How Do You Fish A Chatterbait

[livemusic]

Yesterday, I tried a Z-man chatterbait, bluegill color. Wow, what a bait, love the action, love the look. I noted that the bait quickly got down into vegetation and got fouled by the slime. Surprised me that I had to keep it up toward surface. Was this an anomaly or do you fish them very near to the surface? Or maybe the weeds were just that close, but I doubt it, as we just had a ton of rain and the lake has risen about a foot in just days. Also, is there a model that you like a lot? Any tips on rigging or fishing it? Lastly, what type of rod/reel would you use. I saw a video made by a pro, forget his name but he loved using this 7' 3" rod that was a foreign brand, maybe Japanese, and it was about $600 and it was fiberglass and had a lot of "give" to it. I think I recall him saying that a stiffer rod would pull it out of the soft part of the fish's mouth?

 

I know I've been out of fishing for years, do you find chatterbaits effective, sure look good! What a cool "invention." How/when do you use them? I think it was this same pro who said he thinks 3 colors cover it -- bluegill, shad, black. He also did not favor a shiny blade, said it doesn't seem natural to him. He liked black blade and said the vibration is the key.

[HoosierHawgs]

 

 

[JGBassinAL]

It was Brett Hite in the video you watched. He uses the glass rod because it gives the chatterbait better action when steadily retrieved or when ripped from grass. Also the more give allows the fish to really choke the bait resulting in more boated fish. I used to use a MH/Fast rod for chatterbaits but felt like I missed too many fish, so I had a custom glass rod built. I now use a 7'3" Heavy glass rod for my chatterbaits and it was the best decision I ever made. That rod also handles hollow bodied swimbaits like a beast as well.

[livemusic]

It was Brett Hite in the video you watched. He uses the glass rod because it gives the chatterbait better action when steadily retrieved or when ripped from grass. Also the more give allows the fish to really choke the bait resulting in more boated fish. I used to use a MH/Fast rod for chatterbaits but felt like I missed too many fish, so I had a custom glass rod built. I now use a 7'3" Heavy glass rod for my chatterbaits and it was the best decision I ever made. That rod also handles hollow bodied swimbaits like a beast as well.

 

Yes, you are right, that was him. What is a hollow bodied swimbait example?

[HoosierHawgs]

Yes, you are right, that was him. What is a hollow bodied swimbait example?

http://m.basspro.com/Strike-King-Shadalicious/product/1407020732026/

[livemusic]

http://m.basspro.com/Strike-King-Shadalicious/product/1407020732026/

 

Ah, now I know. I was just in Academy and saw some really large baits like this and I was thinking I bet these will catch fish.

[hatrix]

It was Brett Hite in the video you watched. He uses the glass rod because it gives the chatterbait better action when steadily retrieved or when ripped from grass. Also the more give allows the fish to really choke the bait resulting in more boated fish. I used to use a MH/Fast rod for chatterbaits but felt like I missed too many fish, so I had a custom glass rod built. I now use a 7'3" Heavy glass rod for my chatterbaits and it was the best decision I ever made. That rod also handles hollow bodied swimbaits like a beast as well.

I don't know why you seem to be the only person who like glass or similar action rods for baits like that. Making that change for moving baits was one of the best things and I find it hard to go back. I no longer see a need to use a standard rod anymore unless I need the quick action to rip grass free.

[JGBassinAL]

I don't know why you seem to be the only person who like glass or similar action rods for baits like that. Making that change for moving baits was one of the best things and I find it hard to go back. I no longer see a need to use a standard rod anymore unless I need the quick action to rip grass free.

 

I totally agree. I use graphite for deep bottom contact baits, flippin, and punchin. That's it. Everyone on here preaches that a MH/F action rod can do anything. I agree that it can, but it doesn't do anything great. IMO a glass rod excels for ANY moving bait out there. Topwater, crankbait, swimbait, chatterbait, buzzbait, spinnerbait, swimjig, etc. And I would never be caught throwing these on graphite ever again.

