These things are ridiculous... 2024

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

Take a look at the newest Mattlure offering.....

Let the drooling commence!!!!!

http://www.mattlures.com/HardBass.htm

Raul reply :

Quote
Take a look at the newest Mattlure offering.....
Let the drooling commence!!!!!

http://www.mattlures.com/HardBass.htm

I am drooling !

EastMarkME reply :

A tad pricey huh ? Wow.

Very cool bait however.....

Mark

KYntucky Warmouth reply :

I take it they will be priced along the lines of the Perch so if you are wanting one, there's no better time

and might I add....

J-B reply :

Matt is always making me drool with his creations. If he keeps making lures that realistic, I will end up forgetting to fish and cook a lure and eat it instead.

-HAWK- reply :

Quote
A tad pricey huh ? Wow.
Very cool bait however.....

Mark

For the amount of detail that goes into these baits, the quality components, and incredible swimming action. I think these baits are a steal.

swimbait reply :

Quote

Quote
A tad pricey huh ? Wow.
Very cool bait however.....

Mark

For the amount of detail that goes into these baits, the quality components, and incredible swimming action. I think these baits are a steal.

Dan: reply :

Very nice looking baits but I'm still more impressed by the hardgills.

RoLo reply :

If I selected lures based on what appeals to ME, I'd only carry two or three lures in my box.

But I'm such a terrible judge of fish-appeal, that I need to carry a wide variety of lures :-[

Roger

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

Quote
A tad pricey huh ? Wow.
Very cool bait however.....

Mark

Hell, that's nothing. To me, $50 is practically giving these things away.

Hold one and use it. You'll quickly see it's worth the investment.

Marc David reply :

The price isn't bad once you see the action and detail yourself. His baits are incredible. 8-)

bassmasterb007 reply :

Man if I lost one of those I would have to break out the scuba gear!

J-B reply :

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Man if I lost one of those I would have to break out the scuba gear!

Almost did that with my hardgill. I got it hung on a tree out in the middle of lake weiss. I took a swim to get it back.

Branuss04 reply :

Quote

Quote
A tad pricey huh ? Wow.
Very cool bait however.....

Mark

Hell, that's nothing. To me, $50 is practically giving these things away.

Hold one and use it. You'll quickly see it's worth the investment.

$50 for that bait is a steal. He sent me an email this morning about it and I had to re-read the price . I must resist the urge though!!!

Big Tom reply :

Those baits are amazing. Matt, I have always been impressed with your work.

swimbait reply :

Matt has always made quality baits but I have to say the release of the Hard Gill and now the Hard Bass have just pushed him over the top. Well done Matt!!!

rubba bubba reply :

They sure look awesome but I'm not sure why people would tout the action and appearance as the selling point. Their ability to catch fish should be the focus and if they do that well, that will justify the cost, not the action and looks.

Dan: reply :

Quote
They sure look awesome but I'm not sure why people would tout the action and appearance as the selling point. Their ability to catch fish should be the focus and if they do that well, that will justify the cost, not the action and looks.

But action and looks are inherent parts of a bait's ability to catch fish.

RoLo reply :

Quote
They sure look awesome but I'm not sure why people would tout the action and appearance as the selling point. Their ability to catch fish should be the focus and if they do that well, that will justify the cost, not the action and looks.

Amen.

Bass strike lures that appeal to bass, whether or not they appeal to fishermen.

Remember how long it took anglers to accept the slug-go, the gitzit and the senko?

Roger

mrlitetackle reply :

now those look sick!!!!

i have 2 hardgills, and may have to just add one of those to the arsenal as well!!!! ;D ;D ;D

Mattlures reply :

Thanks for the kind words fellas. I would not sell a bait that I hadnt tested and have caught fish, BIG fish. They get bit.

Maico1 reply :

Got my e-mail and ordered a light and a dark yesterday...Can not wait to try them out.

looking4structure reply :

WOW Those are the most realistic baits I've ever seen.Matt has some real talent.

rubba bubba reply :

Quote
But action and looks are inherent parts of a bait's ability to catch fish.

More than 1 lure has looked and behaved beautifully and hasn't worked for squat. More than 1 lure looked and behaved like crap (to us) and works wonderfully. I'm not buying a $50 lure because it looks and moves great, I'm buying it because it's going to catch fish in a manner well exceeding average baits (which are less expensive).

By no means am I saying Mattlures swimbaits do NOT work, I'm just saying people should be touting how well they catch fish, not how well they look to us. I haven't used them so I can't speak to that, but so many others here have used them that I would expect the fish stories to just roll in (like they do for the RageTail fans).

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

Quote

Quote
But action and looks are inherent parts of a bait's ability to catch fish.

More than 1 lure has looked and behaved beautifully and hasn't worked for squat. More than 1 lure looked and behaved like crap (to us) and works wonderfully. I'm not buying a $50 lure because it looks and moves great, I'm buying it because it's going to catch fish in a manner well exceeding average baits (which are less expensive).

