Hey Debo! You mentioned that you don't see soft plastics in Bone color very often... I noticed that as well and figured out how to turn white (or pearl) soft plastics into bone. Just soak them in coffee in a jar or Tupperware container. I even add old coffee grounds right to the jar. Check the color daily. I find you get a nice bone color after about 3 days, of course you could go longer or shorter depending how much you want to darken the bait. The cool thing is, you really can't screw it up.
The biggest issue with anglers not liking the dark sleeper is they use it like a swimbait. You MUST fish it like a football jig. In and around grass as well it kills.
Dude I’m really glad you mentioned the Gilly. I was so sure it would be a major weapon for me in 2022 that I bought it in all sizes and patterns. Fished it several different ways in 4 states and 2 regions of the country and I caught one, *maybe* two small bass. I won’t get rid of my few remaining Gillys but I certainly won’t be buying any more, either.
The minimax has been fantastic for me this year. It's produced for more than the regular sized chatterbaits for me! And the 13 fishing poppy McPopface was the best topwater for me. Chugs great and walks even better! Thanks for all you do debo!
sucks i missed your live stream tonight but keep the videbos comin' in 2023. When i started fishing in 2020 you were one of the first channels I found and after countless hours finding new channels and videos, you're one of the only few that I still watch regularly
Wow thanks for the shout out Debo I spit my soda out when I heard my name lol tell dizzle me and my brother Wizzle says hello and good luck in your alls future endeavors!! We will be watching
Popper, small spook, tx rig finesse worm and Ned craw or TRD were top producers for me this year. I’m glad you make this video so I know what not to buy! Thanks Debo!
Thanks for the in depth breakdown as usual. Good stuff. Also you make me super nervous when you start scratching your nose while holding a 3 treble jerk bait.
Debo, a buzzbait that will NEVER roll n always runs right! The BLUE ROCK CUSTOMS, about a month wait simple buzzbait but been throwing them for years n never ever messes up
The dark sleeper was really good this year for me. The mini max was also really awesome. In 2023 I want to focus on shaky heads and cranking. Also I finally have gotten some 6th sense plastics. Idk why I haven’t already tried them but the ridge worm and the shaky worm looked really good to me. Also the new crube.
The berkley choppo 75 and strike king ned ocho were my best this year going after smallies. Smaller profile and the ned was the perfect follow up bait on my river. Good video as always man.
Another great vid. This info helps someone like me who is still learning what to use and when to use it. Ordered some War eagle jigs because of some of your past videos and I can't wait for the warmer weather.
I agree 100% my Friend and I picked up the little Storm Fish and threw those at least a dozen different outings and not even a strike lol and I have no idea why, they look like Real Fish. Great breakdown Devon stay safe my friend Semper Fidelis
My favorite/best 2022 lure was the Beast Coast Vanquish flipping jig! Especially around docks! Also, I had the same problem with the molix frog and the tail coming off! Great plopping sound, but for what it costs I was upset it didn't hold up!
This is another one of your VERY entertaining videos that I've been watching and enjoyed this whole of 2022. I'll be waiting/anticipating for more of your videos for 2023 !! Well done DEBO ! Have another good "phissing" 🤣 year ahead. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!🤗👍👍
My wife saw you holding baits up to the camera and said you must get manicures with those nice looking fingernails! Love the year end review and looking forward to a few ice adventures!
Awesome video as always Debo your my hero. I very much agree with most of your picks I had high hopes for the flapping frog as well if they did fix that weight issue it'll be awesome
You have always been unbiased in your reviews its much appreciated, like the positive reviews you do but putting the baits that catch fishermen and not fish is also a needed. Thank You Sir for all you do
Thanks for another year of great vids! One of the most entertaining fishing channels out there. My best find this year was Big Bite Baits. Love their soft plastics for many techniques.
Still have yet to catch anything on a frog. The Googan Rattlin Ned in black has been absolute fire this fall/winter and of course the R2S Whopper Plopper 90 is still undefeated for me. Agree 100% with the 10,000 fish Head Hunter and the Berkley Gilly. I cannot get the Gilly to swim straight even after using the same exact setup Ike did in his videos. Great video Debo! Happy New Year!
yea the Gilly bait I've had nothing but luck with it. I don't see that ever going away, maybe modified a bit with the tail, or making a split belly version, but that gets hit more than senko's for me.
Caught a 7.5lb smallie on the 10,000 Fish Headhunter this year, so really liked it a lot. That said, one fish, and I had to get the super glue out to put it back together. I had no trouble at all dragging it through weeds, and for fishing gin clear, relatively deep (25ft +) great lakes water, it did well. But yeah, durability is an issue.
