Chatterbaits And Trailers

[zildjian]

Hey guys,

Want to start to learn to throw chatterbaits. I'm just not sure how to fish them? Like a jig? Spinnerbait? Slow retrieve with twitches?

I have a 6'9" MH Duckett with Shianno Curado and 14lb mono. What size should I throw? 3/8oz?

Thanks

[Crestliner2008]

I love Chatterbaits, especially during the pre-spawn. I fish them the same way I'd "swim" a jig. Just slow roll it along the bottom. 4" fluke is a great trailer.

[zildjian]

Awesome thanks for the tip!

[SausageFingers]

Same as Crestliner.

Pre-spawn is an excellent time for the chatterbait. I usually thread a Molix Vis Shad or a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper on it.

[zildjian]

What weight do you guys like to throw and color choices for water and weather conditions?

[WookieeJedi]

Slow-roll on the bottom, as per Crestliner. But also, remove the skirt and replace it with a minnow-type soft plastic and fish it similarly to a jerkbait, but obviously faster. I have even put bigger slug-type lures on it. I like the ones with the silver jighead for that, but it probably doesn't matter.

[SausageFingers]

My favorite is the Pepper Custom in Giley. I use it under pretty much any weather or water condition during the pre-spawn when the bass are chomping bluegill.

[smalljaw67]

I make them for myself so that is my favorite and I use 1/4oz to 1/2oz, and I've used 4" super flukes, 4" River Rock Jointed jerkbaits, and the Yum Boogee tail, all work great and produce a lot of action.

[Wayne P.]

I prefer the 1/4oz size and most of the time I use a Zoom Split Tail trailer. If I want more weight for longer casts and deeper presentation, I use a 4" Lake Fork Live Magic Shad.

If I am fishing timber exclusively, I use a twin curly tail grub to reduce hangups.

[bwillis]

I've had luck w/ a baby brush hog as a trailer. I either use a steady retrieve or pop it every once in a while.

[Bass Dude]

I use it and fish it the same places and same way I use a spinnerbait. And just like the s-bait, you'll have to vary the retrieve until you find what they want. You can fish it all the ways you stated----slow, twitch it, pump it, hop it like a jig etc. The only thing I've found is that they don't go through weeds as good as a s-bait.

Your trailer options are endless...I like to put the small sized speed craw on mine. Like the others said, flukes, grubs are good too.

[zildjian]

Awesome! Thank you guys so much!