Looking for first chatterbait

[Bigchunk]

have zero chatterbaits. Don't know much about them, rod and line? Would you use a shorter rod or longer? Line and what not? I have bunch of rods just not sure which one and what brand bait you guys like. Thanks

Will be fishing water on the clearer side. Green or shale tint

[Molay1292]

MH F rod in about 7ft, go a little shorter for accuracy a little longer for casting distance.   You can use any line that matches your fishing conditions, keep in mind you are setting a big single hook in a lot of instances so compensate a little for that fact.  

Chatterbaits or what ever you want to call them are all basically the same, they are a jig with a blade and skirt.  Pick one with a good hook and it will work well.

[tbone1993]

I have a cache of original zmans as they're the easiest to come by off the rack. Rarely do I see a local shop carry anything that isn't a zman chatterbait. If you can find an original D&M piranha somewhere buy it and don't let go. They were my favorite chatterbait. Aside from production models I usually buy a few off of a local guy that does it the right way. 

[JustinU1X]

I use the same setup as I do for spinnerbaits. 6'9 MH/MF rod w/ 12lb copolymer (Izorline xxx). 12lb YZH would do the job also. 

[Bluebasser86]

6' 6" MH/F, 6.4:1 reel, 15lb Big Game. One of my favorite baits to fish. 

[bwillis]

I have used z-man chatterbaits previously, but I recently bought supplies from lurepartsonline to assemble my own.  I got enough to make 10 baits in 2 different color combos for about $20.  As far as rods go, I have been throwing them in a 7' MH Vendetta spinning rod w/ 12/lb test mono

[MDBowHunter]

Do yourself a favor and check out Siebert Outdoors here on the site, and take a look at his Fogy. All the Zman ones Ive bought through out the past couple years have been junk, the blades are thin and bend all up and that's if they don't fall off first. And if none of that happens most likely when you get it back to the boat the skirt will most likely be hanging half way off as well. It's hard to believe that a company as big a Zman would put junk out on store shelves..

[Scarborough817]

i would pick up either one zman project z and one strike king rage blade or one siebert fogy and one strike king rage blade either black and blue, green pumpkin or a shad pattern 

all of mine are fished on a 7ft mh/f with a 6.4.1 reel and 15lb abraz-x 

[roadwarrior]

16 minutes ago, Scarborough817 said:

i would pick up either one zman project z and one strike king rage blade or one siebert fogy and one strike king rage blade either black and blue, green pumpkin or a shad pattern 

all of mine are fished on a 7ft mh/f with a 6.4.1 reel and 15lb abraz-x 

The Project Z Z-Man Chatterbait is a great lure: http://zmanfishing.com/store/categories/chatterbait

I also fish the Siebert Fogy and the Rage Tail Rage Blade. All three of the lures are top of the line!

 

[DanielN]

Thanks for the interest in ChatterBait fishing!  Regarding rods, there are 2 primary schools of thought.  Many anglers prefer to use a more parabolic rod (similar to a crankbait rod), while others prefer a stiffer, fast action rod like a spinnerbait rod or even a flipping stick.  Line is again a personal preference between braid or fluorocarbon.

As far as the baits go, there's a reason why so many pros (even the ones we don't sponsor) use the Z-Man ChatterBait!  The patented direct head-to-blade connection makes all the difference and allows the bait to vibrate (or "chatter") on slower retrieves (and even on the fall) and prevents the bait from hydroplaning on faster retrieves.  That's not to say you can't catch fish on other bladed jigs with a split ring style head-to-blade connection, but the ChatterBait design has proven year-in and year-out to be the most versatile and effective design out there.

As far as the baits themselves go, we've made a lot of tweaks to improve quality of the Originals over the last few years and have added several newer versions with different hook and skirt options, beefed up components, etc.  If you haven't used a Z-Man ChatterBait in the last few years, you owe it to yourself to check them out!  Here's a rundown of the current options:

Original ChatterBait - at $4.99, this is a price point bait, but in the last few years, we've upgraded to a sharper and stronger needlepoint hook, enlarged the collar on the neck of the jig to prevent skirts from sliding down, added a trailer keeper, and modified the shape of the snap to prevent it from opening or pulling free.  Even though it's the least expensive standard size ChatterBait in the lineup, lots of pros still opt for this version.  In fact, Aaron Martens used it to win a Bassmaster Elite event just last summer (even though he endorses a competitor's bladed jig)!

ChatterBait Elite - $6.99 MSRP, features a 5/0 Gamakatsu hook, low profile hub EZ Skirt, wider head and modified head-to-blade connection that brings the blade closer to the head for more vibration, molded in trailer keeper, nicer paint jobs on the head to match skirt patterns, new style extra strong quick clip, etc.

