The big bait craze is charging full steam ahead in the bass fishing industry. Anglers are quickly learning that larger-than-average bass have a serious weak spot for large swimbaits and glide baits. As a result, we’re seeing some big-time offerings from major lure producers.
I’ve been testing the Lucky Craft Real Bluegill 150SS for almost a full year. It took me some time to become comfortable with this swimbait, but one I got the hang of it, I’ve had a tough time putting it down.
Below are my thoughts on it.
The rundown
The first thing most anglers will notice about the Lucky Craft Real Bluegill 150SS is its lifelike size and profile. It measures 5 7/8 inches long and weighs in at a hefty 2 5/8 ounces. It’s a chunker, so that means you’ll need some stout tackle for the job. I’ve found a 7-foot, 6-inch heavy-action casting rod and 20-pound monofilament line to be the most effective setup.
The color options are nothing short of impressive. Anglers have 8 colors from which to choose and they’re not all about the bluegill imitation, either. The Gizzard Shad and Pearl Threadfin colors are also really good looking.
This lure is designed with three double-jointed segments that are meant to produce a smooth and seductive S-shaped swimming action at all retrieve speeds. The soft rubber tail further adds to its realism and the treble hooks are incredibly sharp and sturdy.
In regards to price, I think the Real Bluegill 150SS is an incredibly well-priced swimbait. You can get one for $19.99 which, when compared to similar lures, is not unreasonable by any means.
My thoughts
Because of its sheer size and weight, you’re able to make some ridiculous casts with this lure. If you lob it much like you would an umbrella rig, you’ll be amazed by its distance. It does land a little heavy, but with a little practice you should be able to reduce its splash by executing a sidearm lob cast.
It looks awesome in the water. It sinks rather quickly, but that can be remedied by a faster retrieve speed. Whether you reel it slowly or quickly, its S-shaped swimming motion is incredibly fluid and lifelike. On a moderate retrieve, you can expect it to run near the 4 to 5-foot depth zone and on a fast retrieve with a high rod tip, you’ll actually be able to wake it just underneath the surface. This produces a great bulge and can be lights-out when you’re fishing the edges of submerged vegetation.
It sinks nose-first and as it comes to rest on the bottom, it usually sits upright. Although I haven’t tried it yet, I’m really curious to see how a big bedding bass would react to the Real Bluegill 150SS sitting in its nest.
The paint and clear coat have held up wonderfully throughout my testing, which should certainly be expected for a lure in the $20 price range. The joints operate smoothly and easily which has resulted in no ruined or wasted casts throughout my testing.
You shouldn’t feel the need to replace these trebles, either. They’re very sharp and I’ve caught several large bass on them without any flexing or bending. The rear treble hook will, on occasion, snag itself on the back joint of the lure, but I’d say it only happens about once out of every few dozen casts.
Final impressions
I’m just warning you: This swimbait is really addicting. I’ve been using it on all types of different fisheries and once you catch a big one on it, you’re going to have a hard time doing anything else.
The Lucky Craft Real Bluegill 150SS is available at TackleWarehouse.com.
