Swim jig vs. Chatterbait

[Fishin' Fool]

I have read many articles that either swim jigs and chatterbaits are replacing spinnerbaits? When would you use one over the other? Or just a preference thing?

[contium]

For me it's spinnerbaits in dirty water, chatterbaits in dingy water, swim jigs in clear water.

[flyingmonkie]

It's true.  They are old news and don't work.  Especially in Oklahoma in the lakes I fish.  STOP USING SPINNERBAITS!

[WRB]

Swim jig is a jig retrieved fast, works in all types of cover or structure.

Chatterbait is a jig with a noisy front blade and retrieved fast. Works in sparse cover* and structure.

Spinnerbait is a jig with overhead blade or blades and retrieved fast enough to keep the blades turning, works in sparse cover* and structure.

They all have there time and place and one doesn't replace the other.

Tom

* blade tends to tangle or snag weeds/grass

 

 

[flyingmonkie]

Seriously now.  I can see the similarities in the three, especially when you look across the broad spectrum of artificial baits, but I've never looked at any as substitutes or replacements for the others.

 

Spinnerbaits are a confidence bait for me... especially on n shallow stained/stained water with mixed of cover.  Windy days make it better.  SBs were made for Okies!

 

Swim jigs are definitely a more finesse alternative to this (clearer water, less wind).  They also come through cover a little easier and can be pitched and skipped more effectively.  For me, they are a go-to for big fall bass.  I love to thread on a meaty swimbait and slow roll 'em.

 

I don't have much confidence with chatterbaits.  About the only time I'll throw one over a spinnerbait is in slick water or areas with thicker grass.  They are fun to rip through grass.

[MassYak85]

They are all similar in that they are generally used as bait fish profiles but I have never understood why some people use them interchangeably. I generally use spinnerbaits for the flash of the blades. My favorite days for them are sunny/windy days because the fish see the bright flash of the blades dancing around up near the surface but the chop on the water helps break up the less-than-realistic profile. The one exception are the heavier "night time" big colorado blade spinnerbaits which put out a hell of a thump in the water and I have had good success on those at night fishing them slow along the bottom. A chatterbait is a go-to for me when the water is really dirty and the fish can key in on the vibration. Again this is the only cross over area for me because I might also use a big colorado blade in these situations. A swimjig is probably my most used. I feel it's a more subtle and a more realistic profile than the other two. A swimjig was definitely my #1 all around lure last year. I had one tied on pretty much the entire spring. 

[smalljaw67]

Spinnerbaits are my favorite bait but in certain situations a chatterbait and swim jig have taken its place. I use to use downsized spinnerbaits in clear water, 1/4oz models with small blades and translucent skirts retrieved at a fast pace, but now a 1/4oz swim jig with a grub or small swim bait trailer can be reeled slower and produce more strikes, it is that scenario that a swim jig has replaced a spinnerbait for me for the most part. In dingy water with less than 1' visibility I would use the single large Colorado blade spinnerbait slow rolled to get fish to find and react but the chatterbait does a much better job, it is more compact and has more thump at the same speeds as the spinnerbait. Now normal stained conditions for me the spinnerbait still is the supreme lure, but when there are others throwing it or the fish are a little tighter to cover, well it is nice to have alternatives that work as well but are slightly different.

[Montanaro]

Spinnerbait when imitating small shad in windy conditions

 

Chatterbait when fishing grass and want a larger profile (think sunfish or gizzard shad)

 

Swim jig when fishing heavy cover or need finesse when spinnerbait isnt working (less flash and or vibration)

[RB 77]

Whats interesting to me is that I have heard the same thing from different people and I just don't see the reasoning behind it for myself anyway. I can see using them all in similar situations some times, but as far as what the actual bait is doing in those situations is quite different for me. Meaning I might fish them in the same area, maybe with the same retrieve, but I want the actual baits to be doing different tings. To me a bladed swim jig is all about the massive amount of vibration it gives off with a little flash thrown in, a spinner bait is all about the flash it gives off with a little vibration thrown in and a swim jig is neither really, a more stealthy approach. At the end of the day I prefer the balded jig in the murkiest of water for the maximum vibration, the spinner bait in slightly stained water and the swim jig in clearer water.

[Mike L]

1 hour ago, Montanaro said:

Spinnerbait when imitating small shad in windy conditions

 

Chatterbait when fishing grass and want a larger profile (think sunfish or gizzard shad)

 

Swim jig when fishing heavy cover or need finesse when spinnerbait isnt working (less flash and or vibration)

Ditto 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike 

[Mr Swim Jig]

All 3 of them have there time and place...all 3 of them are in my arsenal and I always have one of each tied on and ready to go.  But there is no way that I would ever stop using any of those 3 baits...

[Fishin' Fool]

Thanks for all the advice guys.  I know the difference between each lure I just really wasn't sure when you would choose one over the other.  Can anyone recommend a good swim jig?  I'd imagine I would probably need a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce size.  In addition to a swimbait, I heard that the Rage Tail menace grub makes for a fantastic swim jig trailer. 

