Whats A Good Chatterbait Setup? (Never Fished It Before) Need Advice!

[joshvollberg]

I have never used this lure, and want to get the best presentation I can with it. Please let me know your opinions on a good set up and why. Rod, Reel, line (braided, flouro, mono,) etc. Also, where does it do best? (Weeds, over hangs, logs, etc) How do you fish it and when?

[LApanic]

Rod: 7'-7.5' MH (HVY Glass rod is optimal)

Reel: I use a 7:3:1 on a lot of baits like these because I can burn it or slow it down, but a 6:3:1 would work fine

Line: 17-20# Fluorocarbon (depending on the grass thickness)

 

Works best IMO in grassy areas with Millfoil and Hydrilla almost like a lipless crankbait, you can rip it free from the grass if it hangs.  With that said, the reason it works better in grass is because it comes through grass real well, compared to spinnerbaits.  I generally throw a chatter bait more often than a spinner bait unless theres a lot of lay downs in open water.

 

As far a trailer, I would use a trailer 99% of the time.  My favorite trailer for my chatter baits are Big Bite Bait Cane Thumpers.  For Shad colors I use the Ale Wife, Bluegill colors I use the Easy Money or Tilapia and for Black & Blue chatter baits I either use the Talapia BBB Cane Thumper, Berkley Havoc Grass Pig (Black & Blue) or a Black & Blue swimming Senko (Gary Yamamoto)

 

I fish a lot of grass at Lake Seminole, so naturally I fish a chatter bait a lot and caught my PB pond bass on a Chartreuse/White Chatterbait, Ale Wife Cane Thumper Trailer and the paddle tail dipped in spike-it.

 

Brett Hite won the FLW opener at Ockechobbee with a chatter bait and flipping and then the BASS opener on Lake Seminole with B&B Chatterbait in the mornings and a Bluegill colored one later in the day....actually here's a video on the BASS site where he goes into depth on his setup, style etc from his win on Seminole....http://www.bassmaster.com/series/elite-series-vault/3507518581001

[frogflogger]

A pro friend uses braid on a 7' H or MH - for myself I've always used mono - they are very versatile as to where you can fish them - over weeds, in timber, rocky points, deep, shallow - the 1/8 oz. is a killer on river smallies.

[Bluebasser86]

I fish bladed jigs a lot and have great success with them. I use a 6' 6" MH/F rod with a 6.4:1 Lew's reel and 14lb copolymer line. I always have a trailer on mine but never a trailer hook. They'll work about anywhere but around cover seems to be best, I really like them around weeds. Best way I've found to fish them is with an extremely slow, straight retrieve. 

[bmlum415]

I use a dobyns champion 733, shimano curado 201i and 60 sunline fx2 braid. I throw braid because I like to rip chatterbaits out of weeds.

[Sam]

What is written above covers it.

 

I do use a trailer hook and a fluke as a trailer now and then.

 

I glue the trailer to the top of the hook to keep it in place.

 

I also use mono to help keep the line on top of the water.

 

I like the Chatterbaits with the big red eyes.

 

Rig one up and go out there and have some Chatterbait fun.

 

One word of caution:  Make sure the hook is sharp.  In the past the Chatterbait hooks were not sharp and I lost many a nice bass when they threw the bait back at me.

 

Glenn has a hook sharpener with his tackle (as shown on the Lunker show this past Sunday) and I suggest you do the same and sharpen those hooks.

[Zach Dunham]

7' MH heavy with 20 lb copolymer mono is what I usually throw.

 

I have been using Optimum Double Diamond swimbaits as trailers recently and they are really awesome.

[Fishes in trees]

Any rod that you might throw a spinner gait with will work for chatter baits.   The ones I use are between 6'6" and 7'2" MH, with a little more tip than my pitching rods.  If I am determined to fish a chatter bait in an area where there are trees to either side and overhead, I'd consider throwing them  with a pitching rod.

[LApanic]

What is written above covers it.

 

I do use a trailer hook and a fluke as a trailer now and then.

 

I glue the trailer to the top of the hook to keep it in place.

 

I also use mono to help keep the line on top of the water.

 

I like the Chatterbaits with the big red eyes.

 

Rig one up and go out there and have some Chatterbait fun.

 

One word of caution:  Make sure the hook is sharp.  In the past the Chatterbait hooks were not sharp and I lost many a nice bass when they threw the bait back at me.

 

Glenn has a hook sharpener with his tackle (as shown on the Lunker show this past Sunday) and I suggest you do the same and sharpen those hooks.

 

The gluing of the trailer bait is one thing I forgot to add, the newer Chatterbait Elite baits have bigger hooks with a trailer keeper on the bait, but the original I always use a dab of super glue to hold it near the skirt ring and even do, out of habit with the chatter bait elite

[Felix77]

I use the exact same setup as my spinnerbait ... 6'6" - 7' MH with 15-17lb FC.

[frogflogger]

optimum double diamond is my favorite trailer for swim jigs and chatterbaits - they are a very well designed lure