Chatterbait Recommendations.

[PaFrogThrower9]

New to the Chatterbait game. Any brands and certain models I should look into to? Thanks.

[flyfisher]

I used the original Z-man chatterbait in my first foray into the chatterbait world and have since tried the seibert outdoors version, since they are a sponsor here and could not be more pleased.  Quality build and great colors.  It will be the chatterbait of choice for me going forward.

[Weld's Largemouth]

Revenge viberator or any of the D&M custom baits chatterbaits

X2 on Siebert outdoors chatterbaits

[doyle8218]

I use D&M or TNT.

[jiggz125]

I used the original Z-man chatterbait in my first foray into the chatterbait world and have since tried the seibert outdoors version, since they are a sponsor here and could not be more pleased.  Quality build and great colors.  It will be the chatterbait of choice for me going forward.

What type line do you throw them on? Also, is there a particular rod length/power you like to use? I too, will be trying to get into bladed swim jig fishing as well as spinnerbiat fishing this spring. Thanks!

[HookdUP]

I like the rage blade

[Fishes in trees]

I have a couple of old Gambler ones that I like.  They have more of a football head as compared to an Arky style head, also they have a brush guard like a regular jig.  The skirt color is a brown/green pumpkin/chartreuse/blue color, kind of resembling a bluegill?  Anyway, that's what they called the color.  Gold Blade and a white BPS Cajun trailer with chartreuse tips.

 

I keep telling myself to get a supply of the blades and make my own, as I have a plethora of old jig heads around my shop, in various weights, but I haven't done it yet.

[Alpha Male]

I would recommend at leat 1-2 z man lures since they are the only one that can put the blade directly on the jighead.

[flyfisher]

I have been using a Duckett micro magic 6'9" MH powered rod and it does the job nicely.

[kickerfish1]

Bluebasser on here makes one of the best I have used. Very good quality baits.

[bassinyea]

With the patent Zman has, it is really the only one that can attach the blade directly to the line tie.  A lot of people think that this makes those baits superior and is the only way to have a chatterbait, but really all it does is make the bait have a tighter wobble on the retrieve then some of the others.  The project Z from Zman looks promising and probably will be a good bait.  Sieberts from what I read on here are good as well.  I like the revenge viberators which have a split ring between the blade and the line tie which cause them to have a wider wobble which I think can be good at times.  They also have a spring coil that clips on to the line tie so that you can rig it weedless.  If you have ever tried to fish a bladed jig in heavy wood cover you know that this can be a very important thing.

[wytstang]

I do not like vibrating jigs that use a split ring and will only use one that the blade attaches directly to the head. Zmans Custom baits (TW sells them) is a great product that I can recommend since it comes with quality components. If you can find the original D&M's I would buy them up as well.

[Brnnoser6983]

I do not like vibrating jigs that use a split ring and will only use one that the blade attaches directly to the head. Zmans Custom baits (TW sells them) is a great product that I can recommend since it comes with quality components. If you can find the original D&M's I would buy them up as well.

I just bought a piranh, and piranha II from TW , and they look stout. I mean if you want you could upgrade the split ring, but I don't see the need to.

[wytstang]

The blade to head design gives a ticking sound it makes due to the contact the blade makes with the head. You don't get that with a split ring design. The (at times) muddy waters I fish I want all the noise and vibration I can get.

[Bluebasser86]

The blade to head design gives a ticking sound it makes due to the contact the blade makes with the head. You don't get that with a split ring design. The (at times) muddy waters I fish I want all the noise and vibration I can get.

The ones with the split rings hunt while the direct connect ones don't, both have their advantages.

[robster80]

one not mentioned that looks promising is the nichols chatterbox may pick up one when i place a TW order

[matuka]

I'm another in favor of the D&M originals. For a "finessy" approach I've beenusing the Z Man, but I'm trying out the SK rage blade. I see a lot of folks like the revenge bait. I have'em but I seem to hang the blade on the long wire too frequently. Has anybody figured a quick fix for this?