 

Edit: I will use a graphite rod for rattletraps if I am throwing them in grass, that is the only exception.

[hatrix]

I agree totally with everything you are saying. I originally got on the glass type rods throwing buzzfrogs. They just didn't always get it good enough or you get a good jerk and by the time you react they are long gone. I feel that sudden impact and I know they do also. By switching I have also gained casting distance and feel like the action on some lures benefit from the softer tip. I will still use graphite sometimes like you said fishing a trap in grass or with some bottom baits ect. But when fishing grass I will try a moderate rod first and if I can't clear it then I switch to graphite. I also have no issues driving a single hook home either. My drag is never loose enough to slip with carting gear on a hook set and hooks are plenty sharp. If anything I probably set to hard usually out of habit so it helps.

[hatrix]

I agree totally with everything you are saying. I originally got on the glass type rods throwing buzzfrogs. They just didn't always get it good enough or you get a good jerk and by the time you react they are long gone. I feel that sudden impact and I know they do also. By switching I have also gained casting distance and feel like the action on some lures benefit from the softer tip. I will still use graphite sometimes like you said fishing a trap in grass or with some bottom baits ect. But when fishing grass I will try a moderate rod first and if I can't clear it then I switch to graphite. I also have no issues driving a single hook home either. My drag is never loose enough to slip with carting gear on a hook set and hooks are plenty sharp. If anything I probably set to hard usually out of habit so it helps.

[corn-on-the-rob]

Fishes very similar to a spinnerbait for me, except I burn a spinnerbait more. It seems to be very "jig" like to me, as in it tends to catch bigger fish on average.

I use a trailer on all chatters, the vibration imparts too much good action on trailers to pass up..

No skirt in clear to ultra clear water with a more natural trailer.

In stained to muddy I like a white or anything black skirt with whatever trailer to match or contrast.

[corn-on-the-rob]

Also, I like a MH moderate for mine. I was having too many issues with a medium powered rod driving the hook home on big bass.

[shanksmare]

While I'm sure you can catch plenty of bass with a chatterbait using a fast action graphite rod, I believe over the long haul you will hook more with a rod exibiting a more parabolic action. I base this on observations of missed fish in shallow clear water. The delay that the glass rod provides seemed to let the fish get the bait deeper while the fast action graphite rod seemed to pull the bait away from the fish before they had it fully in their mouths.

 

The trailer you use can make a big difference in a CB's action. I personally like to use paddle tail swim baits, Super Flukes and Flukes and LFT Magic Shads. Paddletails have a great action and provide drag on the end of the CB which seems to tone down its thump somewhat, super flukes, flukes and Magic shad have a nice action and really look good when the CB deflects off of weeds.

 

I retrieve a CB somewhat like a spinnerbait, which is to say I almost never just retrieve it straight in. I am continually stopping, starting twitching and speeding it ip. So the action I give it is quite erratic. It works for me, it may not for you.

 

Good luck, I'm sure that you will figure out what works in your area and will be very successful using them.

 

The CB's with blades directly attached to the hook seem to exibit a more high speed buzz, whereas those attached with split rings seem to give more thump. The split ring attached balded CB's seem to "hunt" much easier than the others.

[Bankbeater]

I really started using chatterbait last fall, but I am fishing it a little different than a spinnerbait.  One difference that I am seeing is that while I don't always have a trailer on a spinnerbait, I always use one on a chatterbait.  I don't seem to get bites without one. 

[tappinbass]

What type/brand of glass rods are you guys talking about?  What do you like?

[danno054]

I throw mine on a Powell MH MF composite and i can tell a difference in the action vs. graphite. It's something I'm no expert still learning at but i'm just blown away with the action difference. 

[bradc36]

I throw it on a 7'4 heavy Rapsody Crank it Up glass rod. I've had good experience with it hopping it up to get it moving through the water column as well as a steady retrieve. 

