I Can't Figure Out Chatterbaits

[Sea NaCl]

Hey guys,

 

Recently I've been fishing with Z-Man Chatterbaits and I can not figure out hot to catch a fish on them. I was fishing a stained pond yesterday with a friend of mine. He was fishing a black/blue spinnerbait and I was using the Chatterbait equivalent with a black trailer. He caught 12 in one hour and I caught 1. After my failure with the Chatterbait I switched to a swim Jig and had a massive success rate. I was fishing the Chatterbait the same way I fish a spinnerbait. What am I doing wrong?

 

Why do my pictures always turn out sideways??

[ib_of_the_damned]

Hey guys,

 

Recently I've been fishing with Z-Man Chatterbaits and I can not figure out hot to catch a fish on them. I was fishing a stained pond yesterday with a friend of mine. He was fishing a black/blue spinnerbait and I was using the Chatterbait equivalent with a black trailer. He caught 12 in one hour and I caught 1. After my failure with the Chatterbait I switched to a swim Jig and had a massive success rate. I was fishing the Chatterbait the same way I fish a spinnerbait. What am I doing wrong?

 

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Why do my pictures always turn out sideways??

Because you are only wearing one shoe...

[einscodek]

Whats there to a chatterbait?  Slow/fast/ hopped .. if they are not hitting chatterbaits and yer friend was nailin them on spinnerbaits.. why did you not tie a spinnerbait on?  Dont force feed the fish .. give em what they want

[Smokinal]

Chatterbaits produce significantly more thump and vibration than a spinnerbait. And you said your swim jig, which has even less thump, gave great results. That tells me they wanted a milder bait that day. May not be the same way tomorrow, but that day the vibration was a turn off.

[Sea NaCl]

Whats there to a chatterbait?  Slow/fast/ hopped .. if they are not hitting chatterbaits and yer friend was nailin them on spinnerbaits.. why did you not tie a spinnerbait on?  Dont force feed the fish .. give em what they want

I've fished this pond a lot, and I was experimenting with different baits. We had time so I figured I would give them a fair shot considering I never really used mine before. After about an hour (which is the time it took to walk around the pond) I tied on a jig and started catching just as much as my friend.

[Sea NaCl]

Chatterbaits produce significantly more thump and vibration than a spinnerbait. And you said your swim jig, which has even less thump, gave great results. That tells me they wanted a milder bait that day. May not be the same way tomorrow, but that day the vibration was a turn off.

That makes sense. Thanks

[kcdinkerz]

I've noticed when I throw a chatter bait mornings and evening time I have more success. Could be during the midday bass are lazy even in dirty water

[Ginosocalbass]

it could be the chatterbait itself, i shy away from flashy shinney blades. unless its gold. 

[WIGuide]

Chatterbaits produce significantly more thump and vibration than a spinnerbait. And you said your swim jig, which has even less thump, gave great results. That tells me they wanted a milder bait that day. May not be the same way tomorrow, but that day the vibration was a turn off.

this x2

[smalljaw67]

I have 3 baits for shallow power fishing around wood and weeds, chatterbait, swim jig, and spinnerbait, the spinnerbait is my favorite and how I go about which one I use depends on certain variables. I very seldom use Colorado blades on spinnerbaits anymore, and the reason is the chatterbait fills that niche, so if I have low visibility I'm using the chatterbait, the vibration is a big factor when it comes to dirty water. When me and my partner start a day in which those baits can be the deal we always use something different, if I'm on a spinnerbait then he is using the chatterbait or a swim jig is we have somewhat clear water and we see which the fish prefer, it is that simple.

[primetime]

I have found personally, that the trailer makes a big difference on a chatterbait and so does the weight and speed of retrieve. I like to wake them under the surface kind of on the slow side in stained water and a 1/2 oz is a good size, or 3/8 and I have found if I use a boot tail trailer it pushed too much water at times and fish will miss it more than they get hooked as it gives the bait a wide swing...I like to use a simple 4-5" curly tail grub and if I can use a trailer hook I will if grass is not an issue, and just like a spinnerbait, I often do best when the bait is at the level where I can barely see it....Some guys bend the blades to get more thump, or add a split ring etc..but for the ZMan baits, I like them with the skirt trimmed short, I like to color the blade with a black sharpie or will use gold in stained water, and often I like to wake it and the bigger the trailer the slower I retrieve it....

 

You can fish the chatterbait so many ways, it is more of a crankbait to me than a spinnerbait, I like to make it jump and deflect by giving it a few quick turns and pauses here and there, but like most lures, I seem to do better by changing speeds even if it is just a quick stutter or quick turn of the handle....My favorite way to fish them is like using a lipless crankbait in grass..I like to let it tick the tops and then let it bury a bit and rip it out, but some days it is too much and a Spinnerbait or Crankbait is better, or sometimes the small 1/8-1/4 versions are better as they all put of plenty of vibration.....

 

I throw bladed jigs on every trip and some days they will not touch it, some days they miss it but smack it hard and give away location so I follow up with a soft bait, but when they want it, they usually let you know....Don't give up on it, Experiment with trailers from grubs, twin tail grubs, bulky beavers or creatures, floating baits like the Z Man or Strike King Zulu Flukes, and taking of the skirt is popular but I personally like a trimmed skirt and more bulk so I can get more action going slow...I hope that helps, I feel like I learn new things about the chatterbait every time I use it, and the Trailer makes a huge difference, sometimes leave off a trailer or simply use a spinnerbait Cajun style trailer in chartreuse just to give it some color contrast.....

[primetime]

When Chatterbaits work, you will know it, they often kill it as soon as you start your retrieve, but like people mentioned, if they want a subtle presentation than no need to try and force feed them something else, but I like to experiment and try different lures as well, you will figure out more and more about the lure on each trip.....It has become my first choice at night for ponds and lakes....It is fantastic at night instead of using topwater's most night but in fishing nothing is a given....Good luck, don't give up, next time it could be the reverse in the same lake at the same time.