Phantom Question
Beatsbyair
Posted 10/31/2013 3:54 PM (#671236)
Subject: Phantom Question




Posts: 123


How wide are these things supposed to glide? I have like 8 of the 6" baits and one 10". Just can't seem to get them to move side to side as well as a Manta, especially a Hang 10 Manta.

I have a heavy rod that's 6'9" and use a steel leader. Works well for most of these type baits...but can't figure out how to tune the Phantom or adjust my setup to get it to work well.
Masqui-ninja
Posted 10/31/2013 4:28 PM (#671244 - in reply to #671236)
Subject: RE: Phantom Question





Posts: 1246


Location: Walker, MN
I had a hard time with these at first too. Try tap-taping and throw slack back at the lure in between taps, like you would work a jackpot. If you try to work it with "pulls" it will not glide at all.
Clammer
Posted 10/31/2013 5:23 PM (#671250 - in reply to #671244)
Subject: RE: Phantom Question




Posts: 667


Location: Wisconsin
Masqui-ninja - 10/31/2013 4:28 PM

I had a hard time with these at first too. Try tap-taping and throw slack back at the lure in between taps, like you would work a jackpot. If you try to work it with "pulls" it will not glide at all.


^ good advice. I had a bit of a learning curve on them as well. The Jackpot reference, which I heard from a friend, is what made it click for me. I guess great minds think alike! Wish I was the one who thought of it.
5th lake Brad
Posted 10/31/2013 6:27 PM (#671259 - in reply to #671250)
Subject: RE: Phantom Question





Posts: 537


Location: Gilberts IL/Rhinelander WI
They don't glide nearly as far as a manta, but have more of a "up and down" presentation. Hard snaps and an irregular retrieve work best for me. By far I've caught the most fish on phantoms compared to any other bait.
Big Perc
Posted 10/31/2013 10:28 PM (#671297 - in reply to #671236)
Subject: Re: Phantom Question




Posts: 1185


Location: Iowa
Short taps with lots of slack....
ToothTamer
Posted 10/31/2013 11:25 PM (#671300 - in reply to #671236)
Subject: Re: Phantom Question





Posts: 311


Location: Lake St.Clair
Hard bait to get the hang of but like stated above short downward taps with slack.
SixBowls
Posted 11/1/2013 7:23 AM (#671324 - in reply to #671300)
Subject: Re: Phantom Question




Posts: 149


For the 6", I don't try to get a big glide. I work them quickly in a tight pattern by tapping and a half turn of high speed reel. If I want a long slow glide, I use a hot tail or manta. The little phantom is one of my favorite baits.
FAT-SKI
Posted 11/1/2013 11:51 AM (#671365 - in reply to #671324)
Subject: Re: Phantom Question




Posts: 1360


Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished
You know I went to a pool demo for a bunch of stuff early on in the year. With the reels we use getting faster and faster retrieve speeds. you don't even have to tap the rod anymore. and I have found that quick short half turns work great with some of these mass produced gliders like Phantoms. Gliders are my favorite type of bait BY FAR. The reels are so fast now a days that you can control the glide actoin perfectly without ever having to tap the rod downwards. Its pretty easy once you get it down. I have tried more and more to do this now instead of using taps. That being said you can achieve more irregularity with taps then with the reel.

Just a thought
Guest
Posted 11/1/2013 4:28 PM (#671407 - in reply to #671236)
Subject: RE: Phantom Question


Makes a difference if you're using the soft-tail or the regular straight model Phantom. The standard has more glide than the soft-tail.
Masqui-ninja
Posted 11/1/2013 6:25 PM (#671417 - in reply to #671407)
Subject: RE: Phantom Question





Posts: 1246


Location: Walker, MN
Good point guest. Lately I have been trimming a little off of the thickness of the grub tail on the soft tail model. You can get a little more glide that way too.
pete619
Posted 11/2/2013 8:42 PM (#671508 - in reply to #671236)
Subject: RE: Phantom Question




Posts: 144


I like a rod with a softer tip for these, especially the soft tail.
bigmckee23
Posted 11/4/2013 11:14 AM (#671759 - in reply to #671236)
Subject: Re: Phantom Question




Posts: 64


Location: Crystal Lake, IL
Phantoms are by far my favorite lure to throw, but like others stated, there was a learning curve for me as well. One day it'll just click for you and you won't want to take it off your rod. Slack line is your best friend in the phantom world and short quick snaps will get it dancing. About 10 feet out from the boat I always give it a hard snap and a pause to let the bait dance off to the side and wobble for a few seconds... it's great when they crush it right then. Also, I've noticed that not all of them like to dance easily. I have a clown softail that I can't get to dance for the life of me. Stick with it and it'll click.
catfishonthelake
Posted 11/7/2013 2:59 PM (#672440 - in reply to #671759)
Subject: Re: Phantom Question




Posts: 161


Location: New Jersey
I've found Phantoms to be more more erratic than a steady side-to-side glider like a Manta or an AP. I think the way they dance is what triggers strikes.