LURE REVIEW: Berkley Gilly Swimbait!!! (Underwater Footage & How to Rig)

[@shaunmoeller3288]

Make it a line through and use a treble hook... I put mine on a chatterbait

[@smeakfishing]

Thanks for the tip!! I have done that since this video, hook up ratio was way better!

[@nvskorpio]

Thanks dude - been wunderin about the Berkley Gillie - big ups for a great review

[@smeakfishing]

Preciate it man! It’s a nice lure to have in the arsenal for sure. Just gotta make sure you are really letting em take it for the hook up, or use a line thru

[@pondparadisedesignsinc.rob5313]

Greatest bait I have bought in years. Very realistic and I have caught more bigger fish with this than I ever have, a total winner

[@smeakfishing]

It’s definitely deserving of the hype it’s gotten. And the amount of ways you can fish it is awesome. I keep one tied on now, and they definitely get SMOKED!!

[@anthonyjimerson9261]

I've been fishing these with a piece of styrofoam in the slit up top. That tends to help it stay upright a lot better than most other things I've tried. Great video!

[@jamessteelman721]

Best video of this bait, most people want face time instead of showing how to rig bait

[@smeakfishing]

I appreciate the feedback and the love man 👌🏽. Glad u enjoyed the video

[@stickandstring63]

Nice little pond. reminds me of a lot of places i fish. now, you are the Bob Ross of fishing videos.. Don't change anything. I have rig them with the treble hook, and done well with them. I tried the side hook and I did not like the way it swims, I think you nailed it ,I am just mad because I didn't come up with it first. Great Job

[@smeakfishing]

I really appreciate that man!! I was a huge Bob Ross fan. But definitely check out the rig and let me know how it works for you!!

[@george5697]

I ordered all 3 sizes, im itching to try em out on the lake nice vid bro!!

[@smeakfishing]

Preciate u! And good luck bro, it’s a great bait. Maybe try a treble hook setup if ur having trouble w hiccups on the larger one

[@wadesoutdooradventures]

The action is ridiculous. I love how it moves. So far I haven’t had any success with it. Maybe I need to fish it more lol. Thanks for the video.

[@smeakfishing]

Definitely gets bites, just make sure you let ‘em take it cuz the hookup isn’t the greatest, unless ur using the 90. You can also check out the video on the description if you want to run a treble hook on the larger one. Good luck tho!!!

[@brandonratcliff3065]

Me either...🤔

[@JoshAndPril]

Nice content bro! Very informative

[@smeakfishing]

Preciate it man, more reviews coming soon 💯👌🏽

[@siryarwammowray3445]

Excellent review well done

[@yakmanJ]

I like this bait with a nose hook and it catches great and tex rigged side and work like plastic jerk bait but softer tugs.... and really going to try your screw lock rig ... great vid bro!

[@smeakfishing]

I’ve tried nose hook as well on the smaller one and definitely works great in open water w a really natural action. Thanks for watching man!!

[@heatholderinc4961]

I've seen someone turn one into a line through. Ran tubing from mouth to belly/perforated line with a treble out it and a nail weight right below the tub on the mouth area

[@smeakfishing]

Ya, I’ve seen a couple line thru rigs for the Gilly, I should have one example in the description. I like running it that way wen I’m not fishing cover or vegetation as much

[@backintofishing6716]

Good video. I have some of these in size 90 but haven't decided on a hook size yet. Will be trying them soon.

[@smeakfishing]

I would say use a 1/0 twistlock, 2/0 will work but it gets really close to the tail section which hurt the action. Let me know how they work for you though!!

[@headcharge666]

Definitely a 1/0 with the 90. I use a 1/0 on the 110 as well. I haven’t tried the 130 yet. I think that one is too big for the waters I fish. (Small farm ponds.)

[@backintofishing6716]

@@headcharge666 Thank you.

