Smartbait or Gulp?

Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:55 am

Anyone use either the Smartbait or Gulp range of baits? Ever had any success? Thinking myself of trying them and would like to know if anyone else uses them. Thanks

Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:08 am

There's been a lot of debate on this issue on the worldseafishing forums and the consensus is, ignore the marketing saying that they'll fish as static baits, they are no good for that. Use them like any jelly lure with a leadhead and they fish as well as if not a little better, but some have said that a normal jelly is about as effective but a lot cheaper so they wouldn't bother going for gulp.

That's what I've picked up, enough to not make me bother in any case.

Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:57 am

Thanks for the reply. Surprised no others have views on these baits, would have been good to have heard a few more peoples thoughts..

Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:04 am

General consensus seems to be that they are designed to catch anglers and not fish although there are a few guys who claim they catch, but then when fish are on you could catch on most things.

Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:39 am

at the bridges of ross, where it was a wrasse every time you lowered the hooks, i baited some with real rags and some with gulp crab as a little experiment. I most have got a dozen wrasse before i got bored. All on the real rag, not one on the gulp

Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:12 am

alright there contender, i have used both the lazy lug and gulp bait a couple of times. I got the gulp some time last year and i can say it is pretty much useless unless spun.
The lazy lug does work on occasions

Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:14 am

Fished the Bridges with JW that day, if its the day I'm thinking of last year after the boat comp, as he said it was a fish a drop, I experimented with Gulp rag and it worked every bit as well as the real thing which I was surprised at TBH. They probably look better than the crab all the same.

Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:29 pm

lazylug does work, ive caught fish on it. iv only ever caught one fish on gulp, got a dogfish on gulp rag.

Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:30 pm

Thanks guys, I have a pkt of gulp crab and was saving them for the day the bait runs out when the fishing is good, although i never have ran out. Think i may just use them up and have done with it.

Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:16 am

I think there is a difference with the gulp bait in that you should not just cast out and leave it. It needs to be worked a little to entice the fish to take - ie. cast out and then a slow jerked retrieve back in.

Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:29 pm

caught a couple of flounder on gulp white rag before, just straight, was using it in an estuary to try and avoid crabs as they can't pick it off and was supprised it worked