Gimmicky Bass products like "wildeye", and "Beaver tails"

raptorschild · 02-18-2007, 05:27 PM

Anyone out there catch much with these type of baits. I picked up some 3" perch imitating "wild eye's" by storm, and some beaver tail plastics by Berkely. (look like a grub, but have a beaver tail, kinda thing for action)

THey "look" good, but do they catch fisherman more effectively than they catch fish???

ANyone had luck with either of these baits for Smallies or LMB. Or have situations where these baits work better than traditional bass baits, and plastics?

kc1 · 02-18-2007, 06:24 PM

Nope.

LiveToFish · 02-18-2007, 07:17 PM

I've had a lot of luck fishing for smallies with the beaver tail grubs on the Willamette. The ones I use are made by Reaction Innovations in the watermelon/green pumpkin color. I usually throw these on a split shot rig. Last Fall I was fishing down on the rocks at Mary S. Young State Park and landed a catfish on one. It sure fooled me, I thought I had hooked a monster of a smallmouth!!

Every bait has its day, but I would definately give these a shot. They have a place in my box!!

BassMan · 02-18-2007, 07:54 PM

I agree with livetofish. I have an entire box with the reaction innovation smallie beavers. They work excellent. I usually texas rig them and peg the weight. They also work well as jig trailers.

I also have several bags of the storm wild eye swim shads, and they work good as well. I use them lots on the willy when I am fishing an area where I can see bait fish around. I also toss them around the deeper current seams because they are heavy and will get deep where the fish are. My wife caught one of the biggest smallies I have ever seen on this bait fishing the john day river. It broke her off with new 8lb line. I know that fish was an easy 6+lbs. The both have a place in my tackle bag.

-jb

jaybee · 02-19-2007, 08:11 AM

I agree that the Reaction Innovations Beavers work great. I tend to use the Sweet Beavers instead of the Smallie Beavers. However, both work great. jb

Super Fluke · 02-19-2007, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc1

Nope.

LiveToFish · 02-19-2007, 02:31 PM

JayBee...All I have used are the smallie beavers. I have primarely fished SM with these. I was wondering if you are fishing SM or LM with the sweet beavers?? I picked up a pack of sweet beavers today (black/red flake) I'll have to give them a try.

jaybee · 02-19-2007, 03:07 PM

LiveToFish: I use the Sweet Beaver for both Smallies and Largemouth, but mostly for Smallies. Fish 'em the same way you do. I've used the double wides for largemouth with limited success. So, I like the Sweet Beaver size for largemouth too. I know plenty of people who prefer to fish the Smallie Beaver for smallmouth, so I certainly agree that its a good bait.

nitrobass · 02-19-2007, 03:18 PM

Back in the day Basscaster and I used to hold Gimmick Tourneys. All day long fishing nothing but ingenious baits such as the Berkley Neonz series, the banjo minnow, the walking worm, and the Bill Dance foam frog. We didnt ever catch squat but we looked good as we flailed away, as seen on tv style.

D3smartie · 02-19-2007, 03:34 PM

the banjo minnow used to catch some monster Stripers for us in the salt. I couldnt believe it.

Basscaster · 02-19-2007, 07:36 PM

Nitro, I miss those gimmick tourneys. We need to get one going soon. I got some gulp stuff that I think will be perfect.

BassinFever · 02-19-2007, 08:54 PM

Only three baits have earned my respect in the last few years, The Senko type baits, the brush hog type baits and the shakyhead dropshot type baits. Other than than it`s just the same old same oh.

Chad S. · 02-20-2007, 10:45 AM

The hemotoma sweet beavers work great at silver fished weightless in the brush, and they also make great trailers. Smallie beavers work great for smallies, you just have to find what colors working.
chad s.

sbasser · 02-28-2007, 08:13 PM

Just got the latest small BPS catalog...I'm amazed to see that the "Dancin' Eel" is back in all its glory. In WBC, this is known as the lure that only catches fishermen. Nobody has ever caught a bass on one.

C&R, Steve

HammerinHonkers · 02-28-2007, 08:41 PM

I remember buying the banjo minnow as soon as it came out. I was so syked to use it, and then i was let down by the lack of fish it caught. I did catch some bass but nothing spectacular. Then a few years later i was up in the high lakes in washington fishing for trout. We were doing pretty good on spinners, mostly 11-12" rainbows. I found a small banjo in my box, so i threw it on. 5 casts and 5 fish, with the biggest being 17". I was amazed, about time they paid off.

tnj8222 · 03-01-2007, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HammerinHonkers

I remember buying the banjo minnow as soon as it came out. I was so syked to use it, and then i was let down by the lack of fish it caught. I did catch some bass but nothing spectacular. Then a few years later i was up in the high lakes in washington fishing for trout. We were doing pretty good on spinners, mostly 11-12" rainbows. I found a small banjo in my box, so i threw it on. 5 casts and 5 fish, with the biggest being 17". I was amazed, about time they paid off.

whne the fish are biting good, its always a good idea to throw lures you have no confidence in

HammerinHonkers · 03-01-2007, 09:20 AM

tnj8222,
I sense a hint of sarcasm. Hey I figured now was as good time as ever to catch some fish on that friggin lure, and it paid off with a couple of the biggest fish of the trip for me, so confidence or not, dumb move or not, i was happy with the results.

