Rod For Chatterbait Style Blades

[roadwarrior]

I am using the standard power/ action that I use for single hooks, MF or MHF.

However, some of the pros are recommending using a crankbait rod, MM or

MHM. What are your thoughts?

 

 

 

 

[Chris at Tech]

Same rod I use for equally weighted spinnerbaits, MH/F

What's the pro logic for MM or MHM? Do they say the same for spinnerbaits?

[roadwarrior]

Same rod I use for equally weighted spinnerbaits, MH/F

What's the pro logic for MM or MHM? Do they say the same for spinnerbaits?

 

Take a look at two videos in this thread:  http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/151297-chatter-baits/

[A-Jay]

I'm have not fished a ton of chatterbaits but this past season I fished the chatterbait on a few different rigs looking for what might be the best option.

 

Turns out for me, the same rods I throw spinnerbaits on was it. 

 

A MH Glass or composite rod & braided line or a MH graphite stick & mono - both worked.

 

Seems the slight "delay" in strike detection offered with the glass rig and the mono line rig allows the fish to get the bait better before I put the boots to her.  This seemed especially important when using a swim bait style trailer. 

 

A-Jay

[Bluebasser86]

I fish mine on a 6' 6" MH/F LTB with a 6.4:1 Lew's Speed Spool and 15lb Big Game. I don't have any problem with hooking fish and like it shows in a lot of my pictures, they have no problem almost swallowing them either. 

[Chris at Tech]

I'm have not fished a ton of chatterbaits but this past season I fished the chatterbait on a few different rigs looking for what might be the best option.

 

Turns out for me, the same rods I throw spinnerbaits on was it. 

 

A MH Glass or composite rod & braided line or a MH graphite stick & mono - both worked.

 

Seems the slight "delay" in strike detection offered with the glass rig and the mono line rig allows the fish to get the bait better before I put the boots to her.  This seemed especially important when using a swim bait style trailer. 

 

A-Jay

 

To translate to something that may hit a little closer to home for you, perhaps we can consider a chatterbait to be interchangeable with a Scrounga'   Would you agree?  Seems to be just about an identical principle, with the key difference I see is that the Scrounga head is fixed (and therefore the bait body moves) vs the Chatterbait where the blade is the part in motion.

 

Yes, Brett Hite has won a few more $$$ throwing a chatterbait than I have, but I don't throw it enough to justify a rig dedicated to that technique.  When I've thrown it, my spinnerbait rod did the job so I just assume not try to overcomplicate things.

[A-Jay]

To translate to something that may hit a little closer to home for you, perhaps we can consider a chatterbait to be interchangeable with a Scrounga'   Would you agree?  Seems to be just about an identical principle, with the key difference I see is that the Scrounga head is fixed (and therefore the bait body moves) vs the Chatterbait where the blade is the part in motion.

 

Yes, Brett Hite has won a few more $$$ throwing a chatterbait than I have, but I don't throw it enough to justify a rig dedicated to that technique.  When I've thrown it, my spinnerbait rod did the job so I just assume not try to overcomplicate things.

 

I'd agree with that ~ and the thing that always surprises me about the Chatterbait & Scrounger is just how well they come through cover.  Makes the both very versatile.

 

A-Jay

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I think you're on the right track. Chatter baits, spinnerbaits, and swim jigs should all fish equally well on the same rig whatever your preference.

[JGBassinAL]

I throw mine on a heavy powered glass rod. Switched from a MH/F. Best switch I ever made.

[ClackerBuzz]

a few years ago my hook up ratio went thru the roof when I starting throwing buzzbaits on my glass crank rod.  so last season i decided to try chatterbaits and spinnerbaits on my MH crank rod.  the hook up ratio was definitely better b/c of the delayed response. however the major downside was i could no longer deflect off wood and rocks.  the glass rod slowly swept the hooks right into timber and rocks. after a few outings of constantly having to troll over and un-snag my lures i switched back to my MH rod. it's so nice being able to pop lures thru timber and over boulders.  now I just make sure I give the bass a frog type pause on the hook set.  

I like JGBassinAL idea of Heavy glass or standard MH rod with mono leader. A composite crank rod would probably be a nice balance between the two and definitely bounce lures off cover easier.  I like braid to fluoro on my MH chatter/spinner rod bc it's versatile. so realistically I'll just keep adding patience to my hook set. 

