Jackall Gantarel Jr.

[bigbassin']

Anyone fish this lure? And if so, how do you like it?  It looks pretty awesome, and I heard a lot about it before it came out, but I haven't heard much about it since it was released.

[deaknh03]

Great bait, just as the regular gantarel. Well worth the $30. They have great action, and they sure as heck catch fish.

[Big Swimbait]

One thing I have found on the Jr is that there is no doubt about the bite - they smash it when you get bit.

[Bluebasser86]

I've fished the original size and the smaller size (mine is actually the Chibitrel), but it has not been productive for me. I've had very little success on bluegill baits in our lakes though (despite bluegills being the main forage species in a lot of the lakes), so it's possible they just aren't big fans of the gill glides here. I had very limited success on a Deps Bullshooter Jr too. 

[WRB]

Bluegills are egg eaters and bass share similar spawningvareascat different water temperatures.

During the spawn cycle bluegills and bass are prey and predators, primary baitfish is questionable. Bluegill have spiny fins like armor and adult size bluegill are difficult for bass to eat.

Crappie on the other hand spawn before bass in similar areas and offer little in the armor, no spiny fins and make better prey for bass.

Bluegill swimbaits work during the spawn, they don't work good the balance of the year IMO.

Tom

[OCdockskipper]

I actually found a Gantrell Jr. floating in my lake over the summer.  It cleaned up well & with new hooks & swivels, is a great looking bait.

I have probably made about 300 casts with it over the past few months and have caught 3 bass with it - all about 2 lbs.  I have much higher catch rate for that size fish with more conventional sized lures, so as WRB suggested, I will probably keep it tucked away until next years spawn.

[j bab]

It doesn't have near the glide that the big one does, just because of the size. But it seems like it should still get bit. I haven't thrown it enough 

[IndianaFinesse]

21 hours ago, WRB said:

During the spawn cycle bluegills and bass are prey and predators, primary baitfish is questionable. Bluegill have spiny fins like armor and adult size bluegill are difficult for bass to eat.

Crappie on the other hand spawn before bass in similar areas and offer little in the armor, no spiny fins and make better prey for bass.

 

I fish for crappie fairly often, and i have yet to catch a crappie without spines.  They usually have 5-7 spines on their dorsal fin.

[WRB]

1 hour ago, IndianaFinesse said:

I fish for crappie fairly often, and i have yet to catch a crappie without spines.  They usually have 5-7 spines on their dorsal fin.

Crappie do have dorsal fin spines however nothing like bluegill that nearly a round fish wide as they are long and this makes it difficult for bass to swallow adult size bluegill.  Crappie aren't as round longer than they are wide and a little easier to swallow and preferred by bass, over looked prey fish by most bass anglers.

Tom

[jr231]

But if you were to free line a bluegill it WILL get torn up very quickly if its around a bass that can take it. Bass eat bluegill all season. This is not my opinion it's fact. 

[IndianaFinesse]

Just now, Yeajray231 said:

But if you were to free line a bluegill it WILL get torn up very quickly if its around a bass that can take it. Bass eat bluegill all season. This is not my opinion it's fact. 

They sure do, I once in-countered a stubborn spawning bass that looked (and weighed) to be a little over four pounds that would not eat a lure.  I finally decided to try a five inch live bluegill and within ten seconds the bass ate it, and not just the tail. 

[WRB]

During the spawn bluegill being egg eaters art targeted by bass anywhere near a bed site, but they aren't eating the bluegill they are trying to kill them.

Bass will eat smaller size bluegill under 4", however prefer other types of prey fish like crappie or green sunfish for example are better bass forage. 

Just trying to educate you a little.

Tom

[jr231]

It's one technique that doesn't fail. Althought it is considered "unsportsmanlike/cheating " by some.. using live gills is what caught the "tied" world record in japan. and I've used it to catch several big bass (5+) . But His point was that bluegill swimbaits are best used during the spawn. Your story backs his theory.  I was simply stating that if a bass is presented with a crippled gill in august (not the spawn in the north)  it's dinner time I promise. 

