Ever wondered what makes a Mattlures bluegill swimbait tick?
Turns out about 1/2-oz of lead, a hook and a snap, along with a 1.3-oz. body. Total swimbait weight is roughly 1.82 ounces give or take. A gorgeous mold and paint job doesn't hurt either.
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Brian, is there enough hook there, on that giant hunk of plastic, to hold a fish?
Posted by: Paul Roberts | March 01, 2009 at 07:38 AM
In my limited experiences with the bait, so far I'd argue no. Rarely have any of the bass I've caught been hooked on the main hook. Almost all have been on the attached treble I've run off the bottom clip. From reading others experiences though, most people suggest not using the extra hook. One even suggested that if you have to use the bottom clip the bass you're catching aren't worth it as the "big girls" won't have any problems engulfing this bait (LOL).
Part of my problem could be with my equipment. When a bass grabs this bait it is extremely difficult to get the bait to move in the fishes mouth, which is why I might be not hooking them with the main hook. A lot of guys recommend "lubing" the bait with an attractant to help the bait slide in the fishes mouth. I haven't tried this yet.
I also have resisted the need to go out and buy a special swimbait outfit up to this point as I don't want to drop the $200-$400 it would cost for a technique I use more for fun and learning about a dozen times a year. I might have to rethink that position.
Posted by: Big Indiana Bass | March 01, 2009 at 11:09 AM
You could re-rig it the way some guys do with Huddlestons. Just clip off the top jig hook below the plastic (push the plastic down), then use some heavy braid or a wire leader from the line tie to a treble hook and then stab that in the back just forward of the dorsal fin. Here are some examples:
http://www.trophybassonly.com/id224.htm
http://www.tackletour.net/TTForums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=29221
http://www.swimbaitnation.com/huddlestonrigging.html
I've never heard of anyone doing it on a Mattlures Gill, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. I don't know what kind of rod you are using, but you do need something pretty heavy so you can really lay into them on the hookset. I also have heard the attractant as lube works well, but I don't have any personal experience with it.
Posted by: Jeremy S | March 03, 2009 at 09:18 AM
Thanks for the links Jeremy. I've seen the rigging before on Fish Chris' old site that you linked to. I did similar with this one from the bottom clip, trying both the braid link as well as a traditional split ring. Unfortunately, this particular bait won't be able to be linked this way any longer ;) but I have 2 brand new ones I haven't pulled out of the package yet. I might try and rig one of those with the dorsal treble link like you posted. I'll be sure and post pics and results if I do.
As for the above bait, I cut off all the extra lead, remelted the bait back together as best I could with a little belly weight added to the cavity. Reinserted the hook in a slightly different area and trimmed down the appendages for a slimmer looking gill. Need to hit the water and see if it will still swim correctly or not. End result was a bait weighing about 0.35 ounces less and a hook that can now slide slightly on the hook set. As mentioned, just need to see if it will still swim correctly or not now.
Posted by: Big Indiana Bass | March 03, 2009 at 10:11 AM