If you put a small piece of styrofoam in the slit on top of the gilly, it'll swim upright. Game changer for the bait. Great video! Overall, I'd have to agree with your take 🤙🏼
I will try this, I have virtually given up on them, get action, 9/10 time they just skimm the surface like a paddle board. I. An not get them to remain verticale and ‘swim’
The Berkeley Gilly is my go to big bass bait and very versatile. I have fun rigging it and working it differently. I caught a 5.1 yesterday as it was sinking by itself before I started retrieving.
In my opinion the gilly is the ultimate evolution of a senko being very effective as a fall bait weightless texas style sideways or fished with a nose hook. The sleeper gill would be the ultimate evolution of a swimjig/ swimbait. The sleeper gill has earned its own combo in my arsenal and there is not a time of year it doesn't catch fish. The only complaint is hydrilla and milfoil catches on the lips and becomes a problem. That being said fish will come out of the woodwork to smoke a sleeper gill pretty much fished any way. No wrong way too fish the megabass
This is the first video I have seen of your's and it won't be the last! One thing I have had immense success with here in southeast Georgia is using the 90mm Gilly as a chatter bait trailer. I also have to deal with a lot of grass fishing from the bank, so the weedlessness of a chatter bait is a necessity. This setup works best in stained water or when visibility is low. Haven't tried the sleeper yet, but I've heard good things.
I just got my sleeper gill in the mail. I've been using the gilly all summer and I took have had a bad hookup ratio at first but using the right hook,rigged correctly,I've had great luck with it...the biggest bass this year was caught on a medium sized,black/blue gilly
Interesting take on both baits. On the Gilly, I would bet that you needed to get a wider gap hook. I always use an extra wide gap hook on the gilly. It looks like you were using a standard offset worm hook. Go to a bigger wide gap hook and you will see a difference in hookups.
Great comparison! I have seen other videos on the Gilly with alternative rigging suggestions to get the bait to swim better. Thanks! Roger, The Smiling BassHole
yea the Gilly seems to need some kinda weight in its throat, under the mouth, for it to drop to where you want, and give it more stability. Its truly a bait that needs to be rigged before you go out, otherwise your sitting there for 10 mins while people get all the casting done. When they rip, I'll take a soddering iron, attach a small wire, and literally melt it back together, it works really well, however can only do it soo many times. And Also about rigging the hook, I've been putting the hook set up with a shallow screw on a 3 to 4 hook in the same fashion as the Sleeper gill, and have had a lot better luck landing fish. Love the review cause this is spot on
I went through the same thing when I was trying to figure it out. The Gilly, hands down better than you think. I use a Owner screwlock centering pin in the mouth with a VMC weedless wacky worm hook in size 1. Hook-ups are better & it is easier to fish around cover. You can put a nail weight in the belly and it'll stay further down in the water column. I even slip glass rattles in the head cavity and that's something that Dark Sleeper can't do either. Different sizes and you don't get much choice with the Sleeper at all. This is just my opinion and I am constantly trying new ways.
Good thorough comparison. I wonder if the big catch difference maight be due to the natural porpoising movement of the Sleeper. We should work on a "How to repair torn plastics while at the lake" video. A Bic lighter and a small pen knife can work miracles. Save and keep the boot tails from other old boot tail baits. Heat up the pen knife blade then weld a replacement boot tail on the Sleeper. Likewise use it to seal the split mouth of the Gilly. I am dying to get back down there.
I'd buy the Sleeper Gill. I've landed so many nice big mouth here in Florida with the Gillkko color. And just bought 5 more at Bass Pro. One of my favorite along with a 5" Senko. 👍
Just bought the Sleeper yesterday hope it does some work next summer and for me for the other one, I agree I used it and had more re rigging and fixing it than catching a fish lol 😆
Glad I wasn’t the only one having trouble with the Gilly. It took me a while to get it rigged up right and on most casts still leaned slightly to the belly side of the hook. Sometimes it would swim on its side. Never got a single bite with it, but the hook up ratio seemed like it would be an issue. I have an HD color Gilly and it smelled like nail polish out of the pack. Overall I was disappointed with this bait. Especially considering the hype around it. Going to check out the sleeper gill when I can. Thanks for the videos and your honest opinion.
I used a exacto knife and went through the hole in the top of the gilly and made a bigger opening. I shoved a tube Jig through the top and forced the jig eye out between the eyes of the gilly. A nail weight in the belly, and the gilly is a murderer. Take your time and don't cut too deep. I really think this is the best way I have tried to rig the things. They swim and look to good for me to give up on them.
