Mattlures hardbait question

[flechero]

What's the difference between the floater and billed floaters... other than the bill.  I'm sure there is a good reason for both, I just don't know what it is.  

Thanks

[fourbizz]

Having only fished the sinker, all i can offer is a guess.

The billed bait will push a lot more water, creating a much bigger wake, and probably have a louder joint knock.

The floater will be much more subtle in its wake and will be able to cut and dart when you twitch it.

Awesome bait.

[flechero]

What depths is that sinker running?  Will it stay put on a slow retrieve?

[fourbizz]

the one i have really likes the 0-5 ft range

[csizzle]

fourbizz,

If you had to do it over again would you stay with the sinker or grab the floater?  I'm hesitant to get the sinker cause I'd hate to lose a $50 lure, but if it is more versatile and a better producer...then that's what I got to do.  Thanks

[fourbizz]

If i had it to do over, I would still get the sinker.

It is not neccesarily more versatile, but it fills a giant hole in my arsenal. This is the first small swimbait that I have ever used, that from the moment I saw it in the water, all i could think of was how badly big fish are gonna munch it.

I would probably recommend the floater for all around use. IMO for people just getting started with the bigger baits, a floater ( of some kind) is the way to go. In my opinion, wakebaits are the easiest type of big bait to just go out, chuck and wind, and get bites.

I dont really see the sinker, at its current weight  getting snagged up so deep that you cant just reach down and pop it off with a rod tip. I also never hit the water without my homemade big bait retriever. It has saved me thousands of dollars worth of gear. Not an exaggeration, thousands.

I really see this bait pounding fish for me next year. And it is one of the few baits that came out this year that really piqued my interest.

I'll most likely end up with a billed and non billed floater anyway.

For no other reason than those patterns are so amazing, i need a crappie, and a green sunfish, and a female bluegill, and, and , and  ;D

[csizzle]

Thanks for the reply.  I hear you...I'll need to get one, then two, then....oh boy!!  I think I'll have to start with the floater, especially since I already have a sinking ultimate bluegill on the way.  Thanks

[Branuss04]

What depths is that sinker running? Will it stay put on a slow retrieve?

I asked the same question to Matt back in November and he said that the sinking rates are inconsistent.  He said they are around an ROF-3 to ROF-10.  Not sure if he's fixed the inconsistency since then.

[slomoe]

What depths is that sinker running? Will it stay put on a slow retrieve?

I asked the same question to Matt back in November and he said that the sinking rates are inconsistent. He said they are around an ROF-3 to ROF-10. Not sure if he's fixed the inconsistency since then.

Thats a pretty wide range.  :-?

[Mattlures]

90% of the sinkers would be about a rof 8. I had some earlier floaters that didnt float because The top coat was too heavy and the hooks were too heavy. Those are the ones that sank real slow. The ones that sank a little faster were the sinkers with the heavy top coat. I used this top coat(thick epoxy) on the first 100. I am using a top coat now thats not as heavy so the sinkers are more consistant at around a rof 8

[slomoe]

Thanks for clearing that up Matt.

[Micropterus salmoides]

I saw a video of someone fishing the Mattlures Hard Gill. When retrieved at a steady pace it went barely below the surface. The back was right at the surface. I assume this is the floater?

[.dsaavedra.]

I saw a video of someone fishing the Mattlures Hard Gill. When retrieved at a steady pace it went barely below the surface. The back was right at the surface. I assume this is the floater?

could you post a link to this video? i'd like to see it.

[Primus]

My guess is the billed version is designed to be fished faster like a crankbait, where the lipless sinking version would be for twitchting and slower retrieves. My question for Matt would be if you were to start with one which would you try first?

[Branuss04]

I saw a video of someone fishing the Mattlures Hard Gill. When retrieved at a steady pace it went barely below the surface. The back was right at the surface. I assume this is the floater?

could you post a link to this video? i'd like to see it.

http://www.tackletour.com/specialfeaturemattluresbluegill2.html

[Mattlures]

Yes the bait in the video is a floater. The billed version is a wake bait. It is designed to throw off a big wake at slow speeds. It doesnt realy dive.

[Micropterus salmoides]

Cool. I see a Hard Gill floater in the near future.

Matt,

How do you recommend tying to the lure - direct, snap, split ring? What size snap or split ring?

[FR0G]

Matt, is there any way I can return my Ultimate Bluegill for a Hard Gill? Haha, just kidding. I gotta buy one of these for next spring. I know it would work great at my local lakes. Still trying to decide on what color and sink rate to get. What do you tend to fish? The floater or sinking more? I know each have their time, but which one has the most catch rate for you?

[.dsaavedra.]

thanks for the link. now i remember watching that on TT when it first came out.