[primetime]

Fish it like you have a crankbait, spinnerbait, Jig, Swimbait....Fish it with different trailers, blades, models, bladed jigs are the real deal....Love em, especially at night.

[primetime]

I like a Fast action rod for ripping it out of weeds like a trap....If they don't want the chatterbait then the swim jig usually works well, sharpies fix any issues with blade color, black and chart are my two favorites....I like custom versions but booyah makes a great little bait, forget the name but it is good for the money and I like a trailer that is basic like a grub or Cajun style spinnerbait trailer, if I put a boot tail swimbait on the back then I find I miss more fish at times, but it is great for locating fish to then toss a tube or worm at ....

[A KGB Operative]

Medium heavy action. Fast tip. Cast out, give it a second or two, reel in like a spinner. I lovee the devils spear trailer for it. Or net bait paka chunks. Bump it over rocks, swim it, rip it, all catches fish for me. Most productive bait this season by far.

[Bluebasser86]

The rod thing is certainly a personal choice. The glass rods are becoming popular for this bait, but it didn't work for me. I fish mine on a 6' 6" MH/F and 15lb Big Game. I don't miss many fish with the baits I make and I fish them a ton. 

I fish my bladed jigs extremely slowly, just fast enough to keep the blade vibrating, even bumping the bottom if possible. In lakes that see lots a spinnerbaits, a bladed jig is a good replacement. They also shine in stained or dirty water or around vegetation because the strong vibration helps the fish hone in on the bait.

There are times I will fish them faster (over vegetation for example), but 9 out of 10 larger bass I catch on them will be during a very slow retrieve. I've had good success with them using a stroking or pumping retrieve, letting them settle to the bottom then lifting the rod quickly before letting it settle again.

I think 2 of the biggest mistakes I see guys make with bladed jigs are, 1. fishing them too fast and 2. not recognizing a bite. Like I said, I like to fish them slowly. The issue then becomes that a big bass can lazily swim up to the bait, inhale it while maintaining a similar pace, then spit the bait out without it ever feeling much different. I can't count the number of big fish I've caught on them where it felt just slightly different. Sometimes it feels like the blade has quite working, other times like I've caught a leaf or piece of weeds. I think the common notion is that since it's a moving bait the strikes will be vicious, which they certainly are at times, but more often than not they're much more subtle than I think most fishermen expect. I first realized this by fishing clear water and actually seeing bass strike my bait and noticing that I felt very little despite the bait being almost completely inhaled on a couple occasions. I thought back and realized I'd felt similar strikes lots of times before but never realized they were strikes. Once I started setting the hook on those little bumps and when the blade just wasn't vibrating as hard, I was amazed how many fish I was catching that I didn't even know were there before.

I use a wide variety of trailers on mine but lately I've become a big fan of the Zman Diesel Minnow. I wrote a post about them and the durability they offer as a trailer. I had used the same Diesel Minnow on a few different bladed jigs and it had accounted for well over 50 fish. Amazingly enough, that same Diesel Minnow is still going. I keep taking it off and putting it back into the package and reusing it and it just keeps catching fish. It has well over 100 fish to it's credit now, and you can hardly tell it's been used other than the color is fading a bit. The Havoc Pit Boss and Rage Menace, rigged sideways or vertically, are both baits I use a lot for trailers as well. 

[HoosierHawgs]

I like a Fast action rod for ripping it out of weeds like a trap....If they don't want the chatterbait then the swim jig usually works well, sharpies fix any issues with blade color, black and chart are my two favorites....I like custom versions but booyah makes a great little bait, forget the name but it is good for the money and I like a trailer that is basic like a grub or Cajun style spinnerbait trailer, if I put a boot tail swimbait on the back then I find I miss more fish at times, but it is great for locating fish to then toss a tube or worm at ....

Its called the Booyah Boogie Bait