 

My glass set up is a Powell CB glass MH 703 with braid as main line and fluoro leader.

1/4-1oz rating 

Edited February 15, 2015 by ClackerBuzz

[smalljaw67]

I am using the standard power/ action that I use for single hooks, MF or MHF.

However, some of the pros are recommending using a crankbait rod, MM or

MHM. What are your thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

I have always used a medium heavy, fast action rod for chatterbaits and I have lost some fish on them too so I took Bret Hite's advise and tried a glass rod. The first thing I did wrong was I only have a MH E-Glass rod rated 1/4oz to 1oz and I thought it would be fine for a 3/8oz chatterbait. Well in open water for smallmouth it performed flawlessly but in weeds with largemouth I was losing just as many as I did with the MH-F graphite rod. I'm guessing my glass rod being a MH was a little bit too soft but here is where I get confused. I have a 7'2" MH-XF rod that is awesome for pitching jigs, it is super stiff and I think it should have been a heavy power rod but anyway, that turns out to be the mother of all swim jig rods so I start throwing the chatterbait with it and I score, so far I only caught a dozen fish but I haven't lost any. I'm guessing it is a combination of things like line diameter, stretch, and rod action, my problem was line stretch, I had no problem in open water but in cover it was costing me so switching to a more stout rod cured my lost fish so my suggestion is to experiment but it is more than just rod length, power, and action, there is also line types to consider and with me, it seemed to be the extra stretch from the copolymer line and a stiffer rod fixed it.

[kickerfish1]

12# flourocarbon

Dobyns savy 734 (also my spinnerbait rod)

6:4.1 reel

No problems with hookups or fishing the bait around cover.

[JGBassinAL]

I have always used a medium heavy, fast action rod for chatterbaits and I have lost some fish on them too so I took Bret Hite's advise and tried a glass rod. The first thing I did wrong was I only have a MH E-Glass rod rated 1/4oz to 1oz and I thought it would be fine for a 3/8oz chatterbait. Well in open water for smallmouth it performed flawlessly but in weeds with largemouth I was losing just as many as I did with the MH-F graphite rod. I'm guessing my glass rod being a MH was a little bit too soft but here is where I get confused. I have a 7'2" MH-XF rod that is awesome for pitching jigs, it is super stiff and I think it should have been a heavy power rod but anyway, that turns out to be the mother of all swim jig rods so I start throwing the chatterbait with it and I score, so far I only caught a dozen fish but I haven't lost any. I'm guessing it is a combination of things like line diameter, stretch, and rod action, my problem was line stretch, I had no problem in open water but in cover it was costing me so switching to a more stout rod cured my lost fish so my suggestion is to experiment but it is more than just rod length, power, and action, there is also line types to consider and with me, it seemed to be the extra stretch from the copolymer line and a stiffer rod fixed it.

 

You didn't take Brett Hite's advice. He throws his on a heavy action glass rod. Medium heavy only works in open water but heavy power will work in open water and around grass.

[retiredbosn]

I throw spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, lipless cranks and buzzbaits on a 7' 6" MHMF BPS Crankin Stick, 12lb YZ hybrid. In heavier cover or deep water it's a Shimano 7' MHF either Clarus or Compre, 12lb YZ hybrid. Reels are 6.4:1 Energies 26" ipt

[Ozark_Basser]

I throw mine on a heavy powered glass rod. Switched from a MH/F. Best switch I ever made.

What's your theory behind this if you don't mind me asking.

[JGBassinAL]

What's your theory behind this if you don't mind me asking.

 

Glass allows for a more erratic action of the chatterbait. A heavy power glass rod has enough backbone to rip through grass and enough tip to keep the fish pinned. That's my opinion from experience with the glass rod.

[Chris at Tech]

Glass allows for a more erratic action of the chatterbait.

 

Can you speak to this a bit more?  How so?  Genuinely curious since glass rods seem rather polarizing.

[JGBassinAL]

The action and transmission of the vibration through the glass blank allows for a different reaction of the bait when it deflects off glass, wood, etc.

[Arv]

I don't throw a chatterbait hardly at all. I do throw spinnerbaits and buzzbaits in my Dobyns 705cb,graphite model. I use braid so I'm not sure how much of a factor that plays. I'll also crank my drag down some more when I put the single hook lures on that rod as opposed to throwing trebles. All that said, hook ups are fine and I feel like I can work the lures like I want with that rod.