Chatterbait help

[ForeverOutdoors]

Need help with a chatterbait problem. I've searched and been browsing t he forums for a while now and cant find an answer to my problem.

 

I fish reelfoot in tn alot and have alot of luck with chatterbaits but I miss alot of big fish. Here's the senerio: Reelfoot is lilly pads, reed grass and cypress trees. I flip a chatterbait to likely spots amongst the cover and swim it back slowly maybe 6" under the surface, most of the time i can always see my bait and i can almost always see the fish strike the lure. 4lbers and under i typically always hook, but last weekend i had a big fish run out of the pads and engulfed my chatterbait an ofcourse i set the hook as soon as i saw it, and my lure came flying out of the water like the fish never had it but i know it did. Very disheartening! 

Thinking about the situation i decided i didn't let him have it long enough to feel him and decided  when it happened again i would fight my hookset reaction and make sure i felt him first.  Didn't work. Saw the strike, waited for the feel and as soon  as i felt him i set the hook and out it came. What am i doin wrong?

[Wbeadlescomb]

Maybe swap over to a swim jig where you can let them take it for that split second it and maybe it'll feel a little less artificial for the fishl?

[ForeverOutdoors]

I'll give it a try Wbead!

[loudcherokee]

Add a trailer hook to your chatterbait and also maybe try some scent on the trailer and rubbed through the skirt of the chatterbait.

Also, are you "hero setting" I think I'd what it's called? Swinging for the fences when you set the hook? Try a sweep set instead. Make sure your hook is sharp.

LC

[Sam]

2 hours ago, loudcherokee said:

Add a trailer hook to your chatterbait and also maybe try some scent on the trailer and rubbed through the skirt of the chatterbait.

Also, are you "hero setting" I think I'd what it's called? Swinging for the fences when you set the hook? Try a sweep set instead. Make sure your hook is sharp.

LC

Yes, add a trailer hook.

Chatterbait hooks have not been the sharpest in the past although I was told the company has improved the hook points to make them sharper.

Scent can't hurt, either.

[ForeverOutdoors]

Yeah... i guess i do hero set by habit since my mainstay is jig fishing so I'll try that little change and i always use scent... usually bang garlic or shad.  Thanks for the thoughts guys.

[zeth]

wait until you feel the weight of the fish.

[K_Mac]

Making sure the hook is "sticky" sharp will make a big difference. It is not popular anymore to sharpen hooks, but I always sharpen any hook that isn't perfectly sharp. You also didn't mention what rod you are using. How fast an action you use is a matter of preference, but you must have enough power to drive home a big hook. Like any other bait you are going to miss a few. A chatterbait is a big fish bait in my experience. Good luck.

[Bluebasser86]

I'd never add a trailer hook to a bladed jig, seems to mess with the action and bites go way down the few times I've tried it, but if you can get away with it then go for it.

Make sure the hooks are sharp is the obvious suggestion.

What rod/reel/line are you fishing it on?

[redbirdsfan44]

Try a variety of different brands of chatterbaits. I prefer the booyah chatterbaits because the hook extends further back from the head attached to a heavy steel wire.. Pepper customs makes a chatterbait with a free swinging hook that might help swim it through the cover you are fishing. there are a few companies that make chatterbaits like that. 

[fishballer06]

You're using a single hook, you're not going to hookup with every bite. 

Even still, if you're using a trailer, it's possible that the fish only had the trailer in its mouth and not the whole jig. 

[tomustang]

On 4/21/2016 at 9:01 PM, ForeverOutdoors said:

Need help with a chatterbait problem. I've searched and been browsing t he forums for a while now and cant find an answer to my problem.

 

I fish reelfoot in tn alot and have alot of luck with chatterbaits but I miss alot of big fish. Here's the senerio: Reelfoot is lilly pads, reed grass and cypress trees. I flip a chatterbait to likely spots amongst the cover and swim it back slowly maybe 6" under the surface, most of the time i can always see my bait and i can almost always see the fish strike the lure. 4lbers and under i typically always hook, but last weekend i had a big fish run out of the pads and engulfed my chatterbait an ofcourse i set the hook as soon as i saw it, and my lure came flying out of the water like the fish never had it but i know it did. Very disheartening! 

Thinking about the situation i decided i didn't let him have it long enough to feel him and decided  when it happened again i would fight my hookset reaction and make sure i felt him first.  Didn't work. Saw the strike, waited for the feel and as soon  as i felt him i set the hook and out it came. What am i doin wrong?

You're seeing the action and reacting too fast.

[A-Jay]

Here's a few thoughts, in no particular order.

Review your tackle choice for chatterbaits.  Too light, Too soft or Too Fast a rod can have an adverse effect on hooksets.

Review your line choice.  Too light a line or a long cast with mono can have an adverse effect on hooksets.

Review your technique - as mentioned Too Fast a trigger can have an adverse effect on hooksets.

Finally, review your Problem here - Everyone loses fish.  Perhaps you aren't actually doing Anything wrong.

A-Jay

 

[MizzouOutdoors]

Like others asked.  What rod and line are you fishing?  I have found the best action and hookup percentage with a MH Crankbait rod.  The moderate action keeps you from ripping the bait away from the fish.  If I am fishing 3/8 oz or less I go to a M M/F rod.  You have to match the rod to the bait.  A sweeping hook set seems to increase the hookup percentage as well.