By no means am I saying Mattlures swimbaits do NOT work, I'm just saying people should be touting how well they catch fish, not how well they look to us. I haven't used them so I can't speak to that, but so many others here have used them that I would expect the fish stories to just roll in (like they do for the RageTail fans).

I am basing my thoughts on the fact of using other products from Matt. I havent purchased a bait of his that hasnt produced. Before purchasing, I asked people I trust if they believed in the bait. Their confidence gave me the confidence to try it. My personal experiences with the baits are why I keep buying from him.

Obviously, there is a big difference between a Mattlures swimbait and (using your example) the Rage Tail baits. Admittedly, the price of the swimbait brings some exclusivity with it. Many more people are willing to shell out 6 dollars for something that is small enough to appeal to ANY bass in the lake, large or small. Comparatively, not many people are willing to spend 50 dollars on one bait.

Likely that is the reason why you hear so many stories about the Rage products, there are simply that many more people using them.

Honestly, for my sake, I hope no one throws swimbaits ever. For Matt and all the other bait makers, I hope the exact opposite.

Dan: reply :

Quote

Quote
But action and looks are inherent parts of a bait's ability to catch fish.

More than 1 lure has looked and behaved beautifully and hasn't worked for squat. More than 1 lure looked and behaved like crap (to us) and works wonderfully. I'm not buying a $50 lure because it looks and moves great, I'm buying it because it's going to catch fish in a manner well exceeding average baits (which are less expensive).

By no means am I saying Mattlures swimbaits do NOT work, I'm just saying people should be touting how well they catch fish, not how well they look to us. I haven't used them so I can't speak to that, but so many others here have used them that I would expect the fish stories to just roll in (like they do for the RageTail fans).

Yeah, I get what you're saying, the banjo minnow looked great too...but I do not think that a life-like paint job is ever a bad thing. The thing that most impresses me is the craftsmanship involved in making each bait so realistic. The finishes on his baits are probably the most realistic on the market. A bait that looks EXACTLY like what bass feed on (color/patterns) is ALWAYS a good thing.

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

I know that if I am deadsticking a bait, there really is no action to speak of.

Especially in that instance, I want something that is as realistic as a living fish.

The bottom line is this....try it or dont. If you do try it and find that the bait is not for you, you can quickly sell it to someone else with little or no loss on your part.

Cant beat that IMO.

Raul reply :

In my mind I don 't think of Matt Servant as a businessman, I think of him as one of the guys that took his hobby ( fishing ) into another level ( manufacturing ) first for him and then for his kind ( we fishermen ), in my mind I don 't view him as a dimes/nickles/dollars man, but as someone who is passionate about what he does and that is not going to try to sell me one of his baits if they have not have passed his quality control and his quality control is in him, the bait don 't work ---> he don 't make it and sells it.

I do sincerely hope that Matt grows his small company into a tackle emporium just like Gary Yamamoto did while mainitning the same commitment to excellence he already has. So far for me every single Matt 's bait I 've tried has worked one time or another.

So Matt, when are you going to manufacture them weedless baits I 've been asking for ? > I 'd better give my money to you than to Kenny.

fishinflip415 reply :

Compared to other swimbait makers matts prices are a STEAL.....! When u buy a handcrafted bait that has so much work and research and developement put into it ur not paying for just the materials. Ur paying for all the hardwork put into it. I always thought that matts prices been really reasonable. I understand that some people say that $50 for a bait is just outrageous. But in the swimbait market for a custom bait like matts that is actually cheap. Some baits go for $200+. Swimbaiting isn't for everyone but for those that are into it know that matt just made a big statement with the quality and price of his new hard bass. So I have to give credit where credit is due and give matt a big WELL DONE.!!! 8-)

Mottfia reply :

Beautiful baits, Matt. When i get out of college and get my income going I'm going in invest into your baits. Keep it up

Mottfia

Mattlures reply :

Thanks again guys. I designed my swimbaits for targeting big bass, and I use them to target the biggest bass in the lake. Of course by doing this I do not catch tons of fish but I have caught monsters. If you want to catch numbers by all means buy some Ragetail baits.Actualy you should buy them anyways. They are awsome. I use them myself and I catch fish on them. For me I use my swimbaits to target trophies and use soft plastics to target a lot of bites. Yes they can get a big bite too but I use them to get me a lot of bites. Different tools for differnt jobs. Every single bait made will catch a fish if you fish it long enough. when I test my baits I make sure they get the right kind of bites, BIG bites. I will not sell a bait that does not do its job. I am not a salesman and I dont hype things up. I just make my baits and then offer them for sale. I do not advertise or spam websites, its just not my stlye.

Raul thanks for the props, however I dont want to grow my buisiness into a huge company. Too many headaches. Right now its just big enough that I am content. AS far as a weedless bait goes I will get to that. what would you like to see as far as stlye and species?

Lastley to some $50 is a good deal and to others its too much for a lure. I understand and this is a whole other subject that has been debated over and over. Quality vs quantity, you get what you pay for etc. I make specialized tools for specific aplications and they work.

I set my prices as low as I can and still make it worth my time. There have been times I could have gouged my customers for a little more $ but I would rather not do that. I try to make them affordable enough so that as many fisherman as possible can have them if they choose to.