ChatterBait Custom (*** exclusive) - $6.99 MSRP, features a 4/0 black nickel Mustad UltraPoint jig hook, wire trailer keeper, traditional banded skirt, skirt matched head paint jobs, extra strong quick clip, made and assembled in the USA

ChatterBait XPS Pro (Bass Pro exclusive) - $7.99 MSRP, features a 5/0 black nickel Mustad UltraPoint spinnerbait hook (longer shank for larger swimbait trailers), traditional ChatterBait shape head, molded in trailer keeper, large neck collar to prevent skirts from slipping, double umbrella EZ Skirt for fuller profile, skirt-matched head paint schemes, extra strong quick clip, made and assembled in the USA

Project Z ChatterBait - $8.49 MSRP, 5/0 black nickel Mustad UltraPoint spinnerbait hook, streamlined swim jig shaped head with 3D eyes, double trailer keeper, double umbrella EZ Skirt for fuller profile, skirt-matched head paint schemes, oversized neck collar to prevent skirts from slipping, extra strong quick clip, made in the USA

ChatterBait Freedom - $8.49 MSRP, brand new, can be pre-ordered from *** but will be available soon, incorporates Freedom Tackle's interchangeable swinging hook design, allows for weedless rigging on a 5/0 long neck VMC EWG hook

In response to a comment above about our blades bending and breaking, all of our blades are stamped from stainless material that is very strong.  In strength testing on Instron machines, the blade has never been the weak link on any ChatterBait.  The thickness of the blades is critical to the bait working as well as it does, and the thicker blades found on most other bladed jigs really reduce the action and vibration.  We've learned this through a great deal of testing and trial and error.  The blades will bend, but many anglers like to bend the blades to tweak the action of the baits, and they can easily be bent back.

Finally, we stand behind our products 100%, so if you ever have any issues with our products, just let us know and we'll make it right!  We always welcome your feedback and input too!  Thanks!

[IndianaFinesse]

I use a 6'9" medium heavy fast action rod spooled with fourteen pound braid.  If the water is clear i'l throw a flouro leader on it.  As far as the actual chatterbait, my favorite is the rage blade.  Although the original z-man chatterbait is cheaper, the rage blade vibrates at much slower speeds and comes with a better hook.

 

[MDBowHunter]

1 hour ago, ZMFish said:

 

In response to a comment above about our blades bending and breaking, all of our blades are stamped from stainless material that is very strong.  In strength testing on Instron machines, the blade has never been the weak link on any ChatterBait.  The thickness of the blades is critical to the bait working as well as it does, and the thicker blades found on most other bladed jigs really reduce the action and vibration.  We've learned this through a great deal of testing and trial and error.  The blades will bend, but many anglers like to bend the blades to tweak the action of the baits, and they can easily be bent back.

Finally, we stand behind our products 100%, so if you ever have any issues with our products, just let us know and we'll make it right!  We always welcome your feedback and input too!  Thanks!

So from what your saying this would be normal for your baits, this has caught 0 fish and was only fished for a half a day, and this what the blade looks like. Here's another pic of how one came apart while being removed from the package, it's never seen water. 

[DanielN]

MDBowHunter, that's not normal at all, and we will gladly stand behind our product and make this right!  The top two photos show a ChatterBait model that has been discontinued in lieu of higher quality, US-made products like out Project Z ChatterBait.  On the Original ChatterBait in the bottom pic, the hook eye was not crimped down all the way, allowing the blade to slip off.  The hook eyes are closed one at a time by hand, and this one obviously slipped through the cracks - no excuses here, just our sincerest apology.

Please e-mail these pics along with your address to info@zmanfishing.com, and we'll replace these with current model ChatterBaits.  Thanks for the opportunity to make this right, and our apologies for your experience.

[Logan S]

The TW-exclusive Chatterbait Custom is the best I've used.  Good colors and build quality plus a wire-barb trailer keeper...Which is the most important feature IMO, trailers stay locked in place even when ripping through grass or even on false/missed hooksets.  The wire-barb is so much better at keeping things in place than the molded in style, I wish more companies would use it!

I use the bluegill color most often, but throw the shad/white colors a fair amount too.  Black/Blue is also a good color to have.

For gear, I use a 7' H/XF glass rod, a 7:1 reel, and 15 lb flouro.  

[MDBowHunter]

59 minutes ago, ZMFish said:

MDBowHunter, that's not normal at all, and we will gladly stand behind our product and make this right!  The top two photos show a ChatterBait model that has been discontinued in lieu of higher quality, US-made products like out Project Z ChatterBait.  On the Original ChatterBait in the bottom pic, the hook eye was not crimped down all the way, allowing the blade to slip off.  The hook eyes are closed one at a time by hand, and this one obviously slipped through the cracks - no excuses here, just our sincerest apology.

