Help with bladed jigs

[rosshilk]

I’ve had some good days on bladed jigs before, but lately I’ve really struggled keeping the bait from breaking the surface. Does everyone keep the bait right near the surface? Having the bait riding so high in the water column has started to shake my confidence in the baits. I’ve used spinner baits much more because of it.

[Senko lover]

Part of fishing bladed jigs (for me, at least) is forcing myself to pause, let the bait sink, and reel slowly. Other times, I burn the bait almost as a subsurface presentation.

 

A lot of times I have to remind myself that just because I can't feel a crazy fast vibration doesn't mean the chatterbait isn't working. A slow presentation feels more like gradual thumping and you can still have good connection to the bait even at slow speeds.

 

 @Bluebasser86 could tell you a lot more than I could. 

[rosshilk]

8 minutes ago, Senko lover said:

Part of fishing bladed jigs (for me, at least) is forcing myself to pause, let the bait sink, and reel slowly. Other times, I burn the bait almost as a subsurface presentation.

 

A lot of times I have to remind myself that just because I can't feel a crazy fast vibration doesn't mean the chatterbait isn't working. A slow presentation feels more like gradual thumping and you can still have good connection to the bait even at slow speeds.

 

 @Bluebasser86 could tell you a lot more than I could. 

I think not feeling so much vibration might be why I lose confidence in the action. Thanks for the great points.

[Bluebasser86]

What bait and equipment are you using? 

[BrackishBassin]

Haven't had that issue with my chatterbaits, but I only use the trailers that come with them. Don't think they have much in the way of buoyancy. 

[Munkin]

The only thing I seem to be able to catch with them is grass and laydowns. 

 

Allen 

[rosshilk]

Foggy either half ounce or 3/8 but I think it’s mostky 3/8 anymore. I use 6.4.1 abu stx.. I stopped using 7.1.1 for that particular bait. Line used would be braid to fluorocarbon leader usually 12 or 15 pound test leader. 

[Bluebasser86]

Are you bending the blade or leaving it straight? Are you using a trailer?

 

I use primarily a 3/8oz with 17lb copolymer and a 6.2 reel with a pretty slow retrieve, just enough to get the blade thumping. I bend the blades on mine, the degree of bend and location of the bend will effect the depth it wants to run and also the action of the bait. A bulky trailer will make them ride higher also.  

[LxVE Bassin]

What kind of trailer are you using?  Certain trailers make the lure swim higher especially craw style trailers. 

[ww2farmer]

I defer to Bluebasser86 on all things bladed jigs. I will somewhat concur about trailer size/bulk, after not giving it much thought in the past. 

 

For example: The newish GYCB Zako trailer is quite big and bulky. I had to up size from my usual go-to chatterbait weight (3/8's) to a 1/2oz bait when using this trailer to get the bait to stay down where I want it. At least with the Z-man project Z chatterbait's. That being said, I have not used those trailers with my home made, or other brands of bladed jigs yet, nor have I used the project Z chatterbaits with any other trailers yet to see if this holds true with any other combos of this trailer and/or other bladed jigs.

[rosshilk]

12 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Are you bending the blade or leaving it straight? Are you using a trailer?

 

I use primarily a 3/8oz with 17lb copolymer and a 6.2 reel with a pretty slow retrieve, just enough to get the blade thumping. I bend the blades on mine, the degree of bend and location of the bend will effect the depth it wants to run and also the action of the bait. A bulky trailer will make them ride higher also.  

I have not bent any blades thus far. I use either a swim bait trailer like a Keitech or bass pros paddle tail swim bait. Sometimes I use a rage tail menace, but that seems to be the fastest bait to rise to the surface. I am curious with the bending of the blades. Could you share more on where to bend them and how it affects the action?

[kickerfish1]

You probably are reeling them too quickly. I use almost a 3/8 oz exclusively (the ones that bluebasser makes) I like a 6:4 ratio but I have fished them on slower and faster reels as well. I will usually cast the bait out and start the retrieve when I feel like it is in the desired depth zone then start a pretty slow but steady retrieve. Every now and then I will rip them if I am around weeds.

 

The other thing to keep in mind is what depth you are fishing in relation to the weight of the bladed jig. With a 3/8 oz I would be comfortable fishing the various portions of the water column down to about 8 or 10 FOW max. Anything more and I am bumping up 1/2 oz or more. The trailer will also add weight (usually another 1/4 or 3/8 oz) so those 3/8 oz chatterbaits get to 1/2 oz plus pretty quickly.

 

Not a lot of action really needed from the user. The head of the chatterbait creates plenty of vibration plus wobbles the bait back and fourth. The skirt will add movement and flash while the trailer (something like a paddletail) will add both bulk and side to side movement as well as more action.

[roadwarrior]

I had the opportunity to fish with Big O when the Rage Blade was still a prototype.

Our trailer was the Rage Tail Eeliminator.  The presentation was a long cast, allow

the bait to sink to the bottom, slow retrieve just of the bottom and popping the

lure when it hit ANYTHING. We were on a great shad bite with bass actively chasing

the baitfish. As you might expect, Big O outfished me 13-6, but I was a VERY happy

camper!

 

The Rage Blade with a Rage Structure Bug trailer has been my biggest producer for

a couple of years. I don't know why I carry other colors or maybe I should give them 

a fair trial, but white on white is my go-to.

 

My rig is a G. Loomis MBR842C/ Core 50Mg spooled with #10 Tatsu.