PS. I seriously do recomend the rage baits. My favorites are the Shad and the Anaconda.

swimbait reply :

Keep em comin Matt!

Raul reply :

Quote
AS far as a weedless bait goes I will get to that. what would you like to see as far as stlye and species?

Wow ! I can 't believe my eyes , I 'm actually reading Matt is gonna try make us weedless baits for us guys that thankfully but unfortunately have to deal with them mesquite trees ( where throwing ax exposed hook bait is asking for trubble ).

Ok Matt, for some time I 've fished you Mattlures Minnow ( cuz I can fish it with a weedless rig ) problem is that 4 inches is too small, any self respecting 1 pound bass not only feels encouraged by it but also is capable of swallowing it, a bigger version ( 5-6" ) would be nice; why would I purchase a Yum Money Minnow if I can purchase with a Mattlures Minnow made by my good friend Matt ?

I 'm not going to say, go ahead and make hollow baits like Kenny 's weedless trout cuz I know making thoese needs a big investment, but I don 't know .... maybe adding a weedguard to the BG and BB can do the trick of making it weedless enough for us who fish heavy cover.

Unfortunately I don 't fish those two baits much because of that ( heavy cover ), I wish I could fish them a lot more, I know they produce because I 've fished with them where cover is not a problem with good results, but then, I only go to those places infrequently so the BG and the BB are kept dry for months.

dan1942 reply :

I think I might have to order one. The detail is amazing!

repper reply :

As an owner of a Mattlures hard bluegill(floating) I would like to say that this lure catches fish! And a bass does not have to be a monster to think it can eat this lure. so don't think you are fishing for only 7 or 8 pounders and bigger with this lure because I've had 3 pounders hit it many times. And as for the price: lure-$50.00 Look on my 25 year old son's face when a 7lb bass blew up on his deadsticked bluegill-priceless. That was at clearlake this last July. Awesome.

Randall reply :

I can tell you the Hard Bass catches fish. I have been throwing it and Triton Mike's Bull Shad almost every day for the past couple of months. Most days I am catching five to twenty swimbait fish a day. Best five going twenty five to thirty pounds on many days. I don 't post too often about it and post as many photos as I could because I fish small lakes that fill up real quick with guys throwing the same baits when the bite is as good as it is.

rubba bubba reply :

Quote
Thanks again guys. I designed my swimbaits for targeting big bass, and I use them to target the biggest bass in the lake. Of course by doing this I do not catch tons of fish but I have caught monsters. If you want to catch numbers by all means buy some Ragetail baits.Actualy you should buy them anyways. They are awsome. I use them myself and I catch fish on them.

Sigh.

I'm going to say this in a different way - when someone questioned the price thinking that it was high, the only replies supporting the price tag were those posts saying the detail and action are second to none. That will never work with 98% of the people who fish because what's important is how well it catches fish. Not 1 person on the entire 1st page of posts responded to how well it catches fish.

The comparison to RageTail wasn't about Mattlures vs. RageTail fish catching ability, it was comparing the differences between the people who post in support of each product as both products are considered pricey in their market. However the RageTail posters frequently point out what's most important - how well they catch fish; and in particular compared against the other plastics that are cheaper.

I'd plop $50, $100, or $200 if the lure caught fish in an exceptional manner. I'm not plopping down $10 or $1 if it's just a beautiful lure.

One more time: it's not about the Mattlures vs. RageTail lures. The comparison had NOTHING to do with the lures but the posters. Look at the posts by Randall and Repper - those are the posts that people debating whether it's worth $50 need to see; it just took 3 pages of posts to get to them.

VAfishin4me reply :

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Man if I lost one of those I would have to break out the scuba gear!

Haha, these look so realistic a bass might swallow it before you can find it ;D

Mattlures reply :

rubba bubba Ok there is a differnce between real swimbaits and other baits when it comes to correct detail, color and action. The guys that fish with swimbait and catch fish understand this and that is why they would buy an expencie bait based on what they see. Let me explain.

An expensive crankbait with a beautiful and possibly realistic finish is not realistic. It doesnt swim like a real fish and in most cases it isnt shapped like a real fish. They dont have fins and other details that fool the bass into thinking they are eating a reay prey fish. Bass eat them out of a reaction. This is the same thing with just about all hard baits. The difference with a good (ususly expencive) swimbait is that it actualy looks like a real fish, swims like a real fish and the color patern is accuratley represnting the prey species that it is supossed to be. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO when you see a good swimbait that looks like a real fish and swims like a real fish with the proper coloration it will get bit. It will produce. The guys who consistantly catch fish on swimbait know this. This is why they can look at pics and see some video and have instant confidence knowing the bait catches fish. The first time I saw a Hudd and threw it out I knew it was going to be a great producer. I just knew PERIOD! Big bass are fish eaters. If they are feeding on trout or gills or shad and you give them a bait that REALY matches those prey species you will get bit. Again a crankbait painted like a trout doesnt even come close to matching a trout. A spinnerbait, or jig, or crankbait, or plastic worm in "bluegill" color, doesnt even come close to matching a real gill. You can take the best photo finish and put it on a crank bait but its still a reaction bait. Most swimbaits are fished slowly. they fish get a real good look at the bait before they eat it. The more realistic it is the better chance that fish is going to eat it. I have caught several GIANT bass deadsticking a floating swimbait. I do nothing but moniter my slack. The baits sit and bob and swim in the slightest ripple. I have wittnesses huge bass come right up under the baits and sink back down several times only to absolutly crush it after another 5 minutes of it sitting there doing nothing. The realism of the bait caught those fish.

