Chatterbait At Pond-Tips

[Joel S]

So I went fishing at a local public pond that has a little bit of everything in it. Tilden Rogers park in West Memphis, Ar. Game and fish stocks it. Largemouths are catch and release only. I've been reading up on the chatterbaits as I've been away from fishing for a while. Went to Walmart and got 5 of them in different colors and sizes. I only used the char/white with the trailer that comes with it. I hung my biggest bass of 2012 on my 4th cast and wasn't even used to the lure yet. Unfortunately he threw the hook. Wasn't that big maybe 3.5-4 lbs. Caught a few small fish then I saw a bigger fish guarding a nest and on the first cast I hooked it but it got off right at the bank. He looked around 5 lbs. So for my first time using the chatterbait I'm impressed with it and glad I bought it. I'm using a crappy Walmart spinning rod till I get some money saved up and I was reeling it slow so it would go deeper. What are some good techniques that you use that produce? I will change it up next time.

[Marty]

The original Chatterbaits had poor hooks but the next version supposedly improved them, but I have no experience with the newer ones. I use trailer hooks with this style bait and fish them very similar to spinnerbaits, but you can fish these in different ways, such as lift-and-drop. They do seem to be good fish attractors.

[Sam]

1. Add a trailer hook.

2. Add a trailer plastic like the ones that come with it or a baby fluke, crawfish, etc.

3. Fish it like you would a spinnerbait.

4. Fish it like you would fish a jig.

5. Hop it along the bottom.

Just throw it!!!!!

[Joel S]

I've found that currently the fish react more to the spinnerbait approach. Caught me another one this evening. 2 lbs maybe but I've noticed only the bigger fish bit it and the little ones run from it. Trailer hook tomorrow morning and I will see if that helps. Thanks