[WRB]

How many bass have you caught in med summer using 5" bluegill as bait?

Back before catch and release anglers filleted bass and often inspected stomach contents, adult size bluegill are rarely eaten however green sunfish, crappie are often found when all 3 species provide a prey source.

If you prefer using bluegills that your choice.

Tom

[j bab]

33 minutes ago, WRB said:

Crappie aren't as round longer than they are wide and a little easier to swallow and preferred by bass, over looked prey fish by most bass anglers

This is why I got a Hudd Gill in the Crappie pattern recently. Can't wait to throw it

[jr231]

On 11/6/2016 at 8:34 PM, WRB said:

How many bass have you caught in med summer using 5" bluegill as bait?

Back before catch and release anglers filleted bass and often inspected stomach contents, adult size bluegill are rarely eaten however green sunfish, crappie are often found when all 3 species provide a prey source.

If you prefer using bluegills that your choice.

Tom

It's not my preferred method..and using ADULT bluegill is not a numbers technique.  but honestly every time ive tried it I knew there was a big bass there and couldn't get it to bite.. and sure enough came out of hiding to chase it down . several times tom maybe 4 times in one summer ... but like I said it's not my preferred method. Just one that doesn't fail.  My personal best came on a top water. Mid summer . When everyone swore it was too hot to fish and damm sure didn't think id be catching them topwater in 90 degree heat. 

Forgive me for my ignorance on species of panfish. Whether it's a pumpkinseed , red ear etc . It's a bluegill to me.. and they will all work equally.  I'd personally rather use a 4" bluegill. Usually a 5" is almost equally tall and will make a hook set much harder . I've never tried it with crappie.. usually the ones I end up catching are too big for bait.. I don't target them very often. 

[OCdockskipper]

2 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

Forgive me for my ignorance on species of panfish. Whether it's a pumpkinseed , red ear etc . It's a bluegill to me.. and they will all work equally... 

I think that may be the source for the disagreement.  There is a huge difference in body shape between a 5" Bluegill and a 5" Green Sunfish, the former being more difficult to swallow for a bass & the latter being more streamline.  I understand the simplicity in grouping all panfish under the Bluegill or bream moniker, but it can be misleading.

I believe Tom was talking specifically about Bluegill and not panfish in general.

[William Rossi]

Y'all are giving the Bass' little brain to much credit. 

[Bluebasser86]

Green sunfish are much preferred over bluegill in our lakes as a prey species once they reach intermediate to adult size. The more oval body shape and fewer sharp spines are a major factors in that I assume. Juvenile bluegills in that >4" range still seem to be a major prey item but not so much once they get above that size, even if bass large enough to eat them are present. 

[ClamSoup]

I know this is a dead thread but you guys are overthinking it.  The strange Gantarel colors like wounded shiner are just as productive and if you burn or twitch it, it’s more like a jerkbait thing, they don’t inspect it, they just crush it.  Fishing it finesse during the spawn, you may want to get a realistic color and action but the Gantarels are produce best as a power presentation.

 

It’s how strangely and erratically that the lure behaves that draws them in.  Think of it as a giant jerkbait.

 

Just wanted to add this for anyone googling or whatever and then browsing the thread to see.

 

thanks!

[Birdman2136]

@ClamSoup 

 

What type of set up rod and reel do you recommend? Looking more for specs than brands. Thanks. :)

[ItsHardwick]

I Throw mine on a 7’3” heavy/fast with a 7.1/1 reel. It works but an extra heavy would be better 

[Primus]

I have no problem getting them to hit a Matt lures hardgill spring , summer or fall. I'm not saying it gets bit every time I throw it, but it is probably the most consistent swimbait in my line-up and yes I use the Bluegill color.