Chatterbait Vs Rattletrap

[jmoore020965]

I just want to know if they're so different, when would you use the two? Other than fishability reasons (treble hooks vs jig hook etc.)

You guys are acting like this isn't a valid question.

[J Francho]

Your acting like you're the only one with a valid answer. If you feel like what you think is right, go with it. It doesn't mean everyone else has to jump onboard with your theory. What your saying *sounds* like your comparing a bird to a dog as pets. You can argue that they fill the same purpose, but you're not going to get too many to say they are the same.

[jmoore020965]

If you can't see the similarities, I would personally prefer you not participate in this conversation. A chatterbait is clearly the closest jig-based alternative to a crankbait that exists (unless you can name one closer). If you can't see that you're not looking.

[jmoore020965]

I'm asking. Not arguing. No one has explained when or why a fish might prefer one over the other, just that they will.

[jmoore020965]

But if you can't enter the conversation at least *acknowledging* their similarities, no, we're not going to have a productive conversation

[Jon G]

I just want to know if they're so different, when would you use the two? Other than fishability reasons (treble hooks vs jig hook etc.)

You guys are acting like this isn't a valid question.

That's a great question. We were confused because you were rambling about how a chatterbait is like a lipless crank, a crank, and a lot of other baits and when we tell you it's not you say we are wrong.

 

The way a bladed jig and a lipless crank fish in the water are totally different. A fish tends to strikes a lipless crank due to the noise while a bladed jig tends to get bit more do to the vibration then anything else.

 

I fish a bladed jig pretty much anywhere except heavy slop in any condition year round. I fish a lipless crank mainly in grass flats in the fall and spring. 

 

FWIW the bladed jig has been my number one search bait for the past 3 years and this year alone it has gotten me at least 50% of my bites this year.

[jmoore020965]

I take that back- I am arguing with the people who say there aren't similarities. I did not suggest that anyone wasn't allowed to express their thoughts, just that I personally, would rather they not. Clearly they have similarities. More similarities than most lures. If you cannot acknowledge that, then I probably won't listen to your opinion because they simply do have many similarities. If you disagree with that starting point I don't find your opinion to be credible.

[J Francho]

Lol, I'll take the hit on my credibility. Have at it.

[Jon G]

No offense but everyone here has told you they really are not similar. Can you admit that maybe your initial observations are wrong? There's nothing wrong with that. Anyways I have stated my opinion on that they are not similar and this is clearly not going anywhere since you just want someone to agree with you and won't accept any other answer answer to your question.

[jmoore020965]

Jon G, let's start with this, they're both great search baits. Yes?

You say you would use a vibration jig anywhere anytime. So does this include in grass flats in the fall and spring? If you're looking at a grass flat in the fall or spring, and you've got a vibration jig, and a rattle trap right in front of you. One rod. What goes through your mind when deciding between the two? At this point I assume it's the rattling, that would make you want to choose a rattle trap. So is there a reason you only use a rattle trap in spring and fall that you know of? Is the rattling too much noise in other seasons? I just want to get into the meat of the theory here, because I genuinely enjoy it.

Guys- I'm not trying to be a ******, I'm just trying to pick your brain, starting with what I know to be true. I know that cranks, traps, and chatters are the only 3 baits *I've ever used* that have that much horizontal side to side wobbling/vibrating action. This is true. If that doesn't make them at least "similar" then we must have different definitions of the word.

I know that all three are great search baits for active fish.

Of course they're different. I never ever disagreed with anyone's point that they will each work better in certain situations, I only disagreed with people who blatantly overlooked the above true statements.

[jmoore020965]

If someone asked you, what baits represent a vibrating/swimming baitfish, what answers could give them other than:

Crankbait

Rattle trap

Chatterbait

Scrounger jig

Paddle tail soft plastic/other vibrating soft plastics

The scrounged and soft plastics don't have nearly as much action, so that leaves the top 3. I'm *not* saying that means they're the same bait, but it doesn't get much more similar than that.