XPO · 03-01-2007, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raptorschild

Anyone out there catch much with these type of baits. I picked up some 3" perch imitating "wild eye's" by storm, and some beaver tail plastics by Berkely. (look like a grub, but have a beaver tail, kinda thing for action)

THey "look" good, but do they catch fisherman more effectively than they catch fish???

ANyone had luck with either of these baits for Smallies or LMB. Or have situations where these baits work better than traditional bass baits, and plastics?

I use the swimbaits all the time, primarily off the jetties, but this year in fresh water also. Like most lures, both will work well for those who have confidence in them.

bpm2000 · 03-01-2007, 10:28 AM

im pretty sure he wasnt being sarcastic

HammerinHonkers · 03-01-2007, 02:27 PM

bpm2000 and tnj8222
yeah, sorry guys, a friend of mine read the post and asked why i was being so defensive, i re-read the post and it read differently, just one of those days, didn't mean to snap a little.
HH

tnj8222 · 03-01-2007, 07:00 PM

no worries at all.

but what i said is the truth i have gained alot of confidence in lures, that i thought were no good. from trying them when i know the bite was hot.

sbasser · 03-01-2007, 07:51 PM

tnj8222 is absolutely correct...when you're knee deep in 10" bass, use the opportunity to gain experience and confidence with one of those many baits you drag around and never use. It'll be time well spent! C&R, Steve

Hunt'nFish · 03-02-2007, 03:47 PM

I'm not much for swimbaits but then I don't fish for the big pigs like Dave does either. I do however use the Wildeyes in the satwater adn they flat catch the fish. But we're not talking about saltwater here. However that being said I think that if Dave Smith were to tye on the biggest Wildeye made he could catch a spring fattie on it. It's not always the bait that catches, but rather the fisherman that catches the fish.

Concerning the Beavertails.....these have benn used for years by fisherman around the country and yes they do catch fish.

One area not mentioned for small 2-3" wildeye's is WALLEYE. Yes, they love them just as well as any other jigs.... if worked in the right places.
Hunt'nFish

BassMan · 03-02-2007, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbasser

Just got the latest small BPS catalog...I'm amazed to see that the "Dancin' Eel" is back in all its glory. In WBC, this is known as the lure that only catches fishermen. Nobody has ever caught a bass on one.

C&R, Steve

These were huge back in the midwest where you have lots of polywogs. At one time I had 5 or 6 of them and every one caught fish. I have hooked countless fish over 5lbs with them. They used to come in a 4" and 6" model. I love that lure. Will buy some more for sure.

sbasser · 03-05-2007, 04:29 PM

Another Strike King product that everybody claims is a non-producer is the Grass Frog (I think that's the name). Sure looks good, as does the Dancin' Eel. I keep getting reminded (by the fish) that you have to fish any bait, and any technique, in the right conditions.

When the water is like glass, splitshot a 4" Zoom lizard or 3" craw, or nose-hook a 4" Senko. When the wind picks up just a little, Whacky rig that Senko. When it gets blowin' too much to feel such baits, throw a crankbait, spinnerbait, or rattle trap. The Dancin' Eel would fit in the later catagory, tho it probably won't cast real well in a strong wind.

Well, I gotta go...off to AZ for some warm weather bassin'.

C&R, Steve

BassMan · 03-05-2007, 05:37 PM

The Dancin eel actually casts well and has a decent sink rate for being soft plastic. The only problem I ever had with them is keeping them running true. They have a tendency to stray left or right when burning them fast.

-jb

BuKuBass · 03-05-2007, 11:01 PM

Some twenty years ago the Dancin' Eel first appeared, very few lures were expressly designed for burning. Many of us noticed that while quickly retrieving a lure after it has left the target area, active bass would often nail it. Burning inline spinners and paddle-tail worms worked then and still do now. Heddon's "Sonic", Ed Moore's "Sugar Shad" and the Ratt-L-Trap were some that I used back then
But frankly, I find burning, boring. It doesn't take much skill to chuck and crank. It'd be like flock shooting with a 12 ga. BAR; put enuf lead out there and you're bound to get something.

Holeymolar · 03-11-2007, 10:29 PM

This was caught in Mexico on a 5" storm wildeye swimbait. I have yet to catch one in WA on one, but I believe they would work. I don't believe that these lures have an application in shallow water or heavy weeds, they sink too fast in my opinion. I do think that they are very appropriate for fishing sunken road beds, bluffs, and deeper creek channels. For five bucks it doesn't hurt to have a pack to try.

B-RUN STEELIE · 03-12-2007, 05:50 AM

Beaver tails in the small size are my go to bait on Brownlee drop shotted. True story, they catch fish, not even a gimmic lure..

How about that " Helicopter " lure Roland Martin was pitching on T.V a few years ago. that guy would put his name on a line of lipstick if they paid him.

bpm2000 · 03-12-2007, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-RUN STEELIE

Beaver tails in the small size are my go to bait on Brownlee drop shotted. True story, they catch fish, not even a gimmic lure..

How about that " Helicopter " lure Roland Martin was pitching on T.V a few years ago. that guy would put his name on a line of lipstick if they paid him.

lol but it would have to have some spf factor so he could talk about its sunburn/cancer reducing abilities for 10 minutes first.