[@corkyvanderhaven3391]

Did you pool test, the swim w/ nail wt ? For drop & swim? Gotta get those for my dad

[@smeakfishing]

Ya the pool test had the nail weight in it, still runs fairly shallow w a 1/16oz weight, just helps it stay subsurface and run straight up and down

[@lashawngraham8236]

I've heard guy say that the 90 catches bigger bass than 110 and 130. Great video Bro I've just recently brought a pack of the 90's but i have yet to fish them and so far your video explains the best way to rig them and i just so happened to find more nail weights last week in my tackel hardware so ill be going out tomorrow. Again great vid and fish on bro.

[@smeakfishing]

I’ve had the best luck on the 110 and the 90 for sure, just dnt get as many to commit to the 130 and then wen they do the hookup ratio just isn’t great at all. But glad I could help man, good luck on the water!!

[@Rock_Nemo]

Like a lot of bass anglers people set the hook too quick on the initial hit, especially with a soft plastic bait, when you get a hit drop the rod tip and give the bass some time to get it all in their mouth, then when you see your line moving off reel down til you feel tension then set the hook. The Bass will not let go of a bait unless it feels unnatural pressure or you jerk it out of its mouth. You hook up ratio will go up dramatically, and a one pound bass will take that bigger bluegill bait down all day long if you give a chance/

[@smeakfishing]

Good tip man, especially on moving soft plastics like this it’s easy to rush it. I still have a tough time on the 130 tho I can’t lie lol

[@kevingartlandkmgartland8983]

Just bought some a few weeks ago along with screw lock hooks. Super excited to try it out this weekend. Thanks for the tip on how to rig it. I also saw a video on using a treble hook setup.

[@smeakfishing]

Definitely gets bit bro, but try the treble hook too if your not fishing too much structure or grass, it’ll improve the hookup ratio a ton!! Good luck tho, tight lines!!

[@headcharge666]

I like this lure. I want to love it. I have caught a few nice sized bass in the small farm ponds I fish in. The problem is that I can’t get a consistent rig set up. I am currently doing a 1/0 EWG hook side rigged on an angle. I also feel that they are a little pricey for how much I have to replace them. Good video though. I think I’m going to try those screw in hooks. Seems like a solid rig.

[@smeakfishing]

Preciate it 💯. Definitely using the screw locks will help with not losing them as much so u don’t have to replace them as often.

[@Bulfwyne]

you could do a Inline pass through the mouth, where the line passes through, then rig up a trebble hook to fit the size of the bait, and hook one of the barbs down the line, that way, it wont impede the movement, but i'll even act as fins with the two other barbs, and you can place that hook anywhere along the belly. Trying things out myself and i found that's working great ... however, its not ideal for around cover, cause i get moss for days

[@smeakfishing]

The line through definitely works great, and on the larger sizes it helps so much with hookup ratio

[@martys4814]

Another great day of fishing….one of the best baits to come out in years…over 20 today…only lost one bait due to a 5 pounder jumping 3 times and tail walking she threw it …….

[@smeakfishing]

For sure a nice day of fishing right there!! Definitely a bait people are gonna b using for a while

[@corkyvanderhaven3391]

Gotta part 2 this with a stinger treble. Longer casts, bigger lake maybe

[@corkyvanderhaven3391]

Oh, u mentioned stinger at the end. Go for it again

[@smeakfishing]

Im down with it!! Give me a week or 2 and I’ll drop something new

[@heatholderinc4961]

I liked them alot but hate the side rigging & when on that same bite I'd get hit better on the structure gill or sleeper gill if they was tight to cover and if they where chasing it off structure I'd rather throw a magdraft or burrito

[@smeakfishing]

Ya, I love the magdraft for sure, and this is definitely a cool idea for a bait but it has some drawbacks that make it far from perfect.

[@michaelblackwell3355]

I gave up on the bait. I found the exact thing of a horrible hook up rate. I can fish other baits like a open hook swimbait, crankbait or a fluke and get those fish on and in. Wasting bites on a bait with a poor hook rate in tourneys just is bad business.

