I know it's been around for years but I only recently discovered the magic of the dark sleeper here in Michigan. It catches EVERYTHING in and around the great lakes - there are so many predators that feed on gobies. The last time I went out with one, I caught pike, largemouth, smallmouth, and even a bowfin all on the dark sleeper in the same trip. They're also known to be effective for walleye. I'm willing to try anything similar to a dark sleeper now.
The Dark Sleeper is up there with the ned rig as a go-to bait all year round. I’ve been trying to ween off of them a bit because they are SO effective and I’m just trying to go outside my comfort zone. I have to say tho, after trying lures that have a similar design…I have YET to find similar results. More on that coming up tho..😉 Thanks for checking it out!👍
Now that you made this video I think I gotta grab one. I really like how the hook is on this vs. The dark sleeper. Even though I'm a huge user of the dark sleeper. Great review showing the difference
I’ve yet to use a dark sleeper. From a couple of your videos it’s obvious you’re a big fan. I’m definitely picking a few up this year. From comparing the two, I like the Bass Pro hook placement and the ribbed tail. Great review Joe. 👍
I have been ordering the Amazon ones for $11 a 5 pack but i seriously never even knew it was a megabass copy. They are great lures IMO. Great breakdown thanks for the info!
@@live2fishofficial I have not had any problems with Hooksets or bending. I have even snagged on up with 30lb. Baid on and I could do anything but snap it off lol if it was a real cheap hook I would have probably bent it out and got it back
I love swimbaits but dismissed the Dark Sleeper as a bait I’d just end up losing from the bank. Once I tried it though, changing up the retrieve to swimming higher in the column, I had surprising luck and was sold!
I think I would take my scissors and cut that dorsal fin down on that dark sleeper until it just covers the hook to keep it from fowling up, nice video
I just picked up a hanahaze dark sleeper, liked the way the haze one looked but chose hanahaze based on this video. How good is the haze? I would've got both but my bill was already at $60 for terminal tackle and swim baits 😁 cheers!
I have had the most luck with the Hanahaze, the Haze is a close second. For some reason they have hit on the lighter color combinations for me. The exception being the Mutsugorou and the Dark Shad, they’ve done okay, but nowhere near the results with the Hanahaze. I did pick up some of the Clear Chartreuse for the sprint smallie bite, hopefully they do well. I’ll let you know here shortly, only a few months out! Thanks for the support and for watching! Tight lines!👊🏻💥🎣
I really like the concept of dark sleepers but I don't get to use them very often in the kind of water I fish. They're great on rock but you can't put them anywhere near timber or dense grass or you'll get hung up, yet it's marketed as an all terrain bait. They look really good in my tackle box 😂 hopefully I get the opportunity to use them soon
That’s too bad, I seem to get a lot of really good hits around weed lines and that dorsal fin keeps me from getting hung up too much. I agree with you on the timber, that thing is a wood snag magnet! Thanks for watching - tight lines!
I fish them along the weed line and drag them through timber all the time. I do snag them on timber sometimes, but I’ve always been able to get them loose.
I noticed those the last time I was in BPS... Decided not to pull the trigger because I'd seen the knock-offs on Amazon / AliExpress, and it looked a lot like those. I'm curious how you'd say the quality of the hook compared between the two for sure and I'm looking forward to your on the water comparison.
The hook feels stout. The body is a little wider and the keel weight is too, same weight - just a tad bit bigger cast. I bought some clearance swimbait jigs once that ended up having wires for hooks and just putting the swimbaits on them bent then they were so fine. I pitched them because any hook set was going to bend them right off the jig head! Overall these seem pretty solid. I really want to see how that tail looks in the water and also see how durable they are. The dark sleeper loses the eyes quick, but I caught a LOT of fish on the ones I didn’t lose to pike. They are very durable. I’m interested to see how these are.
I think the whole XPS lineup is basically knock offs of other baits. If it saves you money its a good thing. I wonder if the hidden hook in the Dark Sleeper is patented and they can't replicate it exactly.