Great review and as always, honest. Steve, I am rigging the Gilly with a line thru. See Matt Stefan utube titled “Pro Tip: Line Thru Swimbaits”. A bit extra rigging, but really works well for me here in Iowa/ MN! Fish well!!
I had recently seen a video about cutting 2 flukes and reattaching the part's together using a lighter. Kind of a crude welding technique. Anyhow when I saw your 2 sleeper gills without tails, I thought it would be great to try attaching a tail from a different boot tail swim bait to your Sleeper Gill. Maybe a search for modifying flukes to find the video...jimi
This is an issue with the Sleeper Gill and the tails. I had two just this weekend that didn't make two bass, and truthfully it irritated me. The baits catch fish, but they break down SO FAST. Might be something I should look into. Cheers!! Thanks for the help.
Love this comparison!!! The gilly wants to swim on its side some unless you have the hook at that diagonal side position, with very little meat left in the nose. I was gonna try the gill with a light weight, heard it swims better. The painted gillys smell like paint and it will rub off...I just get annoyed with and fish something else!
Thanks for this great review! The thought of losing the tail on a $10 lure after 6 strikes made me pick the Berkley Gilly. At least you have 3 more lures if one breaks (on the 90mm version). Considering what you said about the hook up ratio I’ll probably rig the Gilly on a dropshot or a jighead leaving the tip of the hook apparent. It won’t be weedless but the sleeper isn’t either from what you said. As Japanese brands often do, Megabass will probably improve the product for next season. Lol they didn’t do that for Dark Sleeper’s eyes though…
Chkilou, the Sleeper Gill is AMAZING. I should own stock in JUST THAT LURE!! LOL Hopefully they continue to improve it. Cheers and thanks for the comment.
Carrie, where in Central Florida are you? Im in Apopka. Every retention pond will have bass in em. However with all the rain we have been getting, things have been tough for me also recently. Message me back and lets see if I can help more. Cheers!!
You know I don't think you're comparing the right to lewers. I find that the Mega bass lawyer is really more of a search bait for deep water and you shut yourself the gilliest days in the top of the. Water column once think you're comparing the right to lures. I don't think you're going to compare the height of each slower but you're really not getting down to the meat of it because they're not. At the same they're not meant to be used the same
The Gilly has been a useless in my boat and I gave them away. Terrible hookup ratio, tears easily, runs terrible, took me several types of wire hooks to get it to run correctly. The Megabass has had good success on bed fish and specifically great on isolated rock piles deep. Yes the tail gets torn but the repair is easy. I have 6-7 at all times. If you catch fish on them, you will buy them. The Gilly is a cheap knockoff that won Icast because it was arranged that way, just like this year. The Flag knockoff.
If you put a small piece of styrofoam in the slit on top of the gilly, it'll swim upright. Game changer for the bait. Great video! Overall, I'd have to agree with your take 🤙🏼
Thanks!! The original baits from geecrack, I think, has that already in the bait. Cheers!!
I will try this, I have virtually given up on them, get action, 9/10 time they just skimm the surface like a paddle board. I. An not get them to remain verticale and ‘swim’
The Berkeley Gilly is my go to big bass bait and very versatile. I have fun rigging it and working it differently. I caught a 5.1 yesterday as it was sinking by itself before I started retrieving.
NICE DUDE!!! Love that. I have not had a lot of success with the Gilly, though I think if I spent more time using it, I would. Good luck and cheers!!
In my opinion the gilly is the ultimate evolution of a senko being very effective as a fall bait weightless texas style sideways or fished with a nose hook. The sleeper gill would be the ultimate evolution of a swimjig/ swimbait. The sleeper gill has earned its own combo in my arsenal and there is not a time of year it doesn't catch fish. The only complaint is hydrilla and milfoil catches on the lips and becomes a problem. That being said fish will come out of the woodwork to smoke a sleeper gill pretty much fished any way. No wrong way too fish the megabass
This is the first video I have seen of your's and it won't be the last! One thing I have had immense success with here in southeast Georgia is using the 90mm Gilly as a chatter bait trailer. I also have to deal with a lot of grass fishing from the bank, so the weedlessness of a chatter bait is a necessity. This setup works best in stained water or when visibility is low. Haven't tried the sleeper yet, but I've heard good things.
Thanks Mike and welcome to the team and family. Cheers!! You'll like the sleeper!!!
