How to properly fish a Chatterbait

[SWH]

I have just gotten my first chatterbait and have read its just like a spinnerbait on a couple of sites but was curious what everyone thought was a good way to fish this bait.

[Hammer 4]

To be honest, I don't think there is a "Proper" way to fish it, here's why. I've caught fish, slow rolling them, yo-yoing them, burning them, and almost every other way you can think of..even just a steady med retrieve will catch fish.

What I did discover however is color seems to play a fairly big part. I have most of the colors that strikeking has in their Pure Poision line, but 97% of the time (just a guess) the bluegill gets hit most..go figure.. ;D As for the retrieve, the fish will let you know how to work it. Oh, 1 thing, be careful where you throw them as any thing gets caught in the split ring, or that area, will foul the "chatter" part of the bait..I give a sweeping motion to get the bait chattering..

[basscrusher]

like the previous post said, there's no wrong way, experiment and find what works for you.  For me, the best retrieve is a slow retrieve with long, hard rips of the rod.  Stikes almost always occur on the rip. 

Side note: the chatterbait only works for me in stained to very muddy water.  In clear water it seems to be too aggressive.  But see if you get the same results.

[bassman31783]

A slow & steady retrieve has produced the best for me in numbers & quality.  However sometimes you need to do something different with them to get the fish to bite.  Sometimes you may need to yo yo the bait by ripping it off the bottom then letting it fall back down.  Other times you need to have it bulging the surface.  Be carful with burning them because some of them start to roll when you reel them too fast.

I've also found that having either a swimming senko or a lake fork live magic shad as the trailer has done wonders for me. 

[Shane J]

I love 'em! slow rolled, wake bait, steady retrieve, or used like a jig, all have caught lots of fish for me. I stick a Baby Rage Craw on for a trailer.

[K_Mac]

We fished all day today, and the big producer in both numbers and quality was the chatterbait. I was throwing an original in white and chartreuse. My wife a Booyah in fire tiger(?). They only worked in the creek arms where the water was a little muddier. Both of our best fish (3-11 and 4-14) were caught ripping them out of grass that was a few inches below the surface.

We had a huge amount of wind today, and while a chatterbait is not very aerodynamic, compared to a spinnerbait it casts a little easier.

Like the others have said, I don't think there is a wrong way of using one. Finding the right way can be a challenge, but that is part of the fun... 8-)

[Primus]

like the previous post said, there's no wrong way, experiment and find what works for you. For me, the best retrieve is a slow retrieve with long, hard rips of the rod. Stikes almost always occur on the rip.

Side note: the chatterbait only works for me in stained to very muddy water. In clear water it seems to be too aggressive. But see if you get the same results.

I've been able to get bites on the small 1/8 size Booyah Boogie with a Zoom Super Fluke Jr. as the trailer in clear water, definetely helps as it does with spinnerbaits to have some wind and or overcast skies.

[bennybass]

like all baits you have to fish them depending on the fishes mood that day

[gobig]

I agree that there is no wrong way to fish this lure. The previous posts have made good suggestions and this bait is very versatile, it can be fished in all parts of the water column. The only things I would add... rely more on the presentation than the color and they do work in clear water.

Me and a partner just had a good chatterbait day(well he did). The fish were caught on three different colors... firetiger, watermelon, sexyshad. By the way this was on a reservoir that had a bout 15ft of visibility. The day we fished was post frontal. Most people were having trouble and couldn't buy a bite. We caught 14 fish and 11 of the 14 came on the chatterbait. Our best 5 would have went 15lbs or so.

We had a few follows on spinnerbaits but no commitments. Switched up to a chatterbait and it proved to be effective. My partner made the switch based on a past experience from the previous year, at the same lake. All I am saying is don't pigeon hole a bait as to when it is effective. Be open minded. This is an amazing bait loaded with all kinds of possibilities.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I love using chatterbaits. Generally my best are the all chart and the white. My only real complaint with them is the hook quality seems to...suck. I've had several recently that I've picked up that are just plain dull. One actually had a blunt tip. For 4 bucks I can't complain too much, little work with a hook sharpener handles the problem. Only drawback is you remove the coating on the hook, so they're prone to rusting quicker.

I've been thinking lately about just removing the small metal hex and snap lock and swapping them onto a jighead with a better quality hook.

[bweave09]

I love using chatterbaits. Generally my best are the all chart and the white. My only real complaint with them is the hook quality seems to...suck. I've had several recently that I've picked up that are just plain dull. One actually had a blunt tip. For 4 bucks I can't complain too much, little work with a hook sharpener handles the problem. Only drawback is you remove the coating on the hook, so they're prone to rusting quicker.

I've been thinking lately about just removing the small metal hex and snap lock and swapping them onto a jighead with a better quality hook.

I saw the blades for sale somewhere recently. If I can find it I'll post a link.

[SWH]

thanks guys i appreciate it... i will keep working it to see and will keep you posted

[CWB]

First I would replace the chatterbaits with Strike King's Pure Poison's and fish as posted above.

[kikstand454]

First I would replace the chatterbaits with Strike King's Pure Poison's and fish as posted above.

x2

i think the pure poisons are a much better product.

[Gangley]

I have had great success with the KaRu Vibrashock.  It is a great chatterbait and has held up remarkably well.  I have had the best luck with it in slightly murky water with 2 foot of visibility at most.  I use a Blue Gill pattern with a ZOOM Fat Albert grub as a trailer which i believe simulates a blue gill's tail best, but I could be wrong.  I actually caught a rather large drum on it this past friday in the middle of the afternoon of all things.  I have had the best luck simply retrieving it at a steady medium rate retrieve.  Just keep throwing it, it will become a confidence bait quickly.

[mrbassky]

I have been using chatterbaits for years. The bait is more versatile than most people think. Most haves one or two situations where they use chatterbaits and thats it so they only fish it one way. Its not rocket science its just like spinnerbait principles. In murky water go slower and in clear water go faster. Same patterns for spinnerbaits work slow rolling in deep grass, burning over thick shallow grass, ect.

[Shane J]