and mice turds.

When I referenced spook, I meant the purpose of the bait is to replicate something similar to a fish at surface struggling and/or fleeing as is this new LT gill.  I did not mean it was to have an exact walk the dog action.  I personally will never throw this Gill in open water when i have a box of poppers, wake baits, cigar baits etc...that simply do a better job because it's the better tool for the job. I'm sure the gill would get bit too if presented correctly. 

Good discussion, just don't think it's gimmicky. I see it as a new tool, a pretty tool at that and I have a nice collection of high dollar swimbaits that are mesmerizing to me.  The new gill could be all solid black or white and it would probably produce the same, but that's not Live Targets deal. Their selling point is realism...and they do a d**n good job if you ask me.

[primetime]

1 hour ago, Paul Roberts said:

Hope you're OK with me jumping off from your post. Not at all wanting to disparage anyone's excitement over a new lure -esp mid-winter! But... the accompanying infomercial vid I watched about this lure was memorable in its... ridiculousness. I'm responding more from the hyped up nature of the vid as any one here.

-Most bluegill I've seen injured and dying slowly at the surface did so bc they swallowed a worm on a hook. They aren't littered around out there for bass to pick off. And there are MUCH better ways to mimic -even suggest- a weakened or dying sunfish (to bass).

-Bluegills flipping up onto mats and pads (as they show in the video) is darn rare IME; not something either bass or angler could count on. I highly doubt the designers of this lure actually saw this frequently enough to imitate it. Instead, they simply made an eye-candy sunfish and put a double hook in it. Of course it lays flat and has virtually no action -esp something Spook-like. Now that would be getting somewhere.

-If it's no different than a Spook, this sunfish bait should catch just as well as a Spook in open water. And it won't. Probably the most effective trigger of a well-designed Spook-type bait is the direction change followed by the length of the glide.

The problem with designing a slop bait is the sheer density of veges. Not much you can do with a solid mat but make some disturbance (or punch through) and in the case of a topwater, almost anything can cause a blow-up. Now... break that mat of veges up some and triggering opportunities begin to happen. And a rotating pancake would not be my choice.

I strongly suspect that this lure is destined for the dark corners of tackle boxes everywhere. Or... maybe framed on a wall? But it would be a human wall, not a bass's.

Apologies to all possibly offended. Cabin fever is setting in. 

why would you apologize for offering your opinion? Isn't that what this forum is for? Tackle choices and different fishing styles is what make Bass Fishing so Interesting. I fish lures and baits other people don't like, but I like it when someone challenges what the "Magazines say" or "TV shows say about a product". I would agree that the Live Target Sunfish may look gimmicky, but then again, so did the banjo Minnow and that created an entire revolution of soft swimbaits with segments and actually changed the way I rig many soft baits. I know people laugh at the banjo Minnow and I have moved on years ago, but I still Nose rig every soft swimbait whenever I can get away with it....

I actually think the price tag for this bait at $13 is very fair considering most frogs are $10, and the Trokar Double Hooks are a few bucks alone. I don't have confidence in the hook up ratio based on my experiences with baits like the Boze ZZ Walker, and other hollow walking baits. I have found that I get the best hooksets when the hooks are in the back and have nothing to get in the way. I don't worry about softness and hook gap but I think the placement of the hooks may be an issue, but looking forward to finding out. I would say the Live Target Frog is one of the easiest to use for anyone since it is so soft, I just prefer a slightly harder from for heavy cover, but for light weeds it is a legit bait to throw regardless of skill level...

I appreciate your feedback.

[Ginosocalbass]

The idea isn't a gimmick.  It's a great idea. The execution was poor. Here's the bottom side.  The side the fish will see...

the top could be white or bright yellow for all anyone cares. But if your trying to design a bait that looks like a dieing bluegill or sunfish the bottom side that the fish see better be right. 

They got it wrong. And on purpose too.

 

im sure the bait will catch some fish. But not because it's a realistic bluegill... 

 

 

 

 

 

[Preytorien]

I just got mine in the mail. I went with the 75 series since I don't see a lot of large bass, the smaller size should give me more hookups.

Overall the quality seems good. I don't know if the factory changed things based on customers/vendor request, but the weight on mine is painted to match it's surrounding material. 

The hooks look very good, I think Trokar? Either way they look very high quality.

The finish is very nice, the glittery fleck will probably wear off quickly, but the paint seems durable. I can't see it lasting more than a couple seasons though without some decent wear coming through, depending on the number of fish caught

Overall, I'm excited to throw it. I can see that it might have an effective, albeit specific purpose. 

[Paul Roberts]

Will be interested to hear how they pan out.

I'm a sucker for bluegill look-alikes. It goes back a long time...

I was probably 8 yrs old and I found a dead sunfish washed up on shore. I thought I'd use it as bait, thought about it, then decided "Nah!" and through it in the water. It's swim bladder must have deflated as it sunk, fluttering slowly to bottom. It rested on bottom for a moment then, suddenly, it appeared to levitate! Then a big eye and a lined side appeared. A big bass had it! I was shocked, and bummed I hadn't gone ahead and used it as bait.

Among my xmas tree ornaments is a modified Heddon Punkinseed lure, with the lip removed and a spinner blade in place of the rear treble. I bought it, and modified it, years ago and it was meant to mimic a dying falling sunfish. I'd tie it on with shaking hands. I never did catch a thing on it, which is why it's now an xmas tree ornament.

I still spend inordinate -and fun- amounts of time "bluegillizing" many of my lures. And they catch fish although I do not know whether my efforts really make much difference. Fun stuff anyway.