[Buzbait88]

The blade to head design gives a ticking sound it makes due to the contact the blade makes with the head. You don't get that with a split ring design. The (at times) muddy waters I fish I want all the noise and vibration I can get.

 

You are correct to certain point.  MOST split ring designs don't make contact with the head, but there are some that do.  My favorite is the KaRu Vibrashock and  the blade makes contact with the head better than any other on the market and that's because it uses a football head.  The football head with a proper size split ring will allow the blade to contact the head.http://karuluresusa.com/vibrashock.html

 

you can see in this picture where the paint has started to chip from the blade contact.

[primetime]

Bluebasser said it best above......Both have advantages but I have been throwing the bladed jigs he makes more than I throw the other brands the past year and I find I land more fish with his style and designs as the swinging hook helps keep fish on the hook. I like to throw bladed jigs all over the place, early, mid day, and they are my favorite night time lure for covering water which is something I learned last year and now I always throw a black bladed swim jig at night with a trimmed down skirt and black and blue Menace Grub or GYB Grub or piece of a swim senko.

 

I find that if the trailer is bulky and has a lot of built in action like say a Keitech Fat Swing, or Creature style bait, I get a lot of strikes but miss a good percent since the bait is really aggressive, but it also gives away the location of fish. I like to keep the bait near the surface so I can either barely see it or wake it but it is amazing how many fish will roll or swipe at it if you pay attention and most times a texas rig tossed back in the area of the strike produces for me...I don't know if you can fish a chatterbait wrong, I also know that the bend in the blade makes a huge difference, and so does using just a fluke without a skirt etc....

 

I also throw the bladed jigs in saltwater and the custom models have great hooks and are durable, but Snook will hammer them especially if making a long cast and having the right sized trailer and speed. I prefer to use Mono in 15-20lb test on a Medium heavy rod that has some bend and not too fast, but if fishing in heavy weeds I will go braid with a fast action rod and just make sure I give the fish time once it vanishes or the rod gets ripped out of my hands which is how they often blast it....One tip I like is the sharpie to color the blade as well.....

[chadmack282]

What about the Strike King rage blade?

[wytstang]

I'm another in favor of the D&M originals. For a "finessy" approach I've beenusing the Z Man, but I'm trying out the SK rage blade. I see a lot of folks like the revenge bait. I have'em but I seem to hang the blade on the long wire too frequently. Has anybody figured a quick fix for this?

I had the same problem with the Revenge brand so I gave it away, it was quit frustrating.

[wytstang]

You are correct to certain point.  MOST split ring designs don't make contact with the head, but there are some that do.  My favorite is the KaRu Vibrashock and  the blade makes contact with the head better than any other on the market and that's because it uses a football head.  The football head with a proper size split ring will allow the blade to contact the head.http://karuluresusa.com/vibrashock.html

 

you can see in this picture where the paint has started to chip from the blade contact.

That looks promising, thank you for that.

[bmlum415]

TNT baits claymore is what I throw. Nice hunting action and very durable

[roadwarrior]

What about the Strike King rage blade?

 The Rage Blade shines at slow speed, ticking the bottom. Let your rig settle than

use a slow retrieve with an occasional pop.

 

 

 

[bassinyea]

I had the same problem with the Revenge brand so I gave it away, it was quit frustrating.

 

I'm another in favor of the D&M originals. For a "finessy" approach I've beenusing the Z Man, but I'm trying out the SK rage blade. I see a lot of folks like the revenge bait. I have'em but I seem to hang the blade on the long wire too frequently. Has anybody figured a quick fix for this?

 

I use the revenge baits a lot and rarely have the problems you are having.  I assume when you say the blade is hanging on the wire you are talking about during the cast?  I have had this happen a couple of times I believe but usually whenever this happened as soon as I would start reeling and I could feel that the bait was fouled up, I just jerked real hard a time or two and it started thumping just like it should.  I also throw pretty bulky trailers on my revenge viberators and that extra weight on the back of the bait could be what keeps the bait from tumbling a lot in the air and causing me the problems you have been having.