Chatterbait freedom

[HeavyTwenty]

Anyone use these regularly? I was hoping it would swim like the Z-man original or custom, but I find it rises too quickly even when slowly reeled in. At the same speed I could fish an original at 3-5 ft (rod tip up or down), the freedom swims about 0-2 ft. I've had similar issues with the *** CrazyJig and couldn't correct it even after bending the blade. I just end up yo-yoing them, which catches fish, but I want a chatterbait that swims.

[A-Jay]

While I like & fish the Freedom bait, I have not noticed that it rides dramatically higher than other baits of this type I fish.

I use a swim senko, small swimbaits & Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Blade Minnow as trailers.

Don't know if that matters.

A-Jay

 

[frosty]

Go to @Siebert Outdoors and buy fogy. It's an awesome chatterbait, it has a strong vibration and it has caught me several fish and is holding up great, not to mention it's a lot cheaper than the Zman stuff. 

[LxVE Bassin]

I have a bunch of chatterbaits. I have two freedoms and I fished one of them on one outing and have never thought about touching them again. I was using craw type trailers which I thought was making it rise in the water column but I guess not. I mainly stick to the project z but the originals and elite work well too. 

[HeavyTwenty]

36 minutes ago, LxVE Bassin said:

I have a bunch of chatterbaits. I have two freedoms and I fished one of them on one outing and have never thought about touching them again. I was using craw type trailers which I thought was making it rise in the water column but I guess not. I mainly stick to the project z but the originals and elite work well too. 

 

That's pretty much my experience. I tried creature bait, craw, paddletail swimbait, and fluke trailer and they still rise too much. Its a shame because I really like the design (swappable hook, texas rig). I won't let it go to waste though, it works fine as a bottom contact jig in low-vis water. 

 

I'll probably try the Siebert Fogy next since it seems highly recommended and well priced, but I really want a chatterbait with a weedguard/t-pose-able hook to pull through some sparse cover. Fortunately I've found the underspin seems to fill that role pretty well. I don't have much confidence in a spinnerbait unless there's a lot of wind. Also I seem to miss a lot of fish unless I'm using a trailer hook, which kind of negates its ability to pull through sparse cover.

[RoLo]

 

@HeavyTwenty

A bladed jig I like is the "Phenix 5/8 oz Casting Wobble Jig".

It has a weedguard that's reasonably weedless, which is appreciated in central Florida.

I remove the skirt and add a "Kalin 5-in Lunker Grub" trailer (the grub doesn't overwhelm the spinner blade).

Ride-up is not excessive, and it holds a pretty deep track when slow cranked.

 

Roger

 

[Bluebasser86]

The Freedom is a good idea but it does ride pretty high. I've been using one with a 3/4oz and it stays down much better. 

[Montanaro]

I have a few freedoms.

 

Caught my pb on one. 

 

I dont think they run real shallow using the 3/8oz.  I use soft jerkbaits as trailers.  They are great around wood which is downfall of regular chatterbait.

 

My main issue is their length and having difficulty getting a good hookset.