[jmoore020965]

If someone asked you, what baits represent a vibrating/swimming baitfish, what answers could give them other than:

Crankbait

Rattle trap

Chatterbait

Scrounger jig

Paddle tail soft plastic/other vibrating soft plastics

The scrounged and soft plastics don't have nearly as much action, so that leaves the top 3. I'm *not* saying that means they're the same bait, but it doesn't get much more similar than that.

[blckshirt98]

They both have a tight side to side wobble but the Rat-L-Trap is more of a "what the hell was that that just swam by my face  I'm gonna eat it" type of reaction bait while the chatterbait is more of a "what's that thing heading my way I'm gonna go check it out" kind of bait.  The chatterbait has the flaring skirt, and usually a plastic trailer, so it's just a "larger" presentation and usually fished slower or with more variation.  The Rat-L-Trap to me has always been a rip it in at the right depth and hope the quick flash and vibration triggers a bite.  I like to think of it more like a squid vs a sardine.

[J Francho]

What something represents to me is irrelevant to whether a bass decides to strike a bait or not.

[A-Jay]

I am arguing with the people.

 I did suggest that anyone wasn't allowed to express their thoughts.

 I personally, would rather they not.  

 Clearly I won't listen to your opinion.

 I don't find your opinion to be credible.

 

Hello and Welcome to the Bass Resource Forum ~

 

After reading through this thread - I fixed your response above to reflect my perspective regarding it.

 

btw -   Making a final judgement on "Credibility" on this Information LOADED Forum after one day of membership may counterproductive to getting the most out of the site.

 

A-Jay 

[deep]

If someone asked you, what baits represent a vibrating/swimming baitfish, what answers could give them other than:

Crankbait

Rattle trap

Chatterbait

Scrounger jig

Paddle tail soft plastic/other vibrating soft plastics

The scrounged and soft plastics don't have nearly as much action, so that leaves the top 3. I'm *not* saying that means they're the same bait, but it doesn't get much more similar than that.

 

Please explain how a crankbait or a rattle trap or a chatterbait is similar to a *vibrating/swimming* baitfish (other than the general shape, that is).

[jmoore020965]

Please explain how a crankbait or a rattle trap or a chatterbait is similar to a *vibrating/swimming* baitfish (other than the general shape, that is).

This is why I give up.

[jmoore020965]

They both have a tight side to side wobble but the Rat-L-Trap is more of a "what the hell was that that just swam by my face I'm gonna eat it" type of reaction bait while the chatterbait is more of a "what's that thing heading my way I'm gonna go check it out" kind of bait. The chatterbait has the flaring skirt, and usually a plastic trailer, so it's just a "larger" presentation and usually fished slower or with more variation. The Rat-L-Trap to me has always been a rip it in at the right depth and hope the quick flash and vibration triggers a bite. I like to think of it more like a squid vs a sardine.

Thank you! Ive heard and read everyone suggesting to slow roll the chatterbait on the bottom, but honestly 80% of my chatterbait fish have come from me running it like a wake bait near grass edges, burning it/bulging it for that reaction strike. So maybe that's why my perspective on chatterbait fishing is different from others.

[jmoore020965]

What something represents to me is irrelevant to whether a bass decides to strike a bait or not.

Okay, next time you throw a white popper into a school of shad on the surface, tell yourself that.

[jmoore020965]

Hello and Welcome to the Bass Resource Forum ~

After reading through this thread - I fixed your response above to reflect my perspective regarding it.

btw - Making a final judgement on "Credibility" on this Information LOADED Forum after one day of membership may counterproductive to getting the most out of the site.

A-Jay

A-Jay sorry but you're wrong. I honestly expressed *my own opinion* that if you can't acknowledge the glaring similarities (that doesn't mean they're the same!!) then you're either not looking or you're confused. Either way, *personally* I find those people's contribution to the conversation pointless, and *personally* would not like them to crowd the conversation. I had only hoped that they would take that piece of information and simply stay out of the conversation at their own will, but I know I can't stop them against their will. If I had suggested they weren't *allowed* to contribute I would be nuts, and wrong.

