Are Gulp Alive softbaits better than Real bait?

[Whitetail Hunter]

are gulp alive softbaits good, or should i just stick to real nightcrawlers and minnows? also do you use them as the lure on a jig or plain hook or do you just put them on the lure like bait?

[4JawChuck]

I bought a bunch last year to give them a try, thought with all the research maybe they knew something I didn't...not to mention having bait that didn't need refrigeration and didn't go bad.

So I stocked up on a bunch of different styles.

On four different trips I didn't get a single bite and ended up switching to frozen minnows another angler brought. The walleyes we were catching sure didn't like them, maybe they need to be starving or something because they didn't even nibble it.

Pretty disappointing, On the last trip I left them on the dock with some kids...maybe they will have better luck.

[Mpower]

In my experience, than can catch fish on days when the bite is really hot. I have NEVER had a day when the fish were rejecting live bait in favor a plastic. Pretty much live bait all the time for me.

[jigstop]

I've had many times that Gulp and plastic baits have outfished live bait, and I've also had times that nothing will outfish live bait. I find myself using live bait less and less because I can usually do just as good or better on Gulp and I personally feel that using live bait is like cheating, heck even the lowly bass guys don't use live bait!

[gregk9]

Originally Posted by jigstop

I personally feel that using live bait is like cheating, heck even the lowly bass guys don't use live bait!

Nope, this lowly bass guy doesn't use live bait. It *is* cheating....unless you're fishing to harvest I suppose.

Gulp products work pretty good for me. Then again, I don't have the live bait comparison.

[PackerBacker]

Nope.

[RyanK1]

I wont touch Gulp! products. After using Trigger X side by side with Gulp! for a year I noticed huge differences between the two. The Trigger X action is much better, the minnows actually move instead of look like a stick. Also I can get twice the fish out of a Trigger X bait compared to a Gulp! bait. The Gulp! just gets ripped to shreds and is really weak.

Now to get back on topic, I will use plastics as much as I can and it all depends on the situation. In super clear water or when rigging, I use live bait. In murky water or fishing weeds and timber, I use plastics. Fish in murky water and weeds seems to attack on more of a reaction bite, so they don't take the time to analyze what I'm throwing at them and decide that it is fake or real. In clear water or when rigging, the bait is either clearly seen or moving slowly so there is much more time for the fish to analyze it and make a decision.

[hawg]

Walleyes and live bait are the ticket. I agree with plastic for bass, otherwise thy're too easy. But I prefer to use live bait for walleyes.

[Bill Krejca]

From many replies to similar queries on WC and other sites, the success rate seems to vary significantly in waters where Gulp! is being used. As a general rule of thumb, I've felt that success with many artificials is a variable dependent on the number of fish present in the spot being fished. I believe they get greedier and more foolish when there is more competition for the food. Those of us who have had experience feeding farm creatures can attest to sometimes similar reactions.

Bill

[Pooch]

Hi Bill,

Are you referring to the dessert bar at a Sirloin Stockade on a Saturday afternoon? I went there once years ago and about got trampled. Sorry I couldn't help but compare.

Pooch