Before your video I can honestly say I had no success on this bait. I threw it in Sturgeon Bay, WI last month and didn't even have a bite so I put it back in a tackle tray in the boat. However, after viewing you video this morning, I went out to my local lake and looked for weedlines with some fish I saw on my side imaging. Threw along the weed edges and was amazed at the number of bites on this bait. I then went to an offshore rock piles that I knew had some weeks along the edges and again this bait caught fish. I had given up on the bait without giving it a fair chance. Also as you noted, it held up reasonably well, but the hook did bend out a bit. But thanks for your video. Can't wait to explore more areas with this bait. Your choice of a heavier rod I found to be spot on. Too limber and you don't get good hooksets.
It's a tremendous bait for bass. I love the solid roof of the mouth hooksets you get. It's so easy to cast, it flies a mile! I like to paint the tails chartreuse. It also works well burning it on top of weed beds. The 3/4 Oz gives a little bit larger profile which helps target larger fish. This bait is always on 1 of my combos and I've caught several saugeyes on it as well.
Hi Nathan. I'm relatively new to your channel (and fishing in general), but you, Brian Latimer, and the Tactical Bassin' guys have rapidly become my favorites. As such, I have a request. Forgive me if you have already put out a video on the topic. I took up fishing a year ago as something I could do in my retirement (I'm planning to retire in a year or so). As such, and I'm sure a lot of your viewers fall into this category as well, I have myself on a fairly strict (not rigid) budget that allows for reasonable amount of fishing expenditures as long as it doesn't jeopardize a healthy retirement bank account. The one frustrating theme in a lot of fishing videos is the talk about what gear we need. I understand, there may be a optimal specific type of rod / reel combo, whether spinning or bait casting or mono vs fluoro, etc...for different kind of fishing, but there has to be a couple of general 2 or 3 setups that would get the job done in any situation. I would love to see a video titled "If I could only have 2, or maybe 3, rod / reel combos, this is what I'd use no matter what I'm doing", or something along those lines. Maybe it can only be downsized to 3 or 4. Okay, but you get the idea. Thanks!
How do you deal with pike or pickerel. My pink dark sleeper was ruined within 25 casts. First catch pickerel and lost a little of the top fin. Then about 15 casts later lost the tail.
@@nathanquincefishing7122 I know Brian @ Punchfishing is a smallmouth guy like you, and he likes to fish these on spinning, braid to leader. I haven't ventured out yet with some of these baits I just recently bought but intend on trying them with a medium heavy powered spinning rod with 15# braid to a 12# FC leader. I went with a small assortment of the 1/2 oz., 3" sleepers. I'm also in northeast (CT), with a lot of fairly clear water and I definitely lose some confidence when throwing anything (even straight FC) over 12#, unless flipping dense weeds, which we don't have that much of (like the good ole days!)
Dang it.. looks like another lure I'm going to buy. Lol, I've been looking at these and being in North Texas they don't mimic much of the bait fish around here but they still look very enticing for a fish regardless. We don't have walleye or true perch down here we got bluegill sunfish everything else is gizzard shad. Hey Nathan I was wondering have you tried throwing the Grinch topwater? I'm sorry if I missed a video where you talked about the lure. I was curious what your opinion is on that lure. I really like your taste and reasons for fishing the lures you do.
Man I really tried to get into this bait because everyone raves about it but I just couldn’t. It’s probably just a confidence thing for me. For smallmouth I do way better on the okashira screw head.
I have about 100% hookup with these. I use braid to 15lb leader, use a good solid jig style hook set. Most of the time the fish have it deep in their mouth. Try a solid middle power set.
Before your video I can honestly say I had no success on this bait. I threw it in Sturgeon Bay, WI last month and didn't even have a bite so I put it back in a tackle tray in the boat. However, after viewing you video this morning, I went out to my local lake and looked for weedlines with some fish I saw on my side imaging. Threw along the weed edges and was amazed at the number of bites on this bait. I then went to an offshore rock piles that I knew had some weeks along the edges and again this bait caught fish. I had given up on the bait without giving it a fair chance. Also as you noted, it held up reasonably well, but the hook did bend out a bit. But thanks for your video. Can't wait to explore more areas with this bait. Your choice of a heavier rod I found to be spot on. Too limber and you don't get good hooksets.
That’s awesome! I love comments like these!
I’m in the same boat. I’ve given up on the bait but after watching this video, I’m motivated to go out today and try it again. Lol
Love the Dark Sleeper, catches more than just bass as well. Super effective here in Michigan
It's a tremendous bait for bass. I love the solid roof of the mouth hooksets you get. It's so easy to cast, it flies a mile! I like to paint the tails chartreuse. It also works well burning it on top of weed beds. The 3/4 Oz gives a little bit larger profile which helps target larger fish. This bait is always on 1 of my combos and I've caught several saugeyes on it as well.