rubba bubba when you make a comparrison between real swimbaits and other types of baits you are comparring apples to oranges. It doesnt work the same.

now the general argument is well, I caught a 5lber on a storm bait or paddle tube so matt's realism theory is wrong. Of course this is just stupid. Its like saying I dont need a hammer to hit in these nails, I can do it with a rock. Yes a rock will hit in the nails but the hammer will do a much better job.

rubba bubba reply :

Quote

rubba bubba when you make a comparrison between real swimbaits and other types of baits you are comparring apples to oranges. It doesnt work the same.

This is where we keep getting disconnected. I was not comparing *anything*. I was suggesting that the posters who were supporting your lure and your price speak to it's ability to catch fish, not it's appearance. That is ALL that I was saying. I'm not sure why this is so hard to grasp?

I think your lures rock, but I'm not going to convince my buds to get one because it's beautiful, I'm going to sell them on how well it produces and thus justifies the (perceived) high cost. Why do you keep reading my posts and think I'm comparing your lure to other lures?

The great irony help is I was trying to help defend the product and it's pricing.

-HAWK- reply :

Quote

Quote

rubba bubba when you make a comparrison between real swimbaits and other types of baits you are comparring apples to oranges. It doesnt work the same.

This is where we keep getting disconnected. I was not comparing *anything*. I was suggesting that the posters who were supporting your lure and your price speak to it's ability to catch fish, not it's appearance. That is ALL that I was saying. I'm not sure why this is so hard to grasp?

I think your lures rock, but I'm not going to convince my buds to get one because it's beautiful, I'm going to sell them on how well it produces and thus justifies the (perceived) high cost. Why do you keep reading my posts and think I'm comparing your lure to other lures?

Rubba Bubba.. You are missing the point here. When people are justifying the cost of these lures by commenting on its incredible action and realistic looks. Those are some of the MOST important things swimbaiters are looking for in a swimbait. If a bait excels in those areas then it WILL catch fish.

rubba bubba reply :

Quote

Rubba Bubba.. You are missing the point here. When people are justifying the cost of these lures by commenting on its incredible action and realistic looks. Those are some of the MOST important things swimbaiters are looking for in a swimbait. If a bait excels in those areas then it WILL catch fish.

I can't disagree with this more. There are more than a few posters on here who do indeed focus on the action and it's looks as a selling point, however the VAST majority of anglers do not fall into that category. The people questioning the $50 price aren't people who know swimbaits inside and out, and are focusing on the realism. Those are people who have never fished a high end swimbait before and so have yet to be convinced that it will outperform in relation to its higher price.

You look at any one poster questioning the price and you find 1, just 1, who is clearly a hard swimbait skilled angler. You can't. These are people who are inexperienced to high end swimbaits and so they need to be approached on what's important to them.

Those who are skilled swimbait anglers are already on board with Matt, his products and his pricing.

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

Sooooo, in summation.... ;D

Matt's baits catch fish.

If you dont want to buy one, find a buddy that has one and take it while he isnt looking.

When I have the baits in hand (and then fish on the line), I will get pics up. There are a couple more weekends before hunting season starts, so I will have some time to throw them this year.

Rubba bubba, it's all good man. 8-)

tyrius. reply :

Quote
This is where we keep getting disconnected. I was not comparing *anything*. I was suggesting that the posters who were supporting your lure and your price speak to it's ability to catch fish, not it's appearance. That is ALL that I was saying. I'm not sure why this is so hard to grasp?

What you're not getting is that this lure is BRAND NEW!!! Not many people have even had an opportunity to fish it. Matt's other baits are great (soft gills, hard gills, soft baby bass, etc), therefore one can expect that this new bait will perform as well as all of Matt's other baits.

Many of the people posting on this thread have likely already ordered one and will fish it as soon as they get it.

Mattlures reply :

Rubba Bubba your not getting it. I get what your saying loud and clear.

My point and many others point which you keep missing is that with a swimbait especialy, and even other baits to, is that you CAN judge a bait by its realism and action. ANYBODY who is seasoned in a certian technique can look at a wall of lures and pick out good ones even if he hasnt fished them yet. I gauantee KVD can judge a spinnerbait based on itc components. I am sure a ggod jig man can look at a bunch of jigs and tell you why one is better than another.

This new unproven to you swimbait incorperates proven designs. The 2 joint lippless swimbait is a proven fish catcher. The bait being realisticly correct only enhances it. AND the last point that you keep forgetting is that even though YOU dont know it will catch fish, I DO KNOW that it already has. Plus my customers know that I take the time to make sure my baits get bit and get the right bites. If I make something and I cant catch big fish on it then it dies. If my my friends cant get bit on it then I change it untill they do.

