I get a lot of bites on this bait but too many jump off. Many of the ones I land are just barely hooked. I bend the hook out a little ways but does not help. I think a larger hook along with a larger fin would help but I have no control over how the bait is built.

I use a stiff rod and jack 'em hard but still have the problem.

What are your experiences with this bait?

Has anyone fixed a stinger hook to this lure?

Thank you for any input!

It's more of a cold water bait for me and they don't jump as much then. Would a more moderate rod help keep them pinned? Also they remind me a bit of a swim jig. My swim jig hookset is to keep reeling and sweep set. Wondering if any of the knock offs have a bigger hook?

I use the Savage knock off and cut the fin away, that split fin is ok when dealing with grass and wood but sucks for hooksets. My son & I crushed the crappie this past spring on them.. but we had to modify the bait.

I fish the Dark Sleeper on a regular basis and really don't miss too many fish on it. I basically treat it like a jig and not like a swimbait. The only time I've noticed myself missing fish is when I first started using them and I was using straight braid for line. I found fluorocarbon to have enough give to help keep the fish pinned.

I do think you need to pay attention to the fin that covers the hook. They are snag magnets around rock as well. Its like the chunk rocks in my lakes eat them. Also, the last batch I ordered sort of fell apart after a day of use. They were not used in cover or rock, just soft bottom mud. Maybe it was the freezing cold water. In any case, they definitely are fish catchers.

I also use the Savage Gear version and have a better hookup ratio with them, but the last one I bought got destroyed the first fish I caught with it and that really turned me off to buying more. I'm planning on getting a few of the Gobius swimbaits and seeing how they do. I'm assuming the softer bait will get better hookups and should be much more durable.

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I'm planning on getting a few of the Gobius swimbaits and seeing how they do.

A friend is happy with how they perform/get bit. I want to try them too but still have 2 dark sleepers and 6 knock offs to lose.

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I also use the Savage Gear version and have a better hookup ratio with them, but the last one I bought got destroyed the first fish I caught with it and that really turned me off to buying more. I'm planning on getting a few of the Gobius swimbaits and seeing how they do. I'm assuming the softer bait will get better hookups and should be much more durable.

I've tried the Savage Gear version and they did not hold up for me either. I like the Gobius though. I can't say it holds up better than the Dark Sleeper. It does catch fish equally but I find hook ups can be more difficult with the elastomer. The hook gets caught in the plastic and is a pain to deal with sometimes. The one on the bottom is a Gobius that probably had 100 fish on it before it finally gave in.

10 minutes ago, FishTank said:

The one on the bottom is a Gobius that probably had 100 fish on it before it finally gave in.

What's on the top? Looks like something I would want to try for trout.

8 minutes ago, Kev-mo said:

What's on the top? Looks like something I would want to try for trout.

Its a trout bait. Its the Bassday Mononofu 50s. I use it for smallmouth but it catches everything. Its one of my top producing baits. Be prepared to change hooks often. I fish it on BFS gear with 5 or 6lb Sunline Invisible FC.

8 minutes ago, FishTank said:

Its a trout bait. Its the Bassday Mononofu 50s. I use it for smallmouth but it catches everything. Its one of top producing baits. Be prepared to change hooks often. I fish it on BFS gear with 5 or 6lb Sunline Invisible FC.

Thanks, those are on my list to try for trout and smallmouth.

Sorry Lottabass, back to topic.

On 1/27/2026 at 10:51 AM, Kev-mo said:

A friend is happy with how they perform/get bit. I want to try them too but still have 2 dark sleepers and 6 knock offs to lose.

On a smallie trip last summer, I did quite well on the Gobius and I didn't lose a single fish unlike the issues I have periodically had with Sleepers. I plan to use the Gobius over the Sleeper to start the year and see if this was an isolated incident or not. Caught some fantastic smallies on the Gobius by the way.