[@smeakfishing]

Ya, the 130 size suffers from that especially!! You can do a line thru w a treble hook, that’s really the only decent remedy, but also kills a lot of time rigging and rerigging

[@joshualemelle8626]

I almost gave up on it too but then one day I nose hooked it like a drop shot on a 3/0 ewg wide gap with a 1/4 oz bullet weight. First cast I caught a 4 pounder then a couple threes and a damn catfish give it a try and see if it works for you. I was fishing the 110 btw

[@BobelPop]

Something I want to add, is that Berkley has saltwater variations of the Gilly. Just something to consider if you're on the coast!

[@smeakfishing]

I actually did not know this! Is the durability better on the saltwater versions? Cuz I will sometimes use saltwater versions of swimbaits for the durability to save some $$

[@BobelPop]

@@smeakfishing Well I have come across the Pinfish version in a bait shop here in the Gulf area. There's also Bunker/Menhaden, Pilchard, & Croaker. Worth checking out! Just beware of the pufferfish since they destroy jigs in one bite (you'll see in bitten clean off or see like a v-shape bite).

[@smeakfishing]

@@BobelPop definitely will check it out. Thanks for the tip!

[@BobelPop]

@@smeakfishing No problem! As for the durability I would guess not. A jig is a jig from what I understand.

[@smeakfishing]

@@BobelPop check out Keitechs saltwater swimbaits. Wayyyyy more durable that the regular keitechs, and I keep some for when my pockets are getting low lol. Action isn’t quite as good but that’s the trade off 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@martys4814]

First video that I’ve watched with not one fish caught on the Gilly….

[@smeakfishing]

Lol unfortunately ya. Had plenty of bites too, but I was using the 130 in a pond with a lot of smaller bass so it makes sense I was having hookup issues

[@DJloudpack3208]

Berkley should make a 60 size gilly for smaller bodies of water.

[@smeakfishing]

I wouldn’t b mad at a 60, but have u tried the 90? I feel like it does well in some of the small ponds around me. But on the topic of sizes I wouldn’t be mad at a 160 either lol, I love big baits

[@DJloudpack3208]

@@smeakfishing 160 size would be great for those big bass an also stripers maybe even pike an musky.

[@smeakfishing]

@@DJloudpack3208 for sure!!! We need to get berkley on the line man lol. Magnum Gilly coming soon

[@DJloudpack3208]

@@smeakfishing u already know lol

[@corkyvanderhaven3391]

@@DJloudpack3208 sounds good, would need weight to get musky line down

[@ZZ430T56]

Cool idea and gets bit but hook up ratio is bad as expected. 5" Senko ir fluke gets more bites and much better %. I took the hitch hiker off a 4/0 1/16 weighted twistlock hook and inserted it it from the top slot, through the body a little and out the mouth. Not weedless and have not tried a swim test yet. Not sure if weight is low enough. i.postimg.cc/QNWcK2w4/DSCN0133.jpg

[@smeakfishing]

Ya man, the hookup ratio is the big miss on this bait for sure. Only fix I have seen that’s somewhat consistent is rigging it with a line thru and a treble. If u wanna try it I got a link to a video in the description that’ll show how. Good luck tho, tight lines!!

[@ZZ430T56]

@@smeakfishing Ya saw that vid. Bottom trebles get hung so easy tho, unless you keep it just sub surface.

[@smeakfishing]

@@ZZ430T56 ya, takes away the weedless part completely

[@drunkenmonkey1975]

They are far too delicate for the price. One or two fish and they are finished.

[@smeakfishing]

I’ve heard people say the same thing, I’ve caught 8/9 fish on 1 before I had to ditch it, but either way this is definitely not a good budget lure at all lol

[@anthonyjimerson9261]

I've been fishing these with a piece of styrofoam in the slit up top. That tends to help it stay upright a lot better than most other things I've tried. Great video!

[@smeakfishing]

Thanks man! I’ve seen a video of someone trying that method and it seems to work really well, especially if you want to stay just subsurface.