I used the gilly last year with a screw lock hook and never had an issue with hookup or swimming.
Thanks for the advice, have some gillys but have not tried one yet. But will get a few of the sleeper gills
I just got my sleeper gill in the mail. I've been using the gilly all summer and I took have had a bad hookup ratio at first but using the right hook,rigged correctly,I've had great luck with it...the biggest bass this year was caught on a medium sized,black/blue gilly
It's tough to rig at first, but they have great action. Cheers!!
Interesting take on both baits. On the Gilly, I would bet that you needed to get a wider gap hook. I always use an extra wide gap hook on the gilly. It looks like you were using a standard offset worm hook. Go to a bigger wide gap hook and you will see a difference in hookups.
Great comparison! I have seen other videos on the Gilly with alternative rigging suggestions to get the bait to swim better.
Thanks!
Roger, The Smiling BassHole
Yes, lots of videos on rigging that lure. They are both really good, but for me, I prefer the Sleeper Gill. Cheers Roger!!
yea the Gilly seems to need some kinda weight in its throat, under the mouth, for it to drop to where you want, and give it more stability. Its truly a bait that needs to be rigged before you go out, otherwise your sitting there for 10 mins while people get all the casting done. When they rip, I'll take a soddering iron, attach a small wire, and literally melt it back together, it works really well, however can only do it soo many times. And Also about rigging the hook, I've been putting the hook set up with a shallow screw on a 3 to 4 hook in the same fashion as the Sleeper gill, and have had a lot better luck landing fish. Love the review cause this is spot on
Thanks for the comment and appreciate it too. I agree with ya. Cheers Bulfwyne!!
I have both and haven't tried yet. Great comparison video. Appreciate the work you did for this. Take care.
Have both. Haven’t tried either. May today. New area of lake (kayak) so we’ll see :)
Thanks as always for the work you put into these Steve.
They are good, sleeper gill is #1 right now. My bass won’t let it go by em. Seriously it’s that good. Cheers!!
I went through the same thing when I was trying to figure it out. The Gilly, hands down better than you think. I use a Owner screwlock centering pin in the mouth with a VMC weedless wacky worm hook in size 1. Hook-ups are better & it is easier to fish around cover. You can put a nail weight in the belly and it'll stay further down in the water column. I even slip glass rattles in the head cavity and that's something that Dark Sleeper can't do either. Different sizes and you don't get much choice with the Sleeper at all. This is just my opinion and I am constantly trying new ways.
Buzz Worth, AMAZING comment. Thanks for the tips, really really appreciate this one. Cheers!!
Good thorough comparison. I wonder if the big catch difference maight be due to the natural porpoising movement of the Sleeper. We should work on a "How to repair torn plastics while at the lake" video. A Bic lighter and a small pen knife can work miracles. Save and keep the boot tails from other old boot tail baits. Heat up the pen knife blade then weld a replacement boot tail on the Sleeper. Likewise use it to seal the split mouth of the Gilly. I am dying to get back down there.
I'd buy the Sleeper Gill. I've landed so many nice big mouth here in Florida with the Gillkko color. And just bought 5 more at Bass Pro. One of my favorite along with a 5" Senko. 👍
Hey just wanted you to know the baits not everyone throws episode was really cool and helpful! Thanks for putting out cool bait reviews!
Thank you, you’ve made my day patrick!!
Put the smallest size. On a. Chatter bait. Hurd good results from that. Me haven’t had the chance to try it yet.
Thanks for the comment, Cheers!!
Sleeper Gill for Sure!!! I caught 10 Bass in 30 minutes at one of the private pond in my community. All fish were 2-4 lbs each.
Sleeper gill is SO GOOD!!! Cheers!!
Just bought the Sleeper yesterday hope it does some work next summer and for me for the other one, I agree I used it and had more re rigging and fixing it than catching a fish lol 😆
I LOVE THE SLEEPER, excluding the tail which crushes my soul. I think you'll do well with it, I know I have. Cheers!!
Have the sleeper gill but not yet tried. Not completely sold on the gilly -looks awesome but may be too big of a pain to fish.
Glad I wasn’t the only one having trouble with the Gilly. It took me a while to get it rigged up right and on most casts still leaned slightly to the belly side of the hook. Sometimes it would swim on its side. Never got a single bite with it, but the hook up ratio seemed like it would be an issue. I have an HD color Gilly and it smelled like nail polish out of the pack. Overall I was disappointed with this bait. Especially considering the hype around it. Going to check out the sleeper gill when I can. Thanks for the videos and your honest opinion.