[bagofdonuts]

For me they seem to have seasons when one gets the nod over the other. I like chatterbaits during prespawn in the grass, but spinnerbaits on wood (in fact I always prefer spinnerbaits around wood). Swim jigs are most effective for me during post spawn when the grass has gotten thicker and when the blue gill are shallow.

[XzyluM]

25 minutes ago, Fishin' Fool said:

Thanks for all the advice guys.  I know the difference between each lure I just really wasn't sure when you would choose one over the other.  Can anyone recommend a good swim jig?  I'd imagine I would probably need a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce size.  In addition to a swimbait, I heard that the Rage Tail menace grub makes for a fantastic swim jig trailer. 

 

Can't go wrong with Siebert Outdoors swim jigs. The menace has been an awesome trailer as well. 

[Montanaro]

I prefer santone

 

As for trailers look on TW for anything that fancies you.  Dont fall into the trap of thinking only x brand or y style works.  Lots of good options out there that dont get marketed as intensely

[keltonz]

How does a chatterbait compare to a big colorado blade for night time or muddy water fishing?

[ww2farmer]

for me it's a clear water/ dirty water thing.

 

I prefer swim jigs in clear water, chatterbaits in dirty.

 

Secondary is water temp....I seem to do better on chatterbaits, even in clear water when the water temps are cold.

[Fishin' Fool]

Okay since it's my post I can diverge lol.  When should you fish an underspin versus the other 3??  I'm assuming it's more a finesse spinnerbait scenario so probably fairly clean water and less wind.  Is that correct?

[j bab]

edit: DELETE. Somehow I replied to the wrong post. Sorry.

[3dees]

I fish all of them, but you'll have to pry my spinnerbaits from my cold dead hands. how many fish do you think are caught thru the years on spinnerbaits as opposed to the other two? some youngun's might think it's an old out of fashion lure, but they still catch lots of fish. heck. I still throw a hulu popper.

[NHBull]

I have far better luck with Chatter baits in places a spinner bait is usually used.....no idea why?

[bowhunter63]

i catch alot on a Rage Blade with a menace trailer,But the Swim jig really works good too.Windy or murky water or if there real active the Rage blade really shines.

[S. Sass]

4 hours ago, Fishin' Fool said:

Thanks for all the advice guys.  I know the difference between each lure I just really wasn't sure when you would choose one over the other.  Can anyone recommend a good swim jig?  I'd imagine I would probably need a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce size.  In addition to a swimbait, I heard that the Rage Tail menace grub makes for a fantastic swim jig trailer. 

I also prefer spinnerbaits. I don't have a issue with them even in cover for the most part they come through pretty good. Also light grass is always a good place to skim. I have always preferred the colorado style blade but over the years it seems many companies have pushed the willow blades. Those are OK but generally for me more of a stained/clear water windy overcast kind of blade. I find the colorado blade sized property is a excellent calling bait. It has that slow methodical heavy thump.  This works good in any water, wind is a plus from my experience.

Just last weekend it was cloudy and windy as 20+ mph gusts were happening. Went to some ponds and there was no bite. Nothing worked we absolutely couldn't get a nibble. Even my partner went Ned rig and ever other small presentation he could think of. I pulled out a solid black 1/2 oz w/ a single #5  black colorado blade spinnerbait and it was instant game on. It was amazing 4 hrs of fishing and the old spinnerbait was all it took. 

 

 I have heard a the chatter bait talk and have some but for me I really have seen zero conviencing evidence that they have done any better than the spinnerbaits. Sure it's a different vibration and I guess there may be that one day it's what they will only strike. But I haven't seen it. Most cases for me it's the spinnerbaits that get hit. I don't see using them anywhere different than a spinnerbait. 

 

 I'm just now looking to try some of these newer underspins. I've used the old horse head small ones back in the day but not for bass. I have been talking with Mike at Siebert Outdoors for awhile and he is currently working on his version of a underspin as we speak. I'm looking forward to being a guinnipig. I have confidence he can make a high quality one as there is not much to them and his other baits are stellar. I'll experiment all over with these. I see them as a more finesse colder water bait as I read up it seems that is their nich. I still want to run the gamut of fishing presentations and locations with them for myself.

 

 I personally don't use straight up "swim" jigs a lot. I don't even really think of them much so I can't say they do much for me. But a really clear water approach would likely be where I'd use them most.

[K_Mac]

I use all three, buy if I am going for a big bite I will always go with a chatterbait. I have caught good fish in cold water, grass, clear water and just about every other condition. Slow rolled just ticking the top of submerged grass can be deadly in the summer-day or night Retrieve speed depends on the fish. Sometimes even in cold water a fast speed works best. A chatterbait is one of my year round high confidence baits.

[Airman4754]

Spinnerbaits on points or rocky banks along with hard structure like stumps and man made cover; docks, piers, etc.

 

Chatterbaits in wood.

 

Swim jig in grass.

 

That's the way I do it, right or wrong.