Live Target Sunfish

[IgotWood]

I am looking into trying these out. There are so many color choices, that I don't know which to pick. I catch well on this lake with other baits in pumpkin/chartreuse. How would you determine what color to go with? 

[Hog Basser]

I would just try to match the forage in your lake.  I got the bluegill for where I fish.  Ultimately, I think the profile is what really matters and not the color.  The bottom of these things has a metal plate for stability weight to keep them in the correct orientation.  The fish mainly just see the profile from below, especially if the sun is shining down on them.  

[d-camarena]

Just get a frog, or better yet get two frogs for what that costs. Its a real gimmicky lure. I regret buying mine

[the reel ess]

36 minutes ago, d-camarena said:

Just get a frog, or better yet get two frogs for what that costs. Its a real gimmicky lure. I regret buying mine

I remember remarking that this looks like a lure I could use for a year solid without a bite. A lot of Live target's baits look gimmicky to me. Here's a video of a guy using both frog and sunfish during several hours of the day.

 

[Evan K]

So far I've only had mine out on one trip (going to do more) and I caught fish with it then. I like it. I wish they'd given more attention to detail on the underside instead of the top though. That's a big red flag for gimmicky-ness, but I don't think the lure is a gimmick.

[Felix77]

FWIW ... I can walk the sunfish much easier than any other frog-ish bait I have thrown.  I like it.

[onetime]

1 hour ago, Felix77 said:

FWIW ... I can walk the sunfish much easier than any other frog-ish bait I have thrown.  I like it.

Same here, I can barely twitch it and it will do a 360, great bait for me.

[Nathan Burton]

I agree, the sunfish really walks alot easier for me. I do wish they would have put a little more effort into hiding the plain, silver, exposed balancing weight that sits on the bottom of the lure.

[Jtrout]

Ive had one tied on for a month now no hook ups but have gotten a few good blow ups.

[Mr. Aquarium]

very nice walking action. weedless like a frog.  i like em! i bought 2. my buddy has been killing it on em! 

[IgotWood]

7 hours ago, the reel ess said:

I remember remarking that this looks like a lure I could use for a year solid without a bite. A lot of Live target's baits look gimmicky to me. Here's a video of a guy using both frog and sunfish during several hours of the day.

 

I saw this! Very cool vid!

I understand how is falls into the gimmick category. I feel the same way about it. I turned my cheek to it the first time I had seen it in the store. But I have been fishing the sh** out of all kinds of different frogs, and can hardly even get a follow. I see plenty of fish in the froggy areas, and also plenty of sunfish. The other day, I witnessed several bass, BIG bass, attacking sunfish in the shallows. I've got to try it.

 

I too noticed that the top looks great, and is well detailed, while the bottom is rather featureless, and has that big ugly weight. I you get a chance, take a look at an aquarium. When you look up at the surface from below, you can see that it is very reflective. Just as well can see our reflection on the top of the water, the fish can see a reflection under the surface as well. I feel that the color can make a big difference. We think they can't see it, but they definitely can. Every time you twitch it, and the bait dips slightly underwater fro a split second, it is reflecting its colors up to the surface, and making it visible below. If I can find a good video to demonstrate, I'll go ahead and post it.

[soflabasser]

The Live Target Sunfish is a great lure to use. I have caught several decent bass on it and I have only been fishing this lure for a short time. 

[Luna2406]

I've had it for a few months now and have not caught one fish on it, i get plenty of blowups but no hookups...then again I dont do well with frogs either lol I did buy the larger model, if anything I would get the smaller bait instead of the larger one. 

[Bluebasser86]

I bought mine when they came out but was so disappointed with the small size, even though I bought the bigger bait, that I have yet to take it out of the package. 

[lou304]

I have one of each size but haven't given them a real good test yet. I have thrown the smaller size a little and I found it casts like a bullet and it definitely walks better than a frog. 

As far as hookups go for the guys who say they have had blowups but no hookups, its like any frog, if you tweak the hooks away from the body a bit you'll vastly improve your hookup percentage.

I too noticed the shiny weight(how could you not), has anyone tried painting it over?

[Master Bait'r]

It's just good, not incredible or anything.  

 

Seriously though, if I hear one more person complaining about the unpainted weight on the bottom I'm going to burn it and post a video.  Lol

[Torn Thumb]

That unpainted weight sure is unsightly...

