Best Rod Action For Chatterbait (& Spinnerbait)

[Robert Riley]

I use a MH/F. I think a softer tip is critical since the stiffer it is, the more of the blades you feel (Yeah, there can be too much of that.)

[LunkerFisher]

St croix premier 6'6" mhf here. I tried the 6'10" mhf crucial and I didn't like how much a 3/8 Colorado blade was trying to pull the rod from my hands. The crucial seems to work fine for chatterbaits for me. I've been experimenting with 20# fluoroclear, 15# big game, and 12# cx, and so far the big game gets the nod for line choice.

[rtwvumtneer6]

I'm sure this is going to get a lot of thumbs down... So here goes. 

 

7'4 H/F.  7.5:1 with 15# FC.  I can fish it through thicker grass and rip it out as needed.  I rarely burn it back or straight retrieve. I'll move the lure with the rod and let it fall.  The blades tell me all I need to know. I don't set the hook hard, either.  A smooth sweeping set does the trick.  It's unorthodox, but for me it works.  They usually smack it pretty good, or hit it on semi slack line during the fall/pause.

 

Open water I like a MH/F, same gear ratio and line.  I've thrown them on a M with mono and had success, too, but I don't like the feel.  Just a personal thing.  

 

There ya go.  A bit of a different approach.

 

[greentrout]

Fish 6'6" medium fast using 1/4 & 3/8 oz. spinnerbaits on 12lb. mono...the best? for me where I fish...

 

good fishing...

[FishDewd]

So far I don't like moderate-moderate/fast action rods. They just feel... weird. All of my rods except for maybe one are fact action, and that one rod is an exception since it's a cheap rod that just happens to serve me well for drop shotting small panfish lol. I like my crankbaits on a fast action. Recently I've gotten hits using a short side tug with a reelhalf turn to one turn to while moving towards the lure to tighten it again. I side-set cranks and for me, the fast action works better whether I am side-twitching it as described, or using a reel-reel-reel faster-pause sort of technique straight back towards me. So far I have hooked up all but one fish that's hit it that were big enough to get hooked. Chatterbaits... can't comment. I don't have faith in those, they just seem to scare fish. But I think I'd want a fast action if a fish were to bite it so I could slam them quickly.

[B_Rose12]

I use my Squarebill Rod, it’s a Lew’s Custom Speed Stick, 6’9 Medium Heavy / Mod Fast with 12lb InvizX. I use it for Squarebills, Chatterbaits, and Spinnerbaits. 

[sully420]

On 4/24/2015 at 11:36 AM, A-Jay said:

 When I'm fishing a spinner bait & a chatter bait in the same type of cover (namely shallow to mid-depth vegetation) I like to allow the fish to get the bait sufficiently before I detect the strike so I don't pull it away prematurely, missing a solid hook up.  Additionally, on a long cast, I need to know that my tackle selection will allow me to put that decent size hook into the fish with authority.

 

I've played around with a few different versions of rod, & line types / size (Glass, Graphite & composite sticks as well as Mono, Co-poly and braided line) and have settled on one that works for me. (The reel only changes in the IPT area depending on the water temps- but it's rarely a high speed model in these conditions).

 

The Quantum Tour KVD Signature Series (TKVD746MA) MH Crankbait rod and 15, 17 or 20 lb fluorocarbon line has produced the best results so far.   The 7'4" rod length launches the 3/8 & 1/2 oz baits nicely.  The EGC glass/graphite composite blank has a decent parabolic action and backbone.  So the very slight delays on the hook set allows the fish to get the bait and then the rods back bone steps in and does the rest.

The blanks does a nice job holding onto and landing the bass.  The fluorocarbon plays an important role here.  Besides the expected sensitivity it offers while using a moving bait, without it I don't feel I was getting anything close to the hook set I wanted.      

 

I've been playing around with the 7'10' version of this rod for chatterbaits as well.  But it's a beast of a stick and so far I haven't needed it for this application.  But I'd use it if I need to.

 

A-Jay

I agree with this 100%