chatterbaits suck

[G3-Basser]

I have a few and don't use them that much.  I found that 2 of the 4 that I own had extremely dull hooks out of the box.  I couldn't even accidently hook myself with these things.  The hooks seemed very poor quality.  THe action looks great in the water and I have caught fish on them.  I just treat it like another spinnerbait style bait that I can tie on and have fun with.

-J

[BrockSamson]

Been fishing them for about a year now and yet to get a hit...

[Lightninrod]

Well........................

2 lber

4 lber--public lake

3 lber

4 lber

6 lber

5 lber

6 lber

Bluegill

Some of those Bass were caught in a public lake and some in private ponds but the CB(and mine are the originals) works.  I don't find them of poor quality and they come with a sharp hook.

Dan

[jb_adams]

Well........................

2 lber

4 lber--public lake

3 lber

4 lber

6 lber

5 lber

6 lber

Bluegill

Some of those Bass were caught in a public lake and some in private ponds but the CB(and mine are the originals) works. I don't find them of poor quality and they come with a sharp hook.

Dan

I remember seeing your fish you caught with the CB.  There is no doubt you've had luck with the CB. ;D

There is no doubt that it will catch fish.  It's just how many casts does it take to catch one that I'm questioning.  Again, ALL conditions matter, not the bait all by itself.

[VekolBass]

I live near you and I have only caught two fish on a chatterbait so far.  They will probably be going on Ebay soon so I can use the money to buy something else...

If you want to get rid of them let me know--I've found them to be a great river bait--particularly in and around grassbeds, as others have mentioned.

[Lightninrod]

Well........................

2 lber

4 lber--public lake

3 lber

4 lber

6 lber

5 lber

6 lber

Bluegill

Some of those Bass were caught in a public lake and some in private ponds but the CB(and mine are the originals) works.  I don't find them of poor quality and they come with a sharp hook.

Dan

I remember seeing your fish you caught with the CB.  There is no doubt you've had luck with the CB. ;D

There is no doubt that it will catch fish.  It's just how many casts does it take to catch one that I'm questioning.  Again, ALL conditions matter, not the bait all by itself.

The three I caught today were caught in less than an hour total and with just a few casts.  The other(two swimbaits, hard jerkbait, spinnerbait, jig-n-pig, 8" GY Grub-T-rigged, and a wacky-rigged Swimming Senko) baits went biteless today....  Of course, today they were turned on by something about the CB and I d/k what that was but it worked today.

Dan

[c17Lat]

It seems to me that CB's can work GREAT around grass in dirtier water. If you look at some of the elite series tournaments, a lot of guys in the top 12 catch em on CB's. I know Rick morris did well on the potomac last year and some other pros have done well down south with them.

[Brad_Coovert]

Marty, I'll try to get a picture and post it if I can my camera working.

Brad

[Rattlinrogue]

I'm sure it works for many anglers,but I prefer a spinnerbait all day long.

[Avalonjohn44]

Lightninrod - That first 6 Lb bass pic... There is a pink thing hanging off the side of the bass... Is that a parasite or are his guts hangins out?  Just wondering.  If it is a parasite, do you ever pull them off?

[Ridgerunner7]

How can you say they suck?  The recent Bassmasters tourney that VanDam won, the guy that took second fished a chatterbait for 3 days.  It's been very successful on tour.  I have great success with it in the right conditions.  It doesn't catch fish when nothing else does, but really, what lure does.  That's the lure I choose when I'm searching for aggressive fish.

[jb_adams]

How can you say they suck? The recent Bassmasters tourney that VanDam won, the guy that took second fished a chatterbait for 3 days. It's been very successful on tour. I have great success with it in the right conditions. It doesn't catch fish when nothing else does, but really, what lure does. That's the lure I choose when I'm searching for aggressive fish.

So what conditions do you look for when selecting and what selection of chatterbait do you use?

They have all kinds of custom setups.  Blade decals, multi-colors for blades, skirts, trailers, etc.  What's your preference since you're having so much luck.

Also what's your favorite retrieve based on color & conditions?

[Cajun1977]

no better way to say it. "ChatterBaits SUCK"      

brent

im actually  surprised that someone who is selling there own baits ,is actually  saying another bait  sucks  ,,you could say youve had no success with them or they havent produced for you  ,,but   saying they suck  when you also makes baits  doesnt sound cool to me at all,,(i know you dont make chatterbaits  and i havent fished your lures,  but if i made my own i certainly wouldnt bash yours)

[Lightninrod]

Lightninrod - That first 6 Lb bass pic... There is a pink thing hanging off the side of the bass... Is that a parasite or are his guts hangins out?  Just wondering.  If it is a parasite, do you ever pull them off?