Your entire point was that you and others would not be willing to pay a premium bassed on the cosmetcs and action of a bait. You want to hear from guys who have fished it. WELL if I release something then it has been tested and it does its job.

tyrius is also absolutley correct. I just released this bait. I only have about 5 of these out there being tested so your not going to hear much about them catching fish yet.

Look I understad being scepticle. I am also that way. I do not buy gimmiks and there are definatley things I will not buy untill I have heard that they perfrom like they are supossed to. But when it comes to fishing lures I can pick out a lure based on how it looks in the hand and in the water and know it will produce. Maybe its because I have been fishing for 30 years ? I can honestly say that I have not been wrong when I thought a bait would produce in the last 10 years. Now I have been wrong a couple times when I thought something wouldnt work and it did. For me thats when I rely on reveiws from others.

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

This seems like one of those discussions that would be more easily understood (on both sides) in a face to face conversation.

There is so much lost in communication through typed messages. Points and tone are often misconstrued, as seems to be the case here.

Like I said before. Buy it or not. Those are the two choices that every fisherman has to make.

Hopefully mine come sooner rather than later...

Mattlures reply :

SPEEDBEAD. you are totaly right. I am not upset or defensive but you might not know that from reading my posts. I understand Rubba's point and it is a valid point. However I do disagree with it in this instance. If it was some completly new unproven idea then I would agree with him.

.ghoti. reply :

Quote

If I selected lures based on what appeals to ME, I'd only carry two or three lures in my box.

But I'm such a terrible judge of fish-appeal, that I need to carry a wide variety of lures :-[

Roger

Ah, Roger. I knew you were a sharp guy. You just diagnosed my illness from 2000 miles away. ;D ;D

Now, about the long-term prognosis; is there any hope for a cure?

fishfordollars reply :

Sick!

Reaching for the debit card!

rubba bubba reply :

Let me summarize:

- I, myself, do not need any justification for your price tag. I get why they cost what they cost and why they work.

- Those who are experienced with high end swimbaits also get the $50 price tag and why action and detail and translate to the price.

- Those who are inexperienced with high end swimbaits are the ones questioning the price. You can give them 1 and 2 line posts all day speaking about the detail and action and you aren't going to get any traction with them. You need to translate that into fish catching ability.

You said it best yourself:

Quote
My point and many others point which you keep missing is that with a swimbait especialy, and even other baits to, is that you CAN judge a bait by its realism and action. ANYBODY who is seasoned in a certian technique can look at a wall of lures and pick out good ones even if he hasnt fished them yet.

Those who are asking are NOT seasoned. You have to explain to them in a different way if you are going to make any inroads into them accepting such a price for your lure. They don't know what they don't know, but they do know that what's important is can it catch fish.

The newness of the lure is irrelevant. This isn't your first $50 swimbait. The question from those posters isn't for those new swimbaits in particular, they are having a hard time comprehending *any* lure costing $50 (in general). If you haven't noticed, every time there's a Mattlures thread, this cost issue comes up.

If you think the best way to answer to that group of people is the detail/action, and expect them to make the connection to actual fish catching ability, then we are simply going to have to agree to disagree. As you said, seasoned people will get it but seasoned people aren't the ones asking the question.

I am only making a recommendation; use it or not. I have no vested interest nor do I have any pride equity at stake on this.

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1242961325

There is my contribution for the bluegill, since I dont have the bass yet.

That is the biggest one I have caught, but definitely not the only one.

I will find more, hold on.

Randall talking about the Hardbass...http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1251090576/0#0

Paul. is another member who has tested Matt's lures.

Mrlitetackle is another one who caught fish on the hardgill.

Like we all have stated before: Someone is either is going to buy it or not. I will say that this bait is not what most would consider a "beginner" swimbait, although it is very easy to fish. Most people (I was one of them) will buy a couple cheaper baits and then realize they should have saved their money and bought one quality bait.

One $50 bait that gets bit is better than 5 $10 baits that just sit in the box because they have no confidence to throw them due to lack of success.

KingBass reply :

Pure badas$ery!

fisher1973 reply :

First, i want to say that i am not an expereinced swimbait fisherman. I am wanting to try it though, i fishmore than a few large ponds in my area that the bass seem to feed on a LOT of crappie. Matt your lures look amazing, and from the ppl who have posted about your lures i believe they wiil work that way also. Do you have plans to make any white and black crappie looking ones? I would definetly buy those, and think there may be a market for them. On quite a few occasions i have caught large (for my area) bass that still had a crappie in their gullet (sp?). Looking forward to your response. thx fish

Dan: reply :

Quote
First, i want to say that i am not an expereinced swimbait fisherman. I am wanting to try it though, i fishmore than a few large ponds in my area that the bass seem to feed on a LOT of crappie. Matt your lures look amazing, and from the ppl who have posted about your lures i believe they wiil work that way also. Do you have plans to make any white and black crappie looking ones? I would definetly buy those, and think there may be a market for them. On quite a few occasions i have caught large (for my area) bass that still had a crappie in their gullet (sp?). Looking forward to your response. thx fish

like these?