Nice!
We crushed the smallmouth at Sturgeon Bay with the little 3/8 oz swimming them over beds this past June awesome bait ! Great vid
Nice!
Another great video Nathan. Thanks brother
Thanks!
Thanks for the great tips!! It's a toss-up for me between the Megabass Dark Sleeper & Berkley's Agent E. Stay Safe & God Bless!!!
Thanks!
Hi Nathan. I'm relatively new to your channel (and fishing in general), but you, Brian Latimer, and the Tactical Bassin' guys have rapidly become my favorites. As such, I have a request. Forgive me if you have already put out a video on the topic. I took up fishing a year ago as something I could do in my retirement (I'm planning to retire in a year or so). As such, and I'm sure a lot of your viewers fall into this category as well, I have myself on a fairly strict (not rigid) budget that allows for reasonable amount of fishing expenditures as long as it doesn't jeopardize a healthy retirement bank account. The one frustrating theme in a lot of fishing videos is the talk about what gear we need. I understand, there may be a optimal specific type of rod / reel combo, whether spinning or bait casting or mono vs fluoro, etc...for different kind of fishing, but there has to be a couple of general 2 or 3 setups that would get the job done in any situation. I would love to see a video titled "If I could only have 2, or maybe 3, rod / reel combos, this is what I'd use no matter what I'm doing", or something along those lines. Maybe it can only be downsized to 3 or 4. Okay, but you get the idea. Thanks!
I'm not sure but I think it was tactical bassin that put out a 5 rod set that say would cover everything
@@fishaholic122 Thanks! I'll try to find that video.
I can look into doing this!
I use that exact color to mimic Bluegill lol Good vid brotha 👍
Thanks!
You know what's awesome? My buddy was throwing a Dark Sleeper on Lake St. Clair looking for smallmouth when he landed his PB largemouth on it!
Awesome!
How do you deal with pike or pickerel. My pink dark sleeper was ruined within 25 casts. First catch pickerel and lost a little of the top fin. Then about 15 casts later lost the tail.
I usually just stop throwing it then so I don’t chew through them!
That second color is haze I think.
You try the agent E? I had some good luck on that in the spring
Haven’t tried it yet!
A 1/2 once falls like a 3/8, 3/4 falls like a 1/2 once. Saw that on mega bass channel
Interesting!
Hey bro if I wanted to use braid with this lure what test would I use?
Probably 30 but I don’t use braid!
Thanks yeah I use it all the time. And it has worked for me. But I haven't fished any tournaments yet.
@@nathanquincefishing7122 I know Brian @ Punchfishing is a smallmouth guy like you, and he likes to fish these on spinning, braid to leader. I haven't ventured out yet with some of these baits I just recently bought but intend on trying them with a medium heavy powered spinning rod with 15# braid to a 12# FC leader. I went with a small assortment of the 1/2 oz., 3" sleepers. I'm also in northeast (CT), with a lot of fairly clear water and I definitely lose some confidence when throwing anything (even straight FC) over 12#, unless flipping dense weeds, which we don't have that much of (like the good ole days!)
Dang it.. looks like another lure I'm going to buy. Lol, I've been looking at these and being in North Texas they don't mimic much of the bait fish around here but they still look very enticing for a fish regardless. We don't have walleye or true perch down here we got bluegill sunfish everything else is gizzard shad. Hey Nathan I was wondering have you tried throwing the Grinch topwater? I'm sorry if I missed a video where you talked about the lure. I was curious what your opinion is on that lure. I really like your taste and reasons for fishing the lures you do.
I have not tried it yet!
Any videos showing you caught fish on this?
My boat actually caught on fire so I won’t have any on the water footage for a little bit
How do these do in the river?
Most rivers up north here at least have sculpin in the rivers and lakes so I’m sure it would do fine.
Would do great!
looks Great! where to get it?
Link in my description!
Man I really tried to get into this bait because everyone raves about it but I just couldn’t. It’s probably just a confidence thing for me. For smallmouth I do way better on the okashira screw head.
Those work too!
Haze
Purple or super silver?
@@granthibberd6069 purple 100%
@@fishaholic122 good vibrations brother
I'm not a fan of the bait yet. Tried it about 4 times now with no luck.
Keep trying sometimes it only works during certain times or places!
Garbage hookup ratio with this one... tried soft and nuclear fall-out-of-the-boat hooksets. Can't keep them pinned.
Try cutting off the top fin
I have about 100% hookup with these. I use braid to 15lb leader, use a good solid jig style hook set. Most of the time the fish have it deep in their mouth. Try a solid middle power set.