One of the most dominant types of forage for bass in American freshwater is, of course, the bluegill. That’s why green pumpkin is such a popular color, and it’s why bluegill imitations are some of the most reliable baits. This is especially true for pond fishermen. It’s likely what you should be trying to imitate when pond fishing.

Today, I’ll be reviewing one of the most straightforward, realistic bluegill imitations on the market: the Jackall Gantarel. This is my go-to jointed swimbait for ponds: and for good reason. I’ve caught big fish on this lure, but I’ve also caught a lot of fish with it. Don’t let the size fool you; this bait will slam fish even in smaller ponds.

Description and Price

The Jackall Gantarel is a 2 joint bluegill imitation swimbait. It comes in a variety of colors, with some on the more natural, subtle side and others on the flashy aggressive side. It also comes in two sizes, the original size and the smaller “Jr.” size.

This is a floating bait: if left alone, it will slowly rise to the surface. However, because of the angle of the pectoral fins, when reeled forward the Gantarel gradually dives down. This makes it perfect for bringing over the tops of shallow cover.

The Gantarel Jr. features swiveling hook hangers and a line-tie to reduce line twists and keep fish pinned. An extra chin hanger lets you adjust its fall rate with added weight.

In terms of price, the Gantarel is certainly on the more expensive side. The original size comes in at around $49, while the Gantarel Jr. is slightly cheaper at around $39. This is certainly more of an investment than, say, a pack of soft plastics.

Strike Factor

The Gantarel really shines when it comes to pulling fish from far away to hunt the bait. This can mean pulling fish from out of trees, pulling fish up from deep water, pulling fish off a point – the larger presentation will cause fish to instinctually follow and investigate the bait.

I typically try to cover water on calm mornings or evenings with the Gantarel. Its large size makes it perfect for fan casting and drawing fish in. When fishing larger baits like this one, you’re making the fish come to the bait rather than putting the bait in front of the fish.

This bait especially shines during the spring and summer, when bass are shallow and bluegill are spawning. During fall it can still work, but I would put this bait down in favor of a soft body swimbait during the winter.

The Gantarel sports a realistic, smooth swimming action. It is best when worked slowly and surely Most importantly, when paused the bait will sort of drift off, mimicking the action of a real bluegill. My reel pattern typically looks something like this: 2-3 reel turns, with my last reel turn being slightly quick and then a pause for a second or two before continuing.

Gear and Technique Recommendations

My recommendation for pond fishermen is to pick up the Gantarel in the Jr. Size if you’re going to make the investment. The smaller size is much better suited for mimicking pond forage, and it’s less expensive as well. If you’re fishing a larger pond where you know monster bass reside, you should go with the regular Gantarel: if not, the Jr. is probably your best bet.

For color options, I recommend pretty much any except for baby bass and RT Crappie (unless you’re fishing a pond with mostly crappie as forage). The most well rounded color is RT Bluegill, but for more subtle presentation you could go with RT Spawn Gill or Ghost gill. Alternatively, the flashy chrome finish on HL Bluegill makes it perfect for a more standout presentation.

Bigger swimbaits like this one are best fished on heavy rods, big reels and heavy line. I would recommend a heavy to extra heavy rod. If you have a dedicated swimbait rod, that will work perfectly: if not, a regular heavy rod should do the job relatively well. I throw this bait on my 7’4” Heavy St Croix Bass X rod, with 65 lb Power Pro braid. I do recommend using a leader: I use 25 lb fluorocarbon for my leader.

Final ratings

The Gantarel is perfect as a swimbait for someone who wants to try for some bigger pond fish. However, at around $50 ($40 for the Jr.) it’s quite the investment, and not something I would recommend for an entry level angler.

This bait can also be situational: if you’re fishing a really small pond, you’re probably better off leaving this bait in the box. I also don’t recommend throwing it during cold weather months. However, during the days when it shines you have the chance to catch big fish and a lot of them: and the bites you get with this bait are impressive and exciting. Because of that, I give the Jackall Gantarel a 73/100.

Enjoyed this post? Check out all the lure reviews I’ve done in the Lure Reviews category of the blog. I write new posts every Monday and Thursday!