Dark Sleeper

[Bdnoble84]

I have seen Tactical Bassin raving about the darksleeper. I fish alot of rivers ranging in depth from 2-20ft but predominantly less than 10 ft. Water levels are extremely low and the flow is minimal currently. Want to get a couple to try. They have alot of sizes. Is 3/8 heavy enough or should i try some half ounce? Thoughts?

[softwateronly]

I've only fished this bait in a lake, but it fishes lighter than you think and bottom bouncing is where I get all my bites.  My experience says to start with 1/2oz.  I use 1/2 and 3/4 the most.

 

scott

[A-Jay]

@softwateronly nailed.

These baits 'fish very light'.

In the low current described, the 3/8's may be the best super shallow offering.

Add any current and or some depth, the 1/2 and the 3/4 oz baits will totally come into play.

Killer bait BTW.

Fish Hard

A-Jay

[Junk Fisherman]

I know it's me but I have not done well with Sleepers on smallies.  Largemouth yes, smallies no.  

 

And these other guys hit it about the weight.  

[Bdnoble84]

Thank you everyone. I had a feeling they would fish light. I’ll get a 3/8oz for truly skinny water, but def going to try a couple 1/2’s have a feeling walleye are going to like them as much if not more.

[softwateronly]

Mend it or super glue is a great addition too.  Between rocks and the vicious hits, the front face like to open up, and the body slides down the weight.  I've only caught smallies with them, but I've only really thrown it in the chicago harbors.  My guess is everything will eat it, I'm pretty sure a goby or sculpin is on all big fish menus. 

 

The 3/4 is where I start with any water over 10'.  3/8 in the riffles/shallow eddies, pools sounds doable.

 

scott

[Bdnoble84]

1 hour ago, softwateronly said:

Mend it or super glue is a great addition too.  Between rocks and the vicious hits, the front face like to open up, and the body slides down the weight.  I've only caught smallies with them, but I've only really thrown it in the chicago harbors.  My guess is everything will eat it, I'm pretty sure a goby or sculpin is on all big fish menus. 

 

The 3/4 is where I start with any water over 10'.  3/8 in the riffles/shallow eddies, pools sounds doable.

 

scott

Cool, Im going to school downtown and have considered hitting somewhere along lakeshore to give it a try.

[softwateronly]

There's a fall window coming up, but I have less experience pinning it down, time wise.  In the spring, I can definitely say that the last week of March through April is when I do well.  Most of my success is with a dark sleeper, 1/2 oz finesse football jig, and a 1/2 oz hair jig.  Don't forget a net or use line strong enough to pull the fish up and out of the water.  I know the water's clear but I still get bites w/ 14-20lb mono.  31st street harbor is most convenient for me, but have also done well at Burnham and Monroe.

 

scott

[OG Crankster]

What color works best along the lakefront?

[Bdnoble84]

Im leaning Donko and Shirou. Be cool if they had a true shad pattern.

[softwateronly]

Ive only tried and caught with mutsugorou and haze, didn't notice a huge difference but I think I lean toward mutsugorou.

 

scott

[cyclops2]

I will say in my bay a yellow looking perch pattern does out fish the chrome & colors .  The chrome get plenty of BUMPS on the Braided line. I feel the interested bumps. But they do not bite solidly & deep throated. Mostly  lip grizzle hooking's.   Perch get a lot more all treble in the mouth or deeper hookups.

 

 Match the hatch works better in my bay.

[JWall14]

I have used 1/2 oz in my rivers a few times, however, with the rock I seem to go through them too quickly for the price to be worth it. I’ll stick to other baits for rivers.

[PressuredFishing]

On 9/17/2021 at 11:30 AM, Bdnoble84 said:

I have seen Tactical Bassin raving about the darksleeper. I fish alot of rivers ranging in depth from 2-20ft but predominantly less than 10 ft. Water levels are extremely low and the flow is minimal currently. Want to get a couple to try. They have alot of sizes. Is 3/8 heavy enough or should i try some half ounce? Thoughts?

im not quite sure depending on how fast the water is moving, but I have been tinkering with the storm wildeye swim shad, and its got a flat keeled body very similar to the megabass dark seleeper and has been around for almost the same time, I dont know who copied who but, I just brought this up because if your fishing a river that sometimes means snags and if you have snags It may be better to not fish a expensive bait but, its up to u, plus the megabass dark sleeper is weedless, so that is a bonus.

[roadwarrior]

The bait is VERY effective, but is a rock magnet. 

[Bdnoble84]

Thanks everyone for the advise. Ive seen the wildeyes, i should just pick some up. Probably just get 1 darksleeper just to see what the hype is about

[Blue Raider Bob]

Rock Magnet for sure! I bought four from TWH after reading this thread. Yes they work! Caught fourteen mixed species Sunday including 15 and 17" Smallies. Lost all four by end of the day in the rocks. Also broke a rod tip trying to unhook a gar and dropped another rod and reel in the River. Expensive addiction we have! BTW can anybody beat this for smallest bass ever?

[cyclops2]

Smallest I have is a 3" SMB and LMB on the 1 1/2" Rapala  Perch color.

[Bdnoble84]

2.5in smallie on a rap dt3 lol

[Bluebasser86]

10 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

 BTW can anybody beat this for smallest bass ever?

I've caught bass that one could eat and still be hungry for more. This isn't even the smallest but this is a smallmouth on a 1.0 squarebill, which is only 2" long. 

This largemouth while I was catching flathead bait is the smallest I think I have a picture of.

[gunsinger]

Got one about 2.5" on a cricket hopper once.

[Bdnoble84]

On 9/27/2021 at 11:46 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

I've caught bass that one could eat and still be hungry for more. This isn't even the smallest but this is a smallmouth on a 1.0 squarebill, which is only 2" long. 

This largemouth while I was catching flathead bait is the smallest I think I have a picture of.

Flathead would think its too small to waste its time on lol.