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Posts: 88
| So I have used the phantom softail the past two trips out and have gotten a ton of follows but only 1 bite. Does anyone have any tips or tricks that could help convert more to strikes? Also how do you generally figure 8 with it?
Any help will be greatly appreciated! |
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Posts: 463
Location: Sw Pennsylvania | When the baits about 10 to 15 feet from the boat stop your retrieve and let it pause. They will sometimes hit it on the pause |
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Posts: 16
| My experience with phantom jerkbaits and most all jerkbaits in general is lots and lots of attention/follows and less strikes. I seem to get more strikes in June and fall, less in mid summer. |
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Posts: 43
Location: Rockford, IL | I like to quick-hop the bait for a few cranks, then let it sink for a 5 count. Then twitch it at a slow pace a few cranks, and another pause. Speed up, slow down, pause. I think the fish would hit on the slower retrieve after the pause after the faster retrieve, due to the fact the musky may feel the bait is making an escape. I think if you vary the retrieve speed and incorporate a ton of pauses is your best way to trigger strikes from a following/lazy neutral fish. Just my opinion. |
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Posts: 369
| This is the first jerk bait I've ever used, the best thing where I have gotten more strikes is to jerk it in smoothly if that makes sense. Go slower so it almost looks like it glides in the water. Also, heat up the metal part of the tail and then slide the tail on so it melts into the plastic instead of cutting it, then take it off and glue it on |
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Posts: 1828
| Here's a video someone showed me of a boatside phantom catch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IgD_51qJ6M&list=UUEiiI8_ZQUlpwkAbq1...
I love phantoms. Previous posters gave good advice. |
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Posts: 46
| I used to notice the same thing with jerkbaits when I first started throwing them. My advice would be to slow things down overall and mix up your routine. When I have new people with me I usually recommend a 321 routine. I.E. three taps then a pause, two taps then a pause, one tap then a longer pause. Most hits seem to come midway through the cast after the long pause. You won't cover as much water working them at this rate but in my experience you'll get way more hits and way less follows.
Hope this helps! |
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Location: Contrarian Island | my advice is opposite of slowing down... make em dance! slow gliders get follows...erratic , fast gliders will get more hits most days..
death pause at the boat for sure. |
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Posts: 88
| Thank for the tips guys! I was out again today, had about 15 follows and missed a nice one. the one bite came on a slow and steady retrieve |
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Posts: 43
Location: Rockford, IL | tretsven---what are the water temps where ur at?? that definitely plays a part in how fast/slow your presentation should be.
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Posts: 88
| Anywhere from 52-54 most spots |
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Posts: 497
Location: Ludington, MI | http://www.fishinfo.com.php5-15.ord1-1.websitetestlink.com/fishing-... |
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Posts: 43
Location: Rockford, IL | with those temps I would personally still work it a little on the quick side for a few taps, then try to incorporate a lot of pauses and variances in the retrieve......something like a 3 taps, pause, 2 taps a little slower, pause, 1 tap, then short pause.......just mix it up. I personally feel that for any given day the fish will tell you what they want, so one day it may be more of a slow retrieve that gets them going, on other days it may be the quick-hop retrieve that causes the reaction strike. You just never know with these fish. Bottom line is the phantom is a fish catching machine all across the musky range, so as long as the bait is in the water, you have a chance at getting bit. good luck. |
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Posts: 4266
| Any time I use a lure with a living tail, I tend to stick my rod tip 2 feet into the water and make steady figure 8's making sure to go high and wide in the corners. I'm not too coordinated so trying to twitch and move at the same time doesn't work for me. I look at the tail as I would as a blade on a bucktail.....keep it moving. |
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