Please e-mail these pics along with your address to info@zmanfishing.com, and we'll replace these with current model ChatterBaits.  Thanks for the opportunity to make this right, and our apologies for your experience.

I appreciate your willingness to make it right, and I'll follow through and get pics emailed.  

[roadwarrior]

2 hours ago, ZMFish said:

MDBowHunter, that's not normal at all, and we will gladly stand behind our product and make this right!  The top two photos show a ChatterBait model that has been discontinued in lieu of higher quality, US-made products like out Project Z ChatterBait.  On the Original ChatterBait in the bottom pic, the hook eye was not crimped down all the way, allowing the blade to slip off.  The hook eyes are closed one at a time by hand, and this one obviously slipped through the cracks - no excuses here, just our sincerest apology.

Please e-mail these pics along with your address to info@zmanfishing.com, and we'll replace these with current model ChatterBaits.  Thanks for the opportunity to make this right, and our apologies for your experience.

Sweet!

 

[buzzed bait]

5 hours ago, ZMFish said:

MDBowHunter, that's not normal at all, and we will gladly stand behind our product and make this right!  The top two photos show a ChatterBait model that has been discontinued in lieu of higher quality, US-made products like out Project Z ChatterBait.  On the Original ChatterBait in the bottom pic, the hook eye was not crimped down all the way, allowing the blade to slip off.  The hook eyes are closed one at a time by hand, and this one obviously slipped through the cracks - no excuses here, just our sincerest apology.

Please e-mail these pics along with your address to info@zmanfishing.com, and we'll replace these with current model ChatterBaits.  Thanks for the opportunity to make this right, and our apologies for your experience.

well i came here to say i like the rage blades, really do.  BUT after i had one dropped in my TW order by accident (literally for free somehow) i tried them and really like the zman project z as well....  

after this here post though, i'm REALLY liking the z mans!  great customer service is the standout in retail.  and i'm not dogging them at all, they're pretty good, but SK's customer service could use some improvements and clearly Z man already has that piece figured out!!!

[James Pondscum]

Are all  zman chatterbaits made domestic or are the lower end imports ?

[DanielN]

19 hours ago, nickles said:

Are all  zman chatterbaits made domestic or are the lower end imports ?

Nickles, that's a good question.  The ChatterBait Elites are the only baits that are manufactured start-to-finish overseas, but I wouldn't consider them to be 'lower end' at all - in fact, I would put the current ChatterBait Elites up against any bladed jig we make quality-wise.  The components for the Original ChatterBait are made overseas, but they're assembled and packaged domestically.  The Project Z ChatterBait, ChatterBait Custom, and Bass Pro ChatterBait XPS Pro are all made in the USA.  We're proud to say that manufacture a much larger portion of our product line domestically than most other lure companies of our size.

[bowhunter63]

Really like the Rage blade.Can fish it around more cover and not get hung as much.

[wytstang]

I became a big fan of Zman Elite series after I read of the upgrades to it, so I order some to try out and they work great and the quality is there. I will say their skirts on this model are prone to pull back however they do go back in place extremely easy. I do hope they raise the collar lip up to keep them from moving but the ez skrt moves back in place in seconds. The TW version is great and the wire keeper is strong you just can't use thin trailers with it as the wire tears them up (Gamblers flappy daddy crawdad for example). Zman Elite & TW custom are my go to (available) chatterbaits. Still have my Phenix and D&M originals I keep tucked away.

[PennBass]

Haven't seen this one mentioned, but it's worked great for me: the TNT Baits Claymore. Skirt is hand-tied and the action really is something different. Got a really erratic action that I don't see on other brands. 

I use a MH Fast action 7' rod so I can get really good hooksets, and I use 25 lbs. braid with a ~7 foot fluoro leader. 

[Brikon]

I really like the Z-man Chatterbait and the Rage Blade Chatterbait . Color I prefer White because you can fish it in Clear or Dirty water. Put on a Paddle tail fluke and watch them reel right in. 

As For a rod I always use a Medium/Heavy -Moderate action rod.  W/ a High speed  reel like a 7.3.1 

[Bluebasser86]

Some colors I like for that greenish tint. Which one I choose really just depends on how much tint I'm dealing with and then what the main forage might be. 

[Bankbeater]

I use the same rig that I use for fishing spinnerbaits.  I fish the chatterbait around wood and brush more that I do weeds.  If that blade picks up milfoil then you are basically swimming a jig.