RoLo reply :

Quote

Quote

If I selected lures based on what appeals to ME, I'd only carry two or three lures in my box.

But I'm such a terrible judge of fish-appeal, that I need to carry a wide variety of lures :-[Roger

Ah, Roger. I knew you were a sharp guy. You just diagnosed my illness from 2000 miles away. ;D ;D

Now, about the long-term prognosis; is there any hope for a cure?

Ghoti, I'm afraid the long-term prognosis is not too encouraging.

Mainly because most victims of this affliction do not want to be cured ;D

Speaking only for myself, it seems that my best success is with lures that resemble nothing in particular.

When you think about it, the more closely a lure resembles a preexisting creature,

the greater the danger of it appearing unnatural (especially at close range and at slow speeds).

On the other hand, lures that resemble nothing in particular cannot be identified as counterfeit, as they simply exploit

the predator's opportunistic nature. Good examples of stuff we normally don't see in the lake are slug-goes, gitzits and senkos.

Bill Dance was once asked what a spinnerbait is supposed to be, and Bill replied, "I dunno...maybe a Toy Airboat?" ;D ;D

Roger

fisher1973 reply :

Dan that is exactly what im talking about. Is that a mattlure , if it isnt what brand is it, or is it homemade?

Dan: reply :

Quote
Dan that is exactly what im talking about. Is that a mattlure , if it isnt what brand is it, or is it homemade?

It's a Mattlures hardgill in a crappie pattern.

mrlitetackle reply :

Quote
Posted by: SPEEDBEAD. Posted on: Today at 2:01pm
http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1242961325

There is my contribution for the bluegill, since I dont have the bass yet.

That is the biggest one I have caught, but definitely not the only one.

I will find more, hold on.

Randall talking about the Hardbass...http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1251090576/0#0

Paul. is another member who has tested Matt's lures.

Mrlitetackle is another one who caught fish on the hardgill.

Like we all have stated before: Someone is either is going to buy it or not. I will say that this bait is not what most would consider a "beginner" swimbait, although it is very easy to fish. Most people (I was one of them) will buy a couple cheaper baits and then realize they should have saved their money and bought one quality bait.

One $50 bait that gets bit is better than 5 $10 baits that just sit in the box because they have no confidence to throw them due to lack of success.

....just have to chime in again,

and certainly dont want to be involved in any debates....

but what i can say is that,

mattlures hardgills are simply amazing, with no detail overlooked!

quite simply, that is why i own 2 of them....

and trust me... they not only look great, they do produce!

so, i am not hesitant in any way, shape, or form to purchase the bass series.

.... in fact,

i cant wait.

after owning his baits, and subsequently testing them, i expect nothing less than the best money can offer.

and though i dont own the bass series yet, i am completely confident in the fact that it is an outstanding lure that will get results.

Mattlures reply :

Mr Rolo I agree with you 100%

In Matt's theory of realism its kinda all or nothing. If a swimbait looks correct and by correct I mean extremly detailed with accurate colors and detailing and It swims right it will get bit. Now there are two ways of swimming right. #1 is that it looks natural. and #2 it may look unatural but in a good way, like its injured or vonerable. This is where I feel swimbaits differ from other baits. I think the most realistic in aperance and action is the best possible recipe for fooling the biggest bass. Now here is wher I agree with you.

When you take a bait like a plastic worm, crankbait,spinnerbait, or jig and add detail to it I feel it actualy hurts its overall apeal to the fish. It just doesnt look right. I mean the color pattern might be perfect but everything els might look wrong. I dont like jigs with eyes on them. I dont like crankbaits or other hardbaits with detail. I like a nice simple pattern like the original Rapalas or Bagley's. If I am picking a spinnerbait, I want it simple. I want good components but I want a simple design and basic colors. If you have a simple design or pattern on one of these Nonrealistic baits you have less unnatural features to make a fish leary. a bqasic plastic worm or jig is extremly effective because nothing looks wrong with them almost no negative ques.

This is what I call all or nothing. I dont like baits in the middle. When I fish swimbaits I use thw most accurate realistic bait that I can in every way. Obviously they arent perfect with bills, visible joints,hanging treble etc but they are close enough especialy when moving or in water that is not super clear. Those things tend to blurr.

But in most cases when a fish realy gets a good chance to look over a wrom or jig I like simple. There just isnt much that looks unnatural, and to be honest I rarley throw a spinnerbait or crank but when I do. I dont like detail.

fourbizz reply :

Matt builds badass baits.

A bait of that size and build quality, at that price, is a steal.

I'll be throwing it.

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

Quote
Matt builds badass baits.
A bait of that size and build quality, at that price, is a steal.

I'll be throwing it.

Ah, the swimbait pusher himself.... ;D

Again, my wallet thanks you for all the swimbaits recommended and purchased over the last year and 1/2.

fourbizz reply :

Yeah, but I have I ever led you astray?

