Live Bait vs. Gulp Shoot-Out 2012

[Johnny wilkins]

Two Baits Enter, One Bait Leaves!

I have seen and read, I know a lot of people look for an edge, but I have to take this on once and for all. Are there any Gulp champions or distributors who would like to participate in a fish-off comparison?

I will take live grubs and will go up against Gulp artificial canned baits.

I do however wish to make this fair in terms of data collection but I will need your help. I will try to use all the good suggestions, while still keeping this test where I can complete it without this test becoming too fat, or too expensive, too complex.

Post your thoughts here and I will assemble this test. Along with some local testers I will do my best to keep this as scientific as possible. This topic has been partially discussed but I want some data this Spring to show which works on bluegills best.

If you live near Chicago I would need some help filming, counting and recording this test.

• Where can I get enough Gulp for a 5 hour fish-off?
  Berkley Reps anyone I know on the can it says Outfishes Live Bait - Care to donate?
• I might need a volunteer as well who is free one Saturday or Sunday
• All tackle will be supplied

I actually have a 1-man test that will work, but this will require two assistants to record fish by the quarter hour and to guide me to transition times. If we can get 4 people, I have an idea for a 2-person simultaneous  test.

Does this sound interesting? If so, add some thoughts, let me know that you can volunteer this Spring etc. Any help on getting Gulp would be appreciated ...

[Leo Nguyen]

David, copy, paste, and post! The more this info get shared and improved upon, the more fish will nail buddy. No info is sacred. All is knowledge and wisdom that must be passed on.

I hope Berkley get this info and improve on their products at full strength. Berkley and many other baits' manufacturers out there hold back on their full strength formulas for special privileges. Some scientists and experimenters like myself found full strength combos, and we will share this info. However, I will not encourage the use of synthetic formulas due to environmental issues they will cause. I will search for the more natural chemical substitutes to mock the same effectiveness as the synthetic ones which focus on various species and not just one particular. To honor those who wish to keep their formulas a secret, I will do so. However, I will post formulas that of my creations which may mimic their effectiveness without the exact ingredients.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

They say a fine line divides crazy and genius. I think you may have stepped over it, Leo. Thanks!

[Johnny wilkins]

Look

David is spot on. Would you use harmful chemicals in your own lakes, or just when you visit far away lakes? I know I fish my lakes a lot as a catch-and-release guy and I take pride in delivering protein - organic diet to my friends under the surface.

I don't recommend  tactics where the fish lose besides, our little sight-feeders swing so heavily to this sense to feed, a formula can't draw them in from a distance vs. great presentation. 

I think for the majority of anglers, getting the basics right would catch them far more fish - and, there ain't nothin in a jar that can tie a knot or set the hook. I have a pile of automatic bobbers in my bobber museum where the company might have been Seen on TV, but now they are out of business if you know what I mean.

I give A+++ on the enthusiasm, but I liken it to times when I am running a seminar and someone tells me how they catch perch on a jig and everyone scratches their head in the audience. The jig story followed a segment where I was talking about eliminating weight near the hook to create a slower, more natural drop. Scratch, scratch?!

[Leo Nguyen]

David, I always have been deemed as a crazy out of control scientist. Well, crazy is borderline genius, and genius is definitely borderline insane. Being insane is just another way to hide yourself from the world that you truly are dangerous. I'll just be crazy instead ;)

[Johnny wilkins]

p.s. - I think any formula you would create - your recipe will equal the "secret" formula Berkley has. Make it nutritious, some vitamins, some protein. You also have to come up with an outrageous claim for the side of your jars.

[Leo Nguyen]

Johnny, stay far away from the vitamins infusion. Not a good idea. Unless you extract the vitamin as a liquid/crystalline states from plants/soils, using from the vitamin powder created by the pharmaceutical companies will discourage the fishes from biting. It's the filler binding agents that they use that cause chemicals imbalance as the chemicals leech from the bait. I tried it..not good results. Not even the suckers in the aquarium go close to it.

[Johnny wilkins]

I was kidding. But it would be better than using harmful chemicals was my point.

[Joe Angelucci]

I personally like "Over 1,000,000,000 Bluegill served" 

 

Johnny, let me know when you would like a PayPal for the funds. I'm serious about the donation.  I'm happy to help with the Fishing Sciences

[Johnny wilkins]

I love the saying and the offer for the donation. Let me get the test laid out in the next couple of weeks and put a final testing document out with all the details. [ science and results ]

I have some fishing shows to get prepared for so hopefully people will add some suggestions for the testing. I will also need a volunteer or two which I can get from my club. Thanks again! I will also get you some tackle for your efforts!

Anyone donating gets a tackle pack. You will have to just email me an address.

Johnny

[dick tabbert]

wid-o-go Leo

[Johnny wilkins]

Let's definitely get back to designing this test.

Thank you so much for the donations. If I do one test, I will match the $25 and purchase the live bait ($50 wholesale). If I do a second test, I will be trying to find another $50 worth of Gulp.

Berkley- can you hear me...? 

I am thinking test 1:

Maggot vs. Berkley Maggot

Test 2: 

Waxie vs. Berkley Waxie

Both tests will involve the same $$ of bait. Each test will be fished in the same time period within 30 foot of each other. Same spot, same time, same weather, same rigs.

Any other suggestions regarding testing. This is for the canned product vs. live bait - no other recipes need apply.  There are some variables on the bait regarding floating/size/sinking but I can't control that- Berkley engineered these things to catch you - er, ah - to catch fish. So it is maggot vs. jarred maggot....

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Berkley makes extruded worms, so you cant forget those. How many people fish with earthworms, after all? I daresay they are more popular nationwide that the grubs you've already drafted into the test.

And they have CRICKETS, too. Seriously. Berkley makes Gulp crickets in several colors, molded from whatever Super Scientific fish-attracting goop they use for such things.

Off the record, I've tried this myself, i.e., testing Berkley bottle-baits against natural, live bait. I'll not mention how it worked for me, although some of you may have seen my comments in the past.

For now, let me just say I'm interested to see how this all works out.