 

[Master Bait'r]

I don't care about the unpainted belly weight at all. 

 

I do, however, care that the bait came in the package with a d**n rolled point after I waited months for it.  That actually made me pretty mad.  I waited and waited.  Even weeks after "buy it now" guys got theirs, they somehow managed to make sure my preorder was dissatisfactory in every possible way.  Late AND defective.  Yay.   

 

Now I'm actually ticked that I still want it.  I want to throw it in the trash and say it's garbage almost as bad as I want to fish it.  

[Airman4754]

Let me just preface this by saying I will own a couple of these and will fish them.

I think they are an unnecessary bait. You have hollow body frogs, Horny Toads, Spooks, rats, buzz baits, etc. 

Where is this bait going to be fished primarily? In the junk. A bass isn't going to know if that's a bluegill or a frog it's tracking and sucking down once it hits that hole in the vegetation. It's just like that bass has no idea what it's eating when I send a 1oz weight with a skirt and Pitt Boss down at it at a high rate of speed when punching. 

This is paying $13 for an $8 bait, but I'm absolutely going to pay it lol. 

[Pondboss16]

great little sunfish. Kind of like a soft plastic frog. picked one up sunday and I'm already catching some toads with it

[Bluebasser86]

5 hours ago, Pondboss16 said:

great little sunfish. Kind of like a soft plastic frog. picked one up sunday and I'm already catching some toads with it

Any pics of the bait post toads? I'm afraid of the durability of the thing after I took mine out of the package and really looked it over. 

[Pondboss16]

12 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Any pics of the bait post toads? I'm afraid of the durability of the thing after I took mine out of the package and really looked it over. 

i sadly lost it in some brush this morning BUT i at least caught 6 bass on it all ranging from 1 to 4.5 pounds and it still looked and worked great. Going to BP later today to pick up some more!

[Kevin Beachy]

I have two more coming, and can't wait to use them! If u wanna learn how to skip, these things are little angels when it comes to skipping!

[gardnerjigman]

1 hour ago, Kevin Beachy said:

I have two more coming, and can't wait to use them! If u wanna learn how to skip, these things are little angels when it comes to skipping!

Since you have 2 more coming I assume that means you like what you have and have had success on it? Skipping was my first thought as I took it out of the package also. 

[Kevin Beachy]

10 hours ago, gardnerjigman said:

Since you have 2 more coming I assume that means you like what you have and have had success on it? Skipping was my first thought as I took it out of the package also. 

No, i haven't caught fish on it, but i love it for its other qualities, the only reason i got them tho because its a early b-day gift from my friend

[everythingthatswims]

I work at a Gander Mountain, these things are flying off the shelves.

 

I have zero desire to purchase one, seems silly to me. I'll stick with my $6 pad crasher.

[RCCA]

I got one. Painted the un bream like silver dime underneath and put it in with the pad crashers until it's time to try it. Let you know in a month or two

[gardnerjigman]

50 minutes ago, everythingthatswims said:

I work at a Gander Mountain, these things are flying off the shelves.

 

I have zero desire to purchase one, seems silly to me. I'll stick with my $6 pad crasher.

I got one sight unseen. I can see it excelling under the right circumstances, but for the most part I really believe if they will eat this then they will eat a frog. 

[jr231]

I own one. The larger version. I must say it's really easy to walk and has trokar hooks I believe. Just little twitches , back and forth , back and forth. Almost too easy. 

The first night I got it is the only night I used it. I was seeing what it's all about, got the feel very quickly and was thinking to myself man this thing is looking good. I cast it over to an island, slowly working it back towards me ..  when it was about 15 ft from me I seen a nice bass (4lbs+ plus no doubt ) take the bluegill perfectly where the hooks are. I have never seen a bass hit a bait so gentle. It's as if it stalked it and came up on it like " and I'll take that" . The bass took my lure straight down. I reeled down and threw back hard on the rod .  All I heard was zzzzzzzzzzzzzttt. My drag was loosened from the other night when I was out late and I hooked a lure to the keeper and eased the drag when I put it in the shed so it wasn't flexed. Total operator error. 

I fished it for another 20 minutes and got nothing. I'm sure if i would have landed that fish I would have used it again by now. I just have so many lures it's ridiculous. I'm going to try it again. It deserves another chance. 

Is it worth 13 dollars... hell no. 

[d-camarena]

I lost mine in a tree, i was real mad! I should of lost it in the garbage. I rather throw away 13 dollars than have that bait use up space in my tackle box

[Travis Gasper]

Funny this topic came up today, as it was the first day I ever used my bluegill. I've had it all season and kinda forgot about it. I was throwing my poppin pad crashers like normal today, and bass kept hitting it short. I decided to tie on the bluegill as it has no skirt. Almost immediately started hooking up! Awesome bait if you ask me. I'll be playing with it again tomorrow. 

[soflabasser]

Been using this lure for a couple months now and came to the conclusion that the frog is the better lure.Have caught some decent bass on it so it definitely has its place and time that it can be used(when you forget to bring a frog,you want to try something different, etc).

[Dogmatic]

After having horrible hook up ratio with this thing, I switched to throwing a Hudd gill ROF 0, with a single hook, still gets bit better than the LT.

[Dan Rdnk Bender]

I've used this and only this for a week straight. It's by far the best and worst lure I've ever used.  I've got it down now to the point i can usually trigger a hit at least once every 5 casts. I'm using the 3" sunfish. The bad is that out of all the fish I've had hit and hold on to it I've only managed to get one fish hooked. It seems impossible to get the hooks into the fish and i think it's because it doesn't collapse quite as well as the company intended.