It just might be a patented design issue, but I think it’s because it does hinder hook ups at times and they’re trying to provide a suitable alternative while still maintaining a weedless presentation. Time will tell! I searched this extensively and it’s so new NO ONE has out anything out on it yet. Not even Bass Pro has hyped it in social media, which I find strange. Usually new products get introduced. Maybe Johnny Morris doesn’t care and figures if he throws it on a shelf it’ll sell regardless.🤷🏻♂️
What if you trim the dark sleeper top fin on the hook like the mean eye? Looks pretty sharp Joe. Looking forward to seeing you use it and compare them!! Great video!!!!
I know it's been around for years but I only recently discovered the magic of the dark sleeper here in Michigan. It catches EVERYTHING in and around the great lakes - there are so many predators that feed on gobies. The last time I went out with one, I caught pike, largemouth, smallmouth, and even a bowfin all on the dark sleeper in the same trip. They're also known to be effective for walleye. I'm willing to try anything similar to a dark sleeper now.
The Dark Sleeper is up there with the ned rig as a go-to bait all year round. I’ve been trying to ween off of them a bit because they are SO effective and I’m just trying to go outside my comfort zone.
I have to say tho, after trying lures that have a similar design…I have YET to find similar results. More on that coming up tho..😉
Thanks for checking it out!👍
Reminder is set hopefully I get a chance to be at the premiere of not will catch it after work 👍🏼
No worries, thanks!
Thank you for the video. I will give them both a side by side try.
I picked up some Agent E baits as well for this season. This should be interesting!
As always mate awesome job can't wait to see the comparison next season 👍🏼
Thanks man!
So excited to see you try out the bass pro version. Maybe we need a couple of challenges this year!
I think that’d be great! Let’s goooooooooo!
They both look really good, I haven’t dabbled much with mega bass
They have some great hard baits too - highly recommend them!
I’m happy I found your channel
I enjoyed this video and I’m looking forward to watching this channel grow.
Thank you and welcome to the channel!
I got mine yesterday I'm excited to try it out
Sweet! Let me know how you do!
Now that you made this video I think I gotta grab one. I really like how the hook is on this vs. The dark sleeper. Even though I'm a huge user of the dark sleeper. Great review showing the difference
Thanks! I couldn’t find anything on them on YT, so I decided to make one - can’t wait for spring to use them!
I’ve yet to use a dark sleeper. From a couple of your videos it’s obvious you’re a big fan. I’m definitely picking a few up this year. From comparing the two, I like the Bass Pro hook placement and the ribbed tail. Great review Joe. 👍
Thank you! If we ever cross paths, I’ll be sure to give you one to try out - you’ll love them!
I have been ordering the Amazon ones for $11 a 5 pack but i seriously never even knew it was a megabass copy. They are great lures IMO. Great breakdown thanks for the info!
Appreciate you checking it out. I’ve meant to try those Amazon ones, how are the hooks on them?
@@live2fishofficial I have not had any problems with Hooksets or bending. I have even snagged on up with 30lb. Baid on and I could do anything but snap it off lol if it was a real cheap hook I would have probably bent it out and got it back
@@MyAngleFishing nice!
Does look like they are an improvement. Might have to pick some up to try we have a lot of sculpin out here. 👍
We will see!
Love the megabass darksleeper. I hadn't seen the mean eye swimmer. nice compare.
It looks good - I can’t believe no one has this blowing up yet!
Looks good. I need to try both. I've been interested in the dark sleeper but I don't throw that style of bait very often.
I love swimbaits but dismissed the Dark Sleeper as a bait I’d just end up losing from the bank. Once I tried it though, changing up the retrieve to swimming higher in the column, I had surprising luck and was sold!
I think I would take my scissors and cut that dorsal fin down on that dark sleeper until it just covers the hook to keep it from fowling up, nice video
Great idea! I’ll try that and see what kind of results I get!
Nice!
Thanks!
CAN'T WAIT
Thanks!
In the clear rivers after smallmouth I did not have good luck with the Bass Pro version. The dark sleeper is a smallmouth slayer though.
I hear ya…this ZMan should be a slayer💯!
Reminder on bro
Thanks!
@@live2fishofficial anytime
I like the Bass Pro Shops Mean Eye Swimmer. Because how’s the hook setup. Awesome review Joe!!!
