Gantia 180
The Gantia 180 is a hard swimbait made of four parts, which gives it a tight and fluid swim. This swimming action creates a beautiful flag-like movement. The Illex lure, with its four sections that have a wide range of movement, swims at the slightest touch, and it can be reeled in very, very, very slowly!
This, combined with its suspending density, which is something quite rare for a hard swimbait, allows, in addition to bringing it back gently, to make breaks as long as you wish! This is where it stands out from other similar lures.
This particular density is very well proportioned and you can really leave the lure in suspension for a long time, without it sinking or floating, so important in this technique!
It has hard fins on the sides, like one of its predecessors, for those who knew it: the Gantarel. These fins give a good stability to the lure under water, just be careful not to hit them because they can break.
Underwater, they are safe, it is especially during transport that you have to take care of them.
One thing that may or may not please you, but is special enough about this type of lure to be mentioned, is that it incorporates noisemakers, which make a discreet noise.
The lure is originally rigged with strong, stinging treble hooks. It can be used with single hooks in size 2/0.
It has a ring under the head which is very practical. It allows you to attach a lead clip, to adjust its swimming depth. A lead clip at this point makes the lure sting from the nose as soon as you stop pulling it back.
If you want the lure to sink more smoothly while remaining in a horizontal position, you should place this sinker on the first hook. A lead of 2 to 5 grams is good for it. As it is a "small" hard swimbait, it is not really comfortable to swim deep, and its ideal depth of use is between 30 centimeters and 2 meters.
It is equipped with a last ring positioned on its head. This one is used to put a double hook on it, when it is plunged strongly in head to make it slide on the bottom.
Finally, its tail is both a strong point and a weak point. It brings realism and fluidity, in action it is perfect, its problem is that it is fragile and reacts to other plastics.
Fortunately, Illex has done things right and they are available for purchase at a price of 7.95 euros each. A word of advice, if you want to buy this lure, to extend its life, buy a pair!
Old VS new version
As far as lure design is concerned, this Gantia 180 is identical to the old one.
The Freddy 170 did not get the same makeover when it was reissued. We can regret the lack of improvements, such as the mounting of hooks on rolling swivels, allowing the fish to turn 360°, limiting the possibility for it to lean on the lure during the fight.
Only its price, increasing from 39.95 euros, when it first appeared in 2017, to 54.95 euros, has benefited from an update.
This increase, over 5 years, is unfortunate for our wallet, but remains credible given the inflation of recent years. Especially since the lure does not seem to be marketed by Jackall anymore, and with these exclusive colors, we are lucky to be able to get this lure again in an optimal version for fishing in France!
Fortunately, a spare tail is now part of the package, I'm not sure it was before.
Anyway, compared to other brands, its price is very correct for a lure of this quality!
Using the Gantia 180
The Gantia 180 is best used in shallow, stagnant areas or areas with a weak to medium current. It is quite usable if the current is stronger, but in this case, I find its oscillation speed a little too fast and it can become complicated to bring it back gently, because when doing the treadmill, with the current, it already swims fast.
It is a lure that is made to be reeled in slowly, interspersed with long pauses. To reel it in, there is nothing simpler. It can be reeled in at a constant speed, but stop and go with the help of the reel, making a quick turn of the crank, followed by a pause of a few seconds, and so on, is what makes it the most attractive. In this case, the attack often takes place on the restart.
This is an animation that works in all seasons, when the fish are on the lookout for a nice easy prey. It's perfect for fishing over weed beds, along rushes and lily pads.
My opinion
It is a lure that I don't take out very often, but when it does see the water, it often saves the day. I don't take it out very often, maybe wrongly, because since you have to bring it back and work it slowly, it doesn't allow you to prospect large areas quickly. On the other hand, on identified strike zones, it is one of the lures in which I trust to bring out a fish.
Also, I didn't take it out much for fear of losing my stuttering save, but now that it's available again, there's no reason to keep it safe.
I recommend using this lure as it is, without the addition of lead, because what makes its strength is its ability to make long pauses, while with a lead, we lose its suspending side.
This Gantia 180 is a good lure that offers something different! Its tight swimming action and above all its perfectly controlled density make it a lure of choice for luring wary fish in clear water.
The new wave of colors, including the crazy pike, which was just a must for a pike range, completes the series.
Moreover, the possibility since this year, to get spare tails, makes that it has everything for him to remain in the catalog of Illex a few more years, what I wish!
Some will regret that it did not benefit from a little tune up, but anyway, it is a very good pike lure, which is not to be neglected when fishing for black bass.