I am arguing with people who say they don't have *similarities* because clearly they do. Some people have entered the conversation acknowledging them, others have entered the conversation denying them. I get it if you would never use them in the same situation, but that doesnt mean they don't have some common important attributes. There are literally people saying they don't have common attributes at all, and those are the people who I can't help but say "you're wrong" to.

[A-Jay]

A-Jay sorry but you're wrong. I honestly expressed *my own opinion* that if you can't acknowledge the glaring similarities (that doesn't mean they're the same!!) then you're either not looking or you're confused. Either way, *personally* I find those people's contribution to the conversation pointless, and *personally* would not like them to crowd the conversation. I had only hoped that they would take that piece of information and simply stay out of the conversation at their own will, but I know I can't stop them against their will. If I had suggested they weren't *allowed* to contribute I would be nuts, and wrong.

Am I arguing with people who say they don't have *similarities* because clearly they do. Some people have entered the conversation acknowledging them, others have entered the conversation denying them. I get it if you would never use them in the same situation, but that doesnt mean they don't have some common important attributes. There are literally people saying they don't have common attributes at all, and those are the people who I can't help but say "you're wrong" to.

 

Alrighty then.  

 

I'll say to you that Disagreement is not the same as Disrespect.

 

You have yourself a good day and enjoy the forums.  

 

A-Jay

[J Francho]

I rarely think about what I throw as much as what got bit. It's why I throw a black senko to the fish that just missed my white popper. Whether the fish thinks it's the bait it injured or not matters little. I just culled into the money, while you're deciding whether to throw a trap or a chatterbait.

[jmoore020965]

I rarely think about what I throw as much as what got bit. It's why I throw a black senko to the fish that just missed my white popper. Whether the fish thinks it's the bait it injured or not matters little. I just culled into the money, while you're deciding whether to throw a trap or a chatterbait.

So you don't get as stoked on the theory of why it works as I do. Fine. Have fun "culling into the money" while I have fun thinking and learning about lure theory.

Have you noticed that a white senko fails in that situation, or do you just throw black because you usually use black senkos?

[K_Mac]

Jmoore020965 the problem many of us are having is that you've come to some nontraditional conclusions based on your limited experience, and you are unwilling to accept any input that doesn't support them. You acknowledge that there is great wisdom and experience on this site, yet seem only interested in convincing us that you've discovered a simple truth that we've managed to miss.

The truth is sometimes bass will crush a rattltrap and not take a second look at a chatterbait. They will sometimes kill a deep diving crank and ignore anything else. There are other times when a chatterbait over grass will out produce anything else, or a slow rolled spinnerbait or chatterbait will work better than a crank. The point is many of us have spent thousands of hours on the water to try to figure this out. If you want to discuss these things we are happy to do so. If you are here to teach us about things you think you know, good luck.

[jmoore020965]

Jmoore020965 the problem many of us are having is that you've come to some nontraditional conclusions based on your limited experience, and you are unwilling to accept any input that doesn't support them. You acknowledge that there is great wisdom and experience on this site, yet seem only interested in convincing us that you've discovered a simple truth that we've managed to miss.

The truth is sometimes bass will crush a rattltrap and not take a second look at a chatterbait. They will sometimes kill a deep diving crank and ignore anything else. There are other times when a chatterbait over grass will out produce anything else, or a slow rolled spinnerbait or chatterbait will work better than a crank. The point is many of us have spent thousands of hours on the water to try to figure this out. If you want to discuss these things we are happy to do so. If you are here to teach us about things you think you know, good luck.

Look- I never said they were the same bait and I never said they would work in the same situations. I just *want to know *how they are different*, and *what specific situations* one would excel over the other.

I have gotten a few helpful answers, but the vast majority have answered the questions like this-

Q:How are they different?

A:Everything

Q:When would you use one over the other?

A:In different situations