[alrab23]

Works for me! 

[d-camarena]

Theres no doubt it works, ive caught bass on gummy worms so i guess they work too. In my opinion i rather buy a frog which dies the same thing but cheaper

[Jon G]

It walks easily but I never get them to commit on it. Seriously, I've never had so much followers on a topwater lure. I've had at least a good 20-30 fish follow and only one to commit on it.

[Nathan Burton]

18 minutes ago, Jon G said:

It walks easily but I never get them to commit on it. Seriously, I've never had so much followers on a topwater lure. I've had at least a good 20-30 fish follow and only one to commit on it.

Must be the big silver circle on the bottom. 

sorry, had to. 

[the reel ess]

49 minutes ago, Jon G said:

It walks easily but I never get them to commit on it. Seriously, I've never had so much followers on a topwater lure. I've had at least a good 20-30 fish follow and only one to commit on it.

Were they big fish following?

 

[BassinLou]

I have a couple and reverted back to using the LT frog. The LT frog will put up with more abuse than the LT sunfish. Two things happen to the sunfish after you catch a few decent bass. The lip around the silver disc rips, and the disc slides into the bait, causing water to fill the bait. The bait takes in water to begin with, but the ripped lip exacerbates the issue. 

[primetime]

I have to say, I usually can find the positives in any lure, and I love to try every hollow body that hits the market since I love topwater fishing. I tried this a few times when it was cold just to see the action, and I thought it would be a good bait since it had a wicked side to side action, nothing in the rear to imped the hookset, Trokar hooks, and the Metallic Purple Color matched the bluegill in tanic waters I fish...

I recently was on a good topwater bite with a Live Target Frog (I love the mouse as well) and I had a fish cut my frog off (Gar/Bowphin) so I looked in my box and figured I would pull out the LT Sunfish....

I was fishing stained water, light cover, open water, and not mats (It is probably good on mats like the Guntersville Frog for Hook up Ratio, fish don't see the bait)

Here is what the LT Sunfish Looks like to Bass and to Turtles....Either a Dead Stiff Bluegill that is bent from drying out, a bathtub toy being walked on a leash or rope, and I knew it was not going to work well when Turtles started chasing after it every cast, They only do that when guys are fishing for catfish and throwing dead bluegills in the lake.

It is the fakest looking bait I have ever thrown, I took about 20 casts, cut the line, tied on a Spro Frog and had a good fish on the first cast and into the evening the bite was good. I then tried the Molix Supernato Beetle and I will say this..If you want to spend money on a hollow body...

BUY THE MOLIX BEETLE...Action of A Jitterbug, can pop it, wake it, it also looks like a crazy crawler/High Riding wide wobble wake bait only weedless. It has awesome hooks that make it way better than the Step Wa which would fall apart but Molix has this right..This is my new Night time bait since I can chuck it everywhere and reel steady and without a skirt in back, hook up is fantastic.

LT Sunfish are now $10 bogo and have been for last 6 months at Dicks, Same time TW just got them in. That should tell you they over estimated how many they would sell. If you like it, that is great, maybe if the Bass are used to seeing bluegills water ski on their side or walk 360%, I can't think of what this even mimics. Maybe if you C-Rigged it it would work, I will try it on a mat since it may be good for that, but I already traded my other 2 for a pack of Tuf Line...

3 hours ago, Jon G said:

It walks easily but I never get them to commit on it. Seriously, I've never had so much followers on a topwater lure. I've had at least a good 20-30 fish follow and only one to commit on it.

Bass or Turtles? This is a turtle magnet...I have to say, I think Bass may be following it so they can laugh, I can find good in any lure, but this looks like a Bathtub toy that has way to much action since nothing walks like that, they should have made it a poppin style flat with same colors...I am trying to find a Metallic Purple Hollow belly since I still feel the colors are legit...Interesting take, Even Alligators won't hit this and they love a frog.

15 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I bought mine when they came out but was so disappointed with the small size, even though I bought the bigger bait, that I have yet to take it out of the package. 

Sell it, Don't bother, Or go to Dick's and buy 2 for $10.

[Jon G]

21 hours ago, the reel ess said:

Were they big fish following?

 

No, biggest fish I saw follow it was about 1.5 pounds