ChatterBaits

[Pro Logcatcher]

I am seeing all these pictures of huge bass on ChatterBaits. I've tried them a few times but never caught anything. Any advice on when and where to fish them?

[frogflogger]

fish them more

[NHBull]

I use them as a spinner bait substitute.

 

Start there, and you will expand your confort zone

[jr231]

It's a jig with some flash... Everyone says to retrieve it straight and steady but I like to hop them off the bottom, tick the tops of weeds and pitch them into cover. 

[Fishin Dad]

They are my go to bait.  My confidence bait for searching.   I usually just throw them towards shore or cover (downed trees, pencil grass, etc.) and straight retrieve them at different speeds.   I really found out that different  weights make big difference.   My daughter was throwing a 1/2 ounce and I was throwing a 3/8.   She was killing me.   I switched to a 1/2, and it was game on.  We caught over 30 bass on them that day.  A lot of fun and easy enough for my 13 year old to catch fish.  

[geo g]

Do you like to crank them in what part of the water column?  On the surface, mid range, or along the bottom making contact.  What weight works best for you, and what color?  Thanks for any advice.  

[ScottDB]

I'm not positive of the weight on my chatter bait but they are one of my favorite lures. Always use a trailer on them it makes them look tasty to fish. I'm not an expert but I just cast out and reel in like a spinner, I just go slower and faster on each cast depending until I find a nice speed that the bass like. I've caught some of my biggest bass off of them. When I get home I'll edit this and put the brand and weight of the lure

[Fishin Dad]

I use 3/8 and 1/2.  I tend to like the 1/2 better.  Casts farther and I can place them better in the water column with a 6.4:1 reel by reeling faster or slower.   Sometimes the fish tell me they like the 3/8 better.    I have my most success with green pumpkin and brown.    I use different trailers and have not settled on a favorite.   I have even done well on with the ones that come with Zman baits.   I usually change them out though.    I throw them up by shore and have had bass hit them right when the bait hits the water.   I then reel them back at different rates to hit the water column until I find what they want.   Usually closer to bottom or a couple  feet off.   Good luck!!

[skunkedfishing]

if your not feeling the vibration from the chatter bait, go faster.

[Bluebasser86]

I reel them just fast enough to make the blade vibrate. They've basically replaced squarebills for me because I fish them in a lot of the same areas I would fish those in the past. Don't just fish the typical spinnerbait colors either. My biggest bladed jig fish have been on black and blue. Bites on them aren't always jarring strikes like most expect them to be. If you're retrieving and feel the blade vibrating, then it just feels like it suddenly stops, set the hook. I've caught so many big fish on them that I felt next to nothing except the blade felt like it quit working or caught a piece of grass or something. 

[Fishin Dad]

Bluebasser is right on, if you feel the blade stop vibrating set the hook.   It is either a fish or weeds.   If it is weeds, I usually just give a couple hard jerks and it clears them and blade starts vibrating again.  These really tell you what's going on.   On a good rod with braid, it is almost too much feel.  I use mine on a glass rod with Fluorocarbon most of the time.  

[Pro Logcatcher]

I did have a water moccasin attack it while I was shore fishing, though.

[lonnie g]

down the edge of bank around weeds or structure. also deeper water around standing timber. and of course stained water or in my case up here now {chocolate milk} they make a lot of vibration. I do like the strike king RAGE. with the extra ball clapper.

[RHuff]

I had never really caught anything on them until this year. We were having trouble finding bass last month I had been fishing deep until we finally found the bass laying in shallow grass flats in 3-5 feet of water. My fishing partner started catching them here and there on spinnerbaits being slow rolled. I threw the chatterbait and it was game over. Been my best producing bait thus far this year. All in shallow water near hydrilla and lillypads.

[UPSmallie]

As others have said, definitely add a soft plastic trailer.  Replace the store bought one with say a keitech and you'll be good to go.

[RoLo]

 

In the grand scheme, a chatterbait (bladed jig) is little more than a type of "spinner".

To my mind, a chatterbait is a hybrid between an in-line spinner and an overhead spinner.

On average, a bladed jig produces more vibration than an overhead spinner,

but on average, an overhead spinner is more weedless than a bladed jig.

 

Roger

 

 

[BassB8Caster]

I like the 1/2 with a paddle tail trailer (either havoc beat shad or grass pic). I've tried other trailers (pit boss, craw fatty, etc) that, to me, look awesome. I just have had no luck. Switch to a paddle tail trailer and they hammer it. I basically have 3. One green with silver blade, one white with silver blade, and one white with gold blade. I've done best with the green (esp with smallies). Real just fast enough to feel it vibrate. Casts great into the wind and I usually fish it on 30lb braid. 

[bocabasser]

i like a slow steady retrieve. ill pause it a couple of times until they tell me how they want it. the only thing i do different is i don't set the hook. i continue reeling and sweep the rod in the opposite direction. sometimes when you set the hook too hard, the blade will open their mouth just enough to allow the bait to come out. but most definitely when you stop feeling that blade vibrate, thats usually a fish.