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

Quote

Yeah, but I have I ever led you astray?

Negative. Good point. ;D

RoLo reply :

Quote
Mr Rolo I agree with you 100%
In Matt's theory of realism its kinda all or nothing. If a swimbait looks correct and by correct I mean extremly detailed with accurate colors and detailing and It swims right it will get bit. Now there are two ways of swimming right. #1 is that it looks natural. and #2 it may look unatural but in a good way, like its injured or vonerable. This is where I feel swimbaits differ from other baits. I think the most realistic in aperance and action is the best possible recipe for fooling the biggest bass. Now here is wher I agree with you.

When you take a bait like a plastic worm, crankbait,spinnerbait, or jig and add detail to it I feel it actualy hurts its overall apeal to the fish. It just doesnt look right. I mean the color pattern might be perfect but everything els might look wrong. I dont like jigs with eyes on them. I dont like crankbaits or other hardbaits with detail. I like a nice simple pattern like the original Rapalas or Bagley's. If I am picking a spinnerbait, I want it simple. I want good components but I want a simple design and basic colors. If you have a simple design or pattern on one of these Nonrealistic baits you have less unnatural features to make a fish leary. a bqasic plastic worm or jig is extremly effective because nothing looks wrong with them almost no negative ques.

This is what I call all or nothing. I dont like baits in the middle. When I fish swimbaits I use thw most accurate realistic bait that I can in every way. Obviously they arent perfect with bills, visible joints,hanging treble etc but they are close enough especialy when moving or in water that is not super clear. Those things tend to blurr.

But in most cases when a fish realy gets a good chance to look over a wrom or jig I like simple. There just isnt much that looks unnatural, and to be honest I rarley throw a spinnerbait or crank but when I do. I dont like detail.

Matt, point well-made.

Even to a casual observer, it's clear that you take great pride in your work.

In my view, Mattlures are the most realistic swimbaits on the market.

Roger

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

Well, got mine in the mail today and I have to say it wasnt what I expected.

It was much, much more than that. It honestly looks like the thing is wet in the box.

Freakin' awesome Matt, freakin' awesome.

Big Bait Fishing reply :

love your new bait , BUUUUUTTTTTT , are you gonna make a super realistic 8-12'' jointed trout bait , aahhh , i'm dying tryin' to be patient !!!!! i guess i'll have to talk to you at the bass-a-thon

Mattlures reply :

I do plan on doing a trout but I have bad news for you.

There is no bassathon this year. There is talk of another big store putting on a big show but it is not confirmed yet.

fourbizz reply :

HAHA. The plight of the swimbait builder.

Cant even get a new bait on the market and everyone wants the next one..... NOW! ;D

That being said, Matt, I want a trout bait too ;D

Big Bait Fishing reply :

Quote
I do plan on doing a trout but I have bad news for you.
There is no bassathon this year. There is talk of another big store putting on a big show but it is not confirmed yet.

let me know when you find out please !!!! is it gonna be in southern ca. ????? :-?

zbigbadaaron reply :

I think its PERDY!!!!!

Rebel Angler reply :

wow they're crazy realistic but $60 is a lil expensive for me. Love to have one though I'm sure they work great!

J-B reply :

For those of you that are skeptical of Matt's baits and their prices, here is my 2 cents. I was once right there with you in wondering if it was worth the $50 to purchase one of his swimbaits. After doing research and reading many of the comments about Matt's lures, I finally coughed up the dough and purchased a Male Bluegill Hardgill. I have not been happier with any other bait in my tackle box. The quality and detail is unreal. In the water, nothing looks more like a fish except a real fish. When fishing the hardgill, I have even seen other bluegill swim along side of the bait. Seeing this made me feel good about my purchase. I have caught quite a few bass in the 3-5 lb range with this lure since I started fishing it (still looking for the big ones). In short, do not freak out over the price and instead marvel at the quality. These baits are excellent and they catch fish. I currently own two Mattlure baits and I plan on getting more in the future.

Big Tom reply :

I just saw one of these in person yesterday.

Absolutely phenomenal bait.

Brush Hog20 reply :

I understand what rubba is saying in this thread. I fully admit to being completely ignorant to swimbaits and the thought of spending 50 bucks on a single lure seems execessive. So I would need to be shown its better than my beloved brushhog that I just stuck a 6.5 lb bass on this last weekend or the seven pound bass I caught on a lizard last year. As we all the know the goal is to catch fish not how good the bait looks doing it. I understand the niche market and maybe thats all Matt wants. I admit I know nothing about em and I don't live in "Monster Bass" country so my perspective is probably askew from the most on this thread. But I do know that large bass are rare ,at least in my neck of the woods, and I suspect even in greatly famed waters and unless all the swimbaiters are catching 10lbers every other cast its just not worth it...As a side note I think the baits look great and Matt is a true craftsman. I just will probably never buy one becuase I just don't think for my everyday fishing it adds much comensurate to the cost. So I am the guy and guys like me rubba was speaking of so I get that. Its very likely Matt does not care to reach out to my level of fisherman, but I am okay with that.