My best and worst was the 1st Gen topspin. That thing gets bit and is perfect for the pond I fish that is leafy mucky bottom. But was my worst because of poor hook up ratio. The crimped loop on the wire was just the right length that the hook could go into it and become the ultimate weed / hook up guard. I wish the wire length was a tad longer to prevent that.
That was a great video!!! I learned some new things and I got some reinforcement on baits and things that I already have. I really liked watching it. Thanks 👍🎣 Happy New Year
Wow man, the Berkeley gilly has done me pretty good. I rig it various ways and i actually caught my biggest bass of last year on a black/blue side righed gilly 110
Love these best and worst ! Hate the fact that you’re spot on with the flapping frog from Spro . So bummed how the weight just popped out after a few casts . I’ll definitely try again seeing how they said the problem was fixed . Now I just need this stupid winter crap to be done ! Happy New Year
YES!!! I was looking forward to this and was going through withdrawal. By far my most productive lure was the Texas rigged 6th Sense Divine swimbait in Gilldust and Bluegill Fire. Great bait AND durable!
I hear you. The Berkeley Gilly didnt catch fish for me. Side hooked I got bass but a bad hook up ratio. I love the Sleeper Gill. Fish it more like a Flippin jig than a swimbait. Definitely isn't weedless but I caught a ton of big bass in 3 to 5 of water around stumps, isolated big rock , submerged bush. Really caught alot on lay downs in super shallow water during high tide on a river too
The sleeper gill could use some 1/2 oz because I use them as swimbait for striper and they smack em. Although I know it’s suppose to be a bottom bait lol. The hook don’t tend to stay inside between the plastic fin when casting which is annoying sometime. Also the the tail can get deform if you don’t put them back in their cartridge they came with. Price is somehow okay to expensive to some people but I have other option I can go with which is more durable and better.
Glad I am not the only one that hasn’t had much success throwing the new Berkley Gilly. Looks great, just doesn’t catch many. BassFishingHQ loved the Jackall Bounty fish. Haven’t tried it, but agree with you, it seems like you can do the same stuff with a 6-7 inch sized super fluke.
Spro flapping frog was actually one of my best lures this year. My best frog for sure. I didn’t have any issues with it melting. Yes the weight did fall out and it impacted my casting distance.
Problem with dark sleeper is the durability. After banging it on rocks for a few minutes, the nose rips up and the weighted hook pops out. I have tried mend it to patch it up a few times, but every time the plastic just rips open. With the 10000 fish head hunter, you miss so many fish on the hook set.
Got a couple of the 1st gen top spins back in June after seeing it in one of your unboxing videos, really liked it, going to have to try the 1st gen swim jig. I also liked the z-man smh wormz, as I started to get into the z-man elaztech plastics this summer for the added durability. Catch you tomorrow for the New Year's w Debo live bash!
The gillie is a good lure you just gotta find the right times and situations to fish it in. Also I think match the hatch is huge with that bait. Check our your local bluegills and match them. Good for sight fishing as well. But thats the beauty if fishing. So many nuances and each different styles if fishing. We all have our preferences. I agree with the rest if em.
Being a fellow Frog Fisherman, my absolute favorite lure in 2022 has been the 'Dangle Frog', it's out of Japan, and I was introduced to it by Skunkmaster Fishing. They cast like a rocket, and have the best hook up ratio of any frog I've ever fished.
Thanks for a great 2022 Debo! Really liked the video. I was bummed to hear the headhunter did not do well for you. It has always been a solid one for me. It does get dinged up, but has caught my confidence over the last 2 years.
The Sleeper line always produces for me, but there are just some baits that won't work in every condition. I don't know about Iowa. I fish in Florida, so we're talking about different species of bass (or close to it) and completely different environments, so I'm not surprised that something that works very well for me may not work as well for you. For me, the Dark Sleeper was one of the better baits I used this year.
I was wondering on the Molix Supernato Frog if you couldn't repair the missing legs by using a cut down beaver trailer and put some super glue on it to make it hold better. You might even be able to reuse a beaver trailer that has been torn up on the front for this to save money. Though I agree, I never like it when a bait falls apart like this after only a few casts.
Love a buzzbait. I use the Booyah, haven't tried the Picasso. I will now. Same for me on the Spro flappin frog, losing the weight underneath. Hopefully they did fix it. Thanks for the video Debo. ✌🏻😎🎣
Same with the gilly, I was really excited about it, but didn’t get bit I am going to try more of a finess approach during the spawn on a drop shot. I saw a vid that someone put a plug into the top open portion of the bait to get it to float and fish it like a wake bait almost so I’ll give that a try too. Honestly I think I need to fish it deeper than I did or shallower than I did. But going to give it a shot this coming season.
