BassNBarry Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 Zman all the way. Have caught dozens of 3-6 pound bass using this highly productive bait; prefer the MinnowZ trailer although my fishing buddy has equal success using a paddle tail. We fish a lot of stained water so the Zman chatterbait is a productive staple. After a heavy rain, I use it even more (chartreuse color). I'm now using the Project Z because it looks better (the fish probably don't care) and has a better hook keeper for baits made with "Elastech." Before I started using Project Z, I used the Elite and Original and caught a lot of fish, and they cost less; however I still use Project Z. I fish it with just enough speed to move the blade while using erratic rod action and occasionally letting it rise and sink, rise and sink. You'll figure out what works best for you. Quote
Lendiesel22 Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 On 1/9/2016 at 10:54 AM, Jon G said: Picasso X2 Quote
Lendiesel22 Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 Try the picasso with a blade minnow trailer. Its a sweet bait Quote
Brocephus Fishing Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 On 1/9/2016 at 5:11 PM, jignjake said: I don't know where most of you guys are from and/or where you fish regularly, are chatter baits AS effective in clear and dirty water? I live in northeast Indiana and am convinced I need to imitate THE main forage base up here, bluegill. Anybody else have success imitating gills with these baits? I can't speak on the "best" chatterbait/bladed jig because I make my own. But, I can speak on the above... Clear water, dirty water ... Don't matter what kind of water. It's effective in both. Cold water, warm water ... Don't matter the temperature either (not for me anyways). Confidence in the bait my friend, confidence. Imitating species ... sure you want to target their main food source as an imitation and you can be successful in imitating bluegills. Just get you a green pumpkin colored one and go to wearing 'em out. It's worked for me. (hint: throw a watermelon or green pumpkin trailer on the back of it and dip it in JJ's ... works great for me ... shhhh). 1 Quote
BassNBarry Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 I've used Zman Original, Elite and Project Zs (now using Project Zs only) with various Elastech trailers and have caught dozens of good-sized bass. No doubt Project Zs are pricy, but IMO, they are durable and they catch fish. Haven't had durability issues with any Zman chatterbaits. The skirts have held up and the paint can take a beating; I just sharpen the hooks regularly. They are my go-to bait anytime the water turns muddy after a heavy rain. This December, after 8 days of rain, the water was extremely muddy, and I could barely see the bait under 4-6 inches of water. Even in those conditions, we caught some nice bass. Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted January 20, 2016 Global Moderator Posted January 20, 2016 The Zman Project Z is a very nice bait for when I want a bait with a faster vibration. I prefer baits with more thump and being able to customize them to the color I like. Being able to chose the hook and head style is a plus too, which is why I started making my own. This was the color that did really well for me last year, but I switched to a translucent copper colored blade because the water was stained a lot last year. 7 Quote
Scarborough817 Posted January 20, 2016 Posted January 20, 2016 On 1/16/2016 at 2:12 PM, Brocephus Fishing said: I can't speak on the "best" chatterbait/bladed jig because I make my own. But, I can speak on the above... Clear water, dirty water ... Don't matter what kind of water. It's effective in both. Cold water, warm water ... Don't matter the temperature either (not for me anyways). Confidence in the bait my friend, confidence. Imitating species ... sure you want to target their main food source as an imitation and you can be successful in imitating bluegills. Just get you a green pumpkin colored one and go to wearing 'em out. It's worked for me. (hint: throw a watermelon or green pumpkin trailer on the back of it and dip it in JJ's ... works great for me ... shhhh). one thing i have figured out is if the water is clear or if it is highly pressured it's better to have a bait without a skirt it seems to work a little better for me at least 1 Quote
Super User ChrisD46 Posted January 20, 2016 Super User Posted January 20, 2016 On 1/9/2016 at 9:59 AM, MDBowHunter said: Check out Sebert Outdoors Fogy, I started using them last spring. I feel they're the best out there, the ZMan ones are junk. Besides Sebert Outdoors is a site sponsor, and their bladed jigs cost way less them the ZMan junk. I started out using the ZMan, but had trouble with the blades falling off, the skirts falling off and the blades are so thin that they bend up and the finish flakes right off. Now some people are claiming that ZMan revamped them and they're of better quality now, but IMHO they should've put out a quality product to begin with instead of junk therefore I won't buy their bladed jigs ever again ^^ This ^^ !! ... In order to get a good ZMan chatterbait you have to go to like the $9.00 Pro Premium Delux Model ... To heck with that , the Foggy by Seibert (Mike) is solidly made , uses good materials , awesome color selection and fair price . The ONLY time I stray from the Seibert Foggy is occasionaly when I need to find something quick locally I will go to WM and get a Rage Blade . Quote
