Spinnerbaits vs. Chatterbaits

[The Bassman]

I frequently see reference made that the two are interchangeable.  Curious to see some input on this.

[Deleted account]

They are (admittedly at extreme ends) the same thing, a jig with some hardware attached to add or enhance action, so short answer yes, but just like one should (I hate that word) select between different spinnerbaits or different chatterbaits, one should (there it is again) select one over the other situationally.

[The Bassman]

Give me some situations.

[CroakHunter]

Dirty water, little vegetation, pressured areas I throw the chatterbait.

Clean water, wood, year round, bigger fish, I throw the spinnerbait

[bobbyg]

I use spinnerbaits as a slow and steady bait when fish seem less aggressive. Also usually in clear water or around hard cover, trees, rocks that kind of thing. I have found luck using chatterbaits in weeds and murky water by pulling it quick then letting it drop into the weeds, then pulling it through again and letting it drop. Not a steady retrieve. The strikes happen right when you pull again. Yes you bring in a bunch of weeds, but also fish!

[Mr. Aquarium]

i like chaterbaits more then spinnerbaits, i fish the chatterbaits like a jig tho instead of steady retrieve 

[The Bassman]

Here in central IN we're looking at a warmup with a lot of rain over the next week.  Murky water and warm inflow seem like a good combo for one or the other of these baits.  Never thought of spinnerbaits as more of a clean water app.  Appreciate your experiences.

[CroakHunter]

I love dredging the bottom right after ice out with a spinnerbait. 

[Fish the Mitt]

47 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

Here in central IN we're looking at a warmup with a lot of rain over the next week.  Murky water and warm inflow seem like a good combo for one or the other of these baits.  Never thought of spinnerbaits as more of a clean water app.  Appreciate your experiences.

Why not use both and see which produces better (take note of conditions).

 

As for the clear/dirty water. Anything that displaces as much water as a spinnerbait or chatterbait does, can be a great tool when fished in dirty water around structure.

[Bluebasser86]

They're interchangeable at times, but fish with almost always show a noticeable preference for one or the other for me. I'll usually go with a spinnerbait in clear water, when I want to fish fast, or around wood. Bladed jigs are my go to in stained to muddy water, around vegetation, docks, rocks, and when I want a slower moving bait. 

[Bankbeater]

I seem to do better with bladed jigs fishing in water that sees a lot of fishing pressure. Most of the people I see out on the water are using spinnerbaits.

[burrows]

Cover and grass = spinnerbait 

 no heavy cover vegetation = chatter

Clear water = spinnerbait 

dirty water = both

You know what it doesn’t mattter it’s preferable I was throwing chatter baits a lot but lately I been throwing spinnerbaits again. ?

17 hours ago, The Bassman said:

Here in central IN we're looking at a warmup with a lot of rain over the next week.  Murky water and warm inflow seem like a good combo for one or the other of these baits.  Never thought of spinnerbaits as more of a clean water app.  Appreciate your experiences.

Spinnerbait excel in clear water

[Scarborough817]

they are interchangeable in the sense that they are a jig with a blade but that's basically where it ends.

spinnerbaits are much more weedless than bladed jigs and such will come through cover better, timber and pads specifically. bladed jigs to me are much closer to a squarebill, but can be run through grass better. 

 

the situations i use them in a fairly different but as with anything there is some overlap. keep in mind this is very dependent on where the fish are and what mood they are in. 

 

spinnerbaits:

• working through timber when fish are higher in the water column.
• working the edge of a pad line (makes casts more effective because it doesn't get hung up as easy).
• clearer water (more about the flash than vibration).

bladed jigs:

• working above cover (over top of sunken timber).
• in sparse grass lines.
• anywhere its too easy for a squarebill to get hung.
• muddier water, when fish are higher in the water column

 

[ClackerBuzz]

chatterbaits catch monster bass...just reference some of @Bluebasser86 work.

 

spinnerbaits inside timber and over chunk rock b/c the long V arm deflects beautifully vs the head of a chatterbait wedges in chunk rock like an ostridge head

 

chatterbaits around weeds b/c you can give it a hard rip and clean all weeds off plus initiate strikes vs spinnerbait swivels have weed static cling like socks outta the dryer

 

heavy spinnerbaits for 12ft+ of water b/c they stay down better vs chatterbaits have more lift

 

chatterbaits at night b/c you can't see patches of weeds vs you'll be cleaning ur spinnerbait off every cast

 

spinnerbaits when bank fishing b/c the V arm can drag over cover/structure vs you'll snag/break off chatterbaits often

[lmbfisherman]

I use chatterbaits in cooler water, little vegetation in clear or dirty water and like them better if I want to go deeper.  For spinnerbaits I usually use double willow 90% of the time and tandems 10% of the time.  I usually is these around wood, vegetation/weeds, open water and hard cover or structure.  Depending on the clarity of the water I will go with double willow (stained to clear) and a tandem for dirtier water.