I have started to use this bait more often and have yet to figure out which set up works best for it. 

 

What have you guys been using?

Fished the 1/4 oz. the other day on my ML 6'4" Zodias spinning. The bait is very compact and casts well. Just used it briefly before I had to quit but caught a couple including one close to 3 lb. 

What size?

1 hour ago, Drew03cmc said:

What size?

1/2oz, 3/4oz, and 1oz.  I have yet to buy the other sizes.

2 minutes ago, FishTank said:

1/2oz, 3/4oz, and 1oz.  I have yet to buy the other sizes.

I'd use a MH casting setup with 15lb copolymer for those. 

I use a baitcaster 7' MH,  braid to 10lb floro.

I like the 1/2 and throw it on a 7' M, GLX MBR, but I am not convinced that it is better than any other small swimbait

In general, I find the 1/4 and 3/8 too light for most applications.  They tend to “float up” on retrieve.  I use 1/2 occasionally, 3/4 most of the time and occasionally the 1 oz.  3/4 oz is standard for me and I find even 13-14 inch fish absolutely choke it due to its compact size.  IMO, the heavier sizes stay in the strike zone much better.  
 

That said, my usual set up is a Megabass Braillist 7’5” MH, Fast action, 30 lb braid, on a Tatula SV. The Braillist is great when retrieving with bottom contact (lake flats, river channels for smb) and you can cast it a mile.  It also has the backbone when fishing in/around weeds - which I do a lot for both largemouth and walleye.  I use the Tatula SV because the DS actually skips well, under docks and overhangs, which I don’t do a lot with a 7’5” rod but it works when your going down a bank and the right piece of cover presents itself.  I use mostly braid but for clear water smallies I tie on a 10 lb YZH leader for invisibility.  
 

I did experiment some last year with the 1/2 and 3/4 oz DS on a Kistler H3 7’1” MH, XF, with Sufix Advance mono 8 lb and it worked well too.  

MH/Fast for 3/8 oz on up. 

7' Avid, medium power, fast action. It's such a good rod for these finesse swimbaits like the Dark sleeper and 3.3-3.8 Keitechs. 

I just bought the 2.4 inch, 1/4 oz Dark Sleeper. I was planning on throwing it on a 6'10" medium light spinning rod with 10 lb braid to a 5lb flourocarbon leader. Does anyone agree with the setup I am using or should I use something else?

I use the 3/8 small ones either on a BFS set up, or with a shallow spool reel. Without wind it casts decent. Skips off rocks without hanging up, but so far, nothing will touch them.

9 hours ago, Brian S said:

I just bought the 2.4 inch, 1/4 oz Dark Sleeper. I was planning on throwing it on a 6'10" medium light spinning rod with 10 lb braid to a 5lb flourocarbon leader. Does anyone agree with the setup I am using or should I use something else?

Sounds like a perfect setup other than the leader being too light. BTW I hope you bought more than one. The tails get bitten off sooner or later. Most of my Sleeper fishing is done with a tail spinner hack that I do.

I normally use 3/8 - 1/2oz and fish like jig or yo-yoing MH 6’10 or 7.1 XF. Line 10lb copolymer or 30lb braid, reel anything shimano to get the most out of distance.

So after posting this quite some  time ago, it has come back around......  

 

What I have been using...... 

1/2 Oz ones and up>  G loomis NRX 853C and an Antares 70A

Below 1/2 Oz > G loomis NRX 803S and a Shimano Vanquish 3000

 

I have had good luck fishing it like a jig but a little quicker. Not as much luck fishing it on a straight retrieve.

Since this post 2 years ago, I continue to throw the DS a fair amount. Still toss it in the middle/outer weed edge and let it bounce and swim down the water column In the vegetation - catch both largemouth and walleyes. The 3 inch (not 3.8) in 3/4 oz does this particularly well due to its weight yet compact size.
 

The other place it did really well for me last year was a flat with lots of broken/chunk rock scattered around in 7-11 fow.  That 3/4 oz gets down and the smaller 3 inch size stays along the bottom well with a medium speed, straight retrieve. As it bounced off the rocks it really got smashed by the largemouth. 
 

Still using the Orochi Braillist, excellent feeling the bottom and cover below... but I think any sensitive MH rod could work well.  When I use the 1 oz size I switch between the Braillist and ALX Zolo Dragger. 

I use 1/2 oz and throw it with a MegaBass OrochiXX SpecR.  Tatula Elite reel on 30 lb braid. 

I mainly throw the 3/4 oz size. Rod is a Tatula 7' mh/f. 

3.8" 3/4 -1 oz.  I throw it on a dobyns 734 or expride 7'6" MH with braid to leader.  Haven't come unbuttoned on any yet.  Drag and slow swim, bottom ticking are tied for presentation.   FYI the rocks destroy the face of that little bugger.  Mend it is a prerequisite.

 

scott

My issue is dull hooks on a number of sleepers I have. Got a new one out today and hook dull out of package. Dont know if you can see but that point is like snub-nosed no actual point wont even grab skin let alone my fingernail.

1 hour ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

My issue is dull hooks on a number of sleepers I have. Got a new one out today and hook dull out of package. Dont know if you can see but that point is like snub-nosed no actual point wont even grab skin let alone my fingernail.

I been sharpening all my hooks recently and with the sleepers, I sharpen them out of the package.  It’s a quick touch up to bring it to sticky sharpness.

Brailist is where it's at.   Lighter ones on 66mf Legend Xtreme spinning 

I fish the 1/2 ounce like a football jig on a  n Extreme 743C with 12 Invizex.

For the 3” and 3.8” I been using the ALX Toadface which is a 7’2” MH+.  For the 2.4” 3/8oz I been using the ALX Maestro which is a 7’ ML+.  Braid to leader for both.  

Has anyone used the Megabass P5 Destroyer Dark Sleeper for this bait?  Seems obvious but this might be one I might get if I can't get my hands on the X-Bites.