Thanks Jun, looks like a winner!
Not my dark sleeper lol.cyrious to see what you think. I think for dragging along the bottom the dark sleeper is as good as it gets.
I’ve had really great luck swimming them as well. It will be fun to see how these two compare!
I just picked up a hanahaze dark sleeper, liked the way the haze one looked but chose hanahaze based on this video. How good is the haze? I would've got both but my bill was already at $60 for terminal tackle and swim baits 😁 cheers!
I have had the most luck with the Hanahaze, the Haze is a close second. For some reason they have hit on the lighter color combinations for me. The exception being the Mutsugorou and the Dark Shad, they’ve done okay, but nowhere near the results with the Hanahaze.
I did pick up some of the Clear Chartreuse for the sprint smallie bite, hopefully they do well. I’ll let you know here shortly, only a few months out!
Thanks for the support and for watching! Tight lines!👊🏻💥🎣
I really like the concept of dark sleepers but I don't get to use them very often in the kind of water I fish. They're great on rock but you can't put them anywhere near timber or dense grass or you'll get hung up, yet it's marketed as an all terrain bait. They look really good in my tackle box 😂 hopefully I get the opportunity to use them soon
That’s too bad, I seem to get a lot of really good hits around weed lines and that dorsal fin keeps me from getting hung up too much. I agree with you on the timber, that thing is a wood snag magnet!
Thanks for watching - tight lines!
I fish them along the weed line and drag them through timber all the time. I do snag them on timber sometimes, but I’ve always been able to get them loose.
I noticed those the last time I was in BPS... Decided not to pull the trigger because I'd seen the knock-offs on Amazon / AliExpress, and it looked a lot like those. I'm curious how you'd say the quality of the hook compared between the two for sure and I'm looking forward to your on the water comparison.
The hook feels stout. The body is a little wider and the keel weight is too, same weight - just a tad bit bigger cast.
I bought some clearance swimbait jigs once that ended up having wires for hooks and just putting the swimbaits on them bent then they were so fine. I pitched them because any hook set was going to bend them right off the jig head!
Overall these seem pretty solid. I really want to see how that tail looks in the water and also see how durable they are. The dark sleeper loses the eyes quick, but I caught a LOT of fish on the ones I didn’t lose to pike. They are very durable. I’m interested to see how these are.
I think the whole XPS lineup is basically knock offs of other baits. If it saves you money its a good thing. I wonder if the hidden hook in the Dark Sleeper is patented and they can't replicate it exactly.
It just might be a patented design issue, but I think it’s because it does hinder hook ups at times and they’re trying to provide a suitable alternative while still maintaining a weedless presentation. Time will tell!
I searched this extensively and it’s so new NO ONE has out anything out on it yet. Not even Bass Pro has hyped it in social media, which I find strange. Usually new products get introduced. Maybe Johnny Morris doesn’t care and figures if he throws it on a shelf it’ll sell regardless.🤷🏻♂️
What if you trim the dark sleeper top fin on the hook like the mean eye? Looks pretty sharp Joe. Looking forward to seeing you use it and compare them!! Great video!!!!
That’s an idea! Thanks for checking it out Chris, for $3.99 they’re looking pretty good!
@@live2fishofficial I thought that price looked good! Dark sleepers like $10 right?
@@bogolyskeepingitreel $5.99-7.99
Amazing video
Thanks for stopping in!
@@live2fishofficial no problem
Awesome content
Thank you Kumbo!
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET SHIRTS?
Maybe someday, not really considering merch yet. Thanks for stopping by!
Is that like the Agent E from strike king?
Kinda sorta🤔
@@live2fishofficial I don’t know who designed it first! Lol
@@OfftheHookOutdoors99 like the chicken and the egg!😂
hmm, interesting. if i am going to use one, most likely the megabass dark sleeper due to the way the hook is place next to the fin. it kinda hides it.
I love the competition and design changes!
👀🎣
Let’s goooooooo!👊🏻💥🎣
go fish
Oh yeah!👊🏻💥🎣
Hi im newbe frm james gepigepi
Welcome to the channel, just subbed!