That's a GA DNR tag.  That public lake is managed by the state and they track tagged Bass that are caught and reported.  I reported its tag number and they can then determine its growth rate, etc.  They manage it towards a goal of growing bigger Bass and it works.  Several double-digit Bass have been caught there but not by your's truly :-[.

Dan

[Ridgerunner7]

How can you say they suck? The recent Bassmasters tourney that VanDam won, the guy that took second fished a chatterbait for 3 days. It's been very successful on tour. I have great success with it in the right conditions. It doesn't catch fish when nothing else does, but really, what lure does. That's the lure I choose when I'm searching for aggressive fish.

So what conditions do you look for when selecting and what selection of chatterbait do you use?

They have all kinds of custom setups. Blade decals, multi-colors for blades, skirts, trailers, etc. What's your preference since you're having so much luck.

Also what's your favorite retrieve based on color & conditions?

I use it just as I did my spinnerbait. I can slow role the 1/2 ounce in 15-20feet of water or I can use the 1/8 ounce in 2 feet of water with weedy cover and everything between. I like trying to bounce it off cover (stumps, dock poles, rocks) or rip it through the tops of weeds. It pulls through weeds very easily. I generally stick with the obvious: darker colors blue/black, black/red in low light conditions and white, white/chartrues in bright conditions. More natural colors in clear water and more vibrant colors in stained. It really isn't that much different from a spinnerbait except it has a more erratic waggle which I would think would get you more reaction strikes. Obviously it works better when the fish are aggressive, but you can say the same for a spinnerbait too.

[Danceswithbass]

Everyone expects CB's to be the one and only bait they will ever need to fill the boat. It was a legend before it was even available to the public. The truth is, its just another tool to be used at the right time, under the right conditions. I won a tournament last year on Tenkiller with them and I gave my co angler one and he came in second. They do work. I caught 2 last weekend on them . And if the conditions are right I'll use them this weekend. They are not my favorite bait, just one I know when the conditions are right will out catch any other. I think they are best on wind blown points or around cover in stained water. Take the skirt and trailer off. Replace it with a fluke in a color that will match the conditions. Superglue the fluke on or you'll never keep it up on the bait. Reel it fast enough that you feel it quit chattering and slide to one side, that erratic action is just the ticket. You cant get a spinnerbait or a crank bait to do that. Try it. But dont expect it to be the only bait you'll ever need. The difference between people who like and dislike the CB is some have figured out how and when to use it. Good luck.

[Tucson]

I picked up some blades and made my own from some jigs.  It gives you the option of fishing a jig as a slow swimming jig.  Gotta think the vibrations entice the beasties, especially in cloudy water.  

[Lightninrod]

Reel it fast enough that you feel it quit chattering and slide to one side, that erratic action is just the ticket.

I rip a 'stock' one and watch(near the boat just to see what it did) as it darts to one side.  Very 'natural' looking and you're correct in that no other bait(I've seen) does that.

Dan

[jb_adams]

Reel it fast enough that you feel it quit chattering and slide to one side, that erratic action is just the ticket.

I rip a 'stock' one and watch(near the boat just to see what it did) as it darts to one side. Very 'natural' looking and you're correct in that no other bait(I've seen) does that.

Dan

Why doesn't someone try taking a chatter blade and putting it on a shallow crankbait?  I bet that would cause the cranking down, and one C-R-A-Z-Y wiggle.  It may be too much cavitation for the bait to function properly but I am willing to bet that you can take a square billed crank that runs in less than 8ft of water, add a chatter blade to it and tie on at the swivel and I bet that thing will make one heck of a noise going through the water.

Heck, now I have to do it just to see my partners reaction.  He hates crankbaits as it is.  Now I'll have a "chatter-crank" to really make him roll his eyes in disgust! ;D

[Bassinfreak2]

Chatter - crank  ;D Now there's an idea! Let us know if you ever try it!

[jb_adams]

Chatter - crank ;D Now there's an idea! Let us know if you ever try it!

Oh I will this weekend.  I'm also going to see if I can rig one on a spinnerbait!

I don't think it will work but the novelty is worth the effort!