Owner Phantom Tube Hook Upgrade

[Michigander]

I love the way the Owner Phantom tube hooks perform but they are way too fragile. They also tend to ball up when the tube head gets beaten up if it makes it that far without the hardware failing. So here's my upgraded version that solves both problems.

 

How to make this upgrade:

1. Break the crimped wire holding the original hardware, keep the weights and metal bead.

2. Tie some 40lb braid to the hook eye with a palomar knot. Keep both tag ends about 5" long.

3. Add a small conehead over both strands of the braid, like the fly tying guys use, to protect the knot.

4. Slide a 1/8" aluminum washer over both strands.

5. Add the stock Phantom weights onto both strands of the braid.

6. Add the metal bead over one strand of the braid and tie off with a knot using both strands.

7. Trim your tag ends. Complete!

[A-Jay]

Nice ~

Now let's see this one rigged with the tube 

A-Jay

 

[Michigander]

6 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Nice ~

Now let's see this one rigged with the tube 

A-Jay

 

You're in luck, I had a previously enjoyed tube within arm's reach handy. Here's how it looks with a Snack Daddy tube. Looks about the same as one rigged with the stock hardware.

[A-Jay]

Cool ~ 

Thanks.

A-Jay

[Jig Man]

That looks good but seems like a lot of work.  Unless you don’t fish a lot of rocks.  Tubes don’t last very long where I fish.   I just put a bell sinker over the hook inside the tube.

[Michigander]

38 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

That looks good but seems like a lot of work.  Unless you don’t fish a lot of rocks.  Tubes don’t last very long where I fish.   I just put a bell sinker over the hook inside the tube.

No, we don't have much in the way of rocks around here. I mostly fish tubes in weeds, stumps, and lily pads. I used to do the bell sinker rig as well but found that I preferred the Phantom setup, especially hook shape. It was just too fragile to be practical. The conversion takes less than a minute or so, it's a good lunch break project.

 

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So I added a modification, I cut the tentacles off the tube and added a silicone replacement skirt to the Phantom hardware over the weights. Needs more work as I think I need to wire tie this onto a punch skirt collar, and I would want to upgrade to rubber vs silicone.