IneedAnewScreenName-33448 Posted January 20, 2016 Posted January 20, 2016 zman original because the pro you have to buy the trailer seprate and it good in quality Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 21, 2016 Super User Posted January 21, 2016 1 hour ago, bass fishing freak said: zman original because the pro you have to buy the trailer seprate and it good in quality Not The new offerings are MUCH better. Quote
IneedAnewScreenName-33448 Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 your welcome no problem. would you like to anwser my question on my page Quote
BassNBarry Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 Bluebasser86 . . . impressive handiwork. Thanks for sharing the pics. I keep a detailed log of what catches what, when, etc. and chatterbaits out performed all my other baits, even my pig & jigs. Last time out, 3 of us were fishing in two boats; I was in a boat fishing by myself. Threw chatterbaits, swim jigs with paddle tail trailer, and pig & jig all over this ledge at every possible angle and didn't get a strike. My two fishing buddies followed me 15 minutes later in exactly the same area where I struck out and caught 8 bass in an hour (average weight over 5 pounds) using a 6" Shad-delicious swimbait with a weighted hook. I got the lesson – when they aren't biting, keep changing baits, etc. and you find what the bass want to eat. Quote
IneedAnewScreenName-33449 Posted February 12, 2016 Posted February 12, 2016 Anyone who says Z Man chatters are junk is clueless!! I catch more fish on Zman's than any other chatter. I tried a few customs last year and did ok, but when I needed a fish..IT WAS Z MAN!!! I am going to try Picasso this year and see what they do with my zman's. The Picasso chatters look amazing with the fish-head jig design. A few more months and it's chatter time up here in the North!!! By the way, look at the current issue of BASSMASTER magazine. Trophy pics have several Z Man Chatterbaits listed as bait used....didn't see any other chatters...Nuff said! 1 Quote
Super User Choporoz Posted February 12, 2016 Super User Posted February 12, 2016 31 minutes ago, UpperHand said: Anyone who says Z Man chatters are junk is clueless!! I catch more fish on Zman's than any other chatter. I tried a few customs last year and did ok, but when I needed a fish..IT WAS Z MAN!!! I am going to try Picasso this year and see what they do with my zman's. ........Nuff said! There's more than a few of us here that are apparently far more clueless than you, and have decided that we won't ever use the 'original' z-man chatters again. But, I'm not sure why you'd choose to throw out such a broad insult and then in the same paragraph say that you're going to try something different. ???? Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted February 13, 2016 Super User Posted February 13, 2016 The original chatterbait is one of those annoying baits that clearly has several issues, but flat out catches fish. I dislike bladed jigs a s a whole, but there is no way around the fact that they are a useful tool. I have some Reno,sky ones they made before being served legal papers that I really like. I find there are several different presentations that work well. For me prespawn with a large trailer is killer. Like any other lure type, if it works for you, it works for you, no matter what others think. Quote
LxVE Bassin Posted December 22, 2016 Posted December 22, 2016 Zman is the only brand that I have dealt with and I have had success in retention ponds, lakes, and rivers. Worked well in murkey and clear water. I just put an order in for their elite and project z lines. I also caught my Personal best smallie on a Zman original chatterbait. Quote
Super User MIbassyaker Posted December 23, 2016 Super User Posted December 23, 2016 Well I don't know if they're the "best", but the most satisfying to fish are the ones I've cobbled together myself, like this "baby bass" number: That's just a 3/8oz Arky head from Barlows, a split ring, and snap, blade and skirt material from fishingskirts.com. It's not Siebert or Bluebasser quality, but it works! Quote
Ghostshad Posted December 26, 2016 Posted December 26, 2016 I gota agree on ZMan , put the quality out first , i think it was Bluebasser but he posted some of his & they looked Awsome . Hope i got His name right , if not So Sorry . GodBless & Thanks Merry Christmas & Happy Birthday to My Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ the one & only Son Of God Quote
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