I used a exacto knife and went through the hole in the top of the gilly and made a bigger opening. I shoved a tube Jig through the top and forced the jig eye out between the eyes of the gilly. A nail weight in the belly, and the gilly is a murderer. Take your time and don't cut too deep. I really think this is the best way I have tried to rig the things. They swim and look to good for me to give up on them.
I am using the large 120s.
Try the Gilly on a HigFarmer Trispin
Great review and as always, honest. Steve, I am rigging the Gilly with a line thru. See Matt Stefan utube titled “Pro Tip: Line Thru Swimbaits”. A bit extra rigging, but really works well for me here in Iowa/ MN! Fish well!!
Good stuff Steve 🍻.
I had recently seen a video about cutting 2 flukes and reattaching the part's together using a lighter. Kind of a crude welding technique. Anyhow when I saw your 2 sleeper gills without tails, I thought it would be great to try attaching a tail from a different boot tail swim bait to your Sleeper Gill. Maybe a search for modifying flukes to find the video...jimi
This is an issue with the Sleeper Gill and the tails. I had two just this weekend that didn't make two bass, and truthfully it irritated me. The baits catch fish, but they break down SO FAST. Might be something I should look into. Cheers!! Thanks for the help.
Congrats on 10k subs buddy!! Great work. Keep it up, thank you for all the information!! Have a great weekend my friend!!
I'll have to go with the sleeper gill but it is a Megabass after all. Bad hook up ratios ruin a good looking bait every time. Thanks for sharing Prost
Love this comparison!!! The gilly wants to swim on its side some unless you have the hook at that diagonal side position, with very little meat left in the nose. I was gonna try the gill with a light weight, heard it swims better. The painted gillys smell like paint and it will rub off...I just get annoyed with and fish something else!
Thanks for this great review!
The thought of losing the tail on a $10 lure after 6 strikes made me pick the Berkley Gilly. At least you have 3 more lures if one breaks (on the 90mm version).
Considering what you said about the hook up ratio I’ll probably rig the Gilly on a dropshot or a jighead leaving the tip of the hook apparent. It won’t be weedless but the sleeper isn’t either from what you said.
As Japanese brands often do, Megabass will probably improve the product for next season. Lol they didn’t do that for Dark Sleeper’s eyes though…
Chkilou, the Sleeper Gill is AMAZING. I should own stock in JUST THAT LURE!! LOL Hopefully they continue to improve it. Cheers and thanks for the comment.
Thetes a great video on here some lady rigs the GILLY a cool way where hookups are great and swims straight
I'm new to central Florida AND new to fishing. I have been out about 20 times this month and have caught nothing. HELP!
Carrie, where in Central Florida are you? Im in Apopka. Every retention pond will have bass in em. However with all the rain we have been getting, things have been tough for me also recently. Message me back and lets see if I can help more. Cheers!!
I'm back. Got my membership back. Oh I love this video. Thank you
#takeakidfishing
Welcome back bro. I’m trying to do more of these versus. The animation was the biggest challenge, but I think it adds a good bonus. Cheers
They never calmed this to be weedless 😊😂
10$$$????? Outrageous
Thanks for the comment, Cheers!!
You know I don't think you're comparing the right to lewers. I find that the Mega bass lawyer is really more of a search bait for deep water and you shut yourself the gilliest days in the top of the. Water column once think you're comparing the right to lures. I don't think you're going to compare the height of each slower but you're really not getting down to the meat of it because they're not. At the same they're not meant to be used the same
I think they both suck on big pressured lakes. Farm ponds and private ponds of course they do well.
My pressured Lakr the sleeper did good, but I think I hit a bluegill spawn. The hill is really good I think.
The Gilly has been a useless in my boat and I gave them away. Terrible hookup ratio, tears easily, runs terrible, took me several types of wire hooks to get it to run correctly. The Megabass has had good success on bed fish and specifically great on isolated rock piles deep. Yes the tail gets torn but the repair is easy. I have 6-7 at all times. If you catch fish on them, you will buy them. The Gilly is a cheap knockoff that won Icast because it was arranged that way, just like this year. The Flag knockoff.
The gilly just needs rigged the right way
I own them both and they both suck. The Sleeper Gill swims super shitty and the Berkley rarely runs right. Don't waste your money on either.
Greg, this surprises me. The Sleeper Gill has been great for me, but I understand and respect your opinion. Cheers!!