Brush Hog20 reply :

.....not to mention isn't vast majority of the appeal of fishing the ability to skillfully make a presentation of an artificial lure and fooling a fish to bite it??? Thats why I don't fish live bait. So in my mind making lure more lifelike is just the dumbing down of the sport of fishing. Matt himself adimited he caught fish by doing nothing but holding the rod. Where is the fun or the pride in your catch in that? I see why Matt has pride in that becaues he crafted the masterpiece that caught the fish. But where is the enjoyment for those that buy this lure?

RoLo reply :

Quote
.....not to mention isn't vast majority of the appeal of fishing the ability to skillfully make a presentation of an artificial lure and fooling a fish to bite it??? Thats why I don't fish live bait. So in my mind making lure more lifelike is just the dumbing down of the sport of fishing. Matt himself adimited he caught fish by doing nothing but holding the rod. Where is the fun or the pride in your catch in that? I see why Matt has pride in that becaues he crafted the masterpiece that caught the fish. But where is the enjoyment for those that buy this lure?

You make a very valid point, but if you've ever hired a fishing guide in your life, you'd be doing the exact the same thing.

I've never hired a fishing guide in my life, because I feel that if it's the guides boat, the guide's spot

and the guide's technique, then it's also the guide's fish. But that's me, and to each his own.

Getting back to Mattlures baits, the craftsmanship that Matt interjects into every bait is truly astounding.

If it were me doing the same thing as Matt, I'd be up against two obstacles:

First, I'm not sure I'd want to sell the bait to anyone, Secondly, I'd have to charge about $200 bucks a lure

Roger

Brush Hog20 reply :

Rolo, never hired a guide either. In case you hadn't noticed I am cheap.. ;D

...and your second point is well made. If I created something that cool with my own two hands I wouldn't share it with anybody...

Maico1 reply :

Yes they are, just got mine in the mail today. Matt one more time you have slammed this bait. Is it live or is it memorex

Mattlures reply :

Brush hog , swimbaits will not replace brush hogs. Actualy I use berkley power hogs but , same difference. I am also not specificaly trying to isolate anybody or even trying to apeal to only a nitch market. It just kinda works out like that. I do have other baits that are much less expencive. But the hard baits take soo long to make and everything about them is expencive from the packaging to the hooks and the materials used to make them and a ton of labor. I just cant produce them for "regular" prices. If I could I would. Most swimbait guys consider my baits among the most affordable. Also as far as me catching a 15lber by doing nothing other then holding the rod, not exactly. I had already located the fish earlier and I knew this fish was ulta spooky. I knew it would not be tricked through regular presentations. I snuck up up to the spot on foot and made a long cast and watched my bait for aprox 15 minutes before she hit while I hid in the rocks monitering my bait and the slack. She rose on it once without biting and sunk back down. It is very nerve racking and it takes more concentrtaion and patience then any other technique that I know of.

the technique itself is not fun but it is highly productive for huge and or spooky bass. So while I do belive the realism of the bait is what triggered the bite, I had to know when and where and I had to do all the other things right. Believe me, deadsticking may sound easy but it is mind numbing and it is very difficult to stay focussed the entire time.

I wish it was easy.

endless reply :

Quote
Brush hog , swimbaits will not replace brush hogs. Actualy I use berkley power hogs but , same difference. I am also not specificaly trying to isolate anybody or even trying to apeal to only a nitch market. It just kinda works out like that. I do have other baits that are much less expencive. But the hard baits take soo long to make and everything about them is expencive from the packaging to the hooks and the materials used to make them and a ton of labor. I just cant produce them for "regular" prices. If I could I would. Most swimbait guys consider my baits among the most affordable. Also as far as me catching a 15lber by doing nothing other then holding the rod, not exactly. I had already located the fish earlier and I knew this fish was ulta spooky. I knew it would not be tricked through regular presentations. I snuck up up to the spot on foot and made a long cast and watched my bait for aprox 15 minutes before she hit while I hid in the rocks monitering my bait and the slack. She rose on it once without biting and sunk back down. It is very nerve racking and it takes more concentrtaion and patience then any other technique that I know of.
the technique itself is not fun but it is highly productive for huge and or spooky bass. So while I do belive the realism of the bait is what triggered the bite, I had to know when and where and I had to do all the other things right. Believe me, deadsticking may sound easy but it is mind numbing and it is very difficult to stay focussed the entire time.

I wish it was easy.

sadly before i knew of your lures through this site i learned them from an employee at gander mountain in fredericksburg. think his name was john i could be wrong but i talk to him all the time when in store. and he was telling me how he was going to use it in his next tournament and see how they work. i havent talked to him since cause i havent been in the store for a couple of weeks. he seem very fond of the lure, showed me your web site, the lures, the videos., i tell you one thing they looked very well crafted from the looks to the action from the videos. yea i bet theres alot of time put into them. man the detail alone is outstanding. very nice job. ive yet to purchase one. but hopefully soon in the future. i was checking out the the not sure of name but the one that looks like bottom feeding.

6050

These things are ridiculous... 2024

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