Chatterbait color

[tim_kovar]

I have never really gotten into chatterbaits but want to try more of it next season.  I was going to order one or two Zman jackhammers this winter and wanted some input on colors.  I am more of a minimalist regarding tackle and if you could give a recommendation on a color or two that would be great.  Are they similar enough to a spinnerbait where white is kind of the dominant color that will cover most situations, or totally different?

[Hawkeye21]

You really only need two colors.  Get a dark color for stained water and a lighter, shad-like color for clearer water.  I think Black/Blue is a must and then I'd get one in white or maybe like a sexy shad color.  

[Fishingmickey]

I'd go three colors, shad imitation (Chartruese/white, Clearwater shad, Spot remover or White). Spot remover is probably my favorite of the shad colors.  Traditional black and blue and a green pumpkin. Bhite delight or Brett's bluegill would be my top choices.

 

FM

[NittyGrittyBoy]

I usually throw either white or black/blue depending on water clarity if they're scattered along the bank.

 

If they're schooling eating shad or something similar, I try to match the bait regardless of water clarity. 

 

Try to keep it simple! 

[YoTone]

All i know is that i found a black and blue chatterbait one day early in the year and caught fish all year round at all times of the day in every condition except really clear water. 

[J.Vincent]

99% of the time I'm throwing this lure to emulate scurrying Crawdads or Panfish. So I prefer Blacks, Greens and Browns.

[Mr Swim Jig]

I use a white, black and blue and green brown combination...

[Chris at Tech]

Me too -- a white, a black, a green

[Bankbeater]

I only use two colors. White for clear water, and green pumpkin for murky water. 

[Bluebasser86]

Get a shad, a green pumpkin/bluegill, and a black and blue, you'll be set.

[Russ E]

Mostly black or white depending on water clarity. 

A bluegill pattern works well on a couple small lakes around here.

[RHuff]

A green pumpkin skirt with a dark nickel blade with a black/blue Missile D Bomb trailer was money for me this year during the clutch in a few tournaments. 

[Dens228]

Chartreuse and white for one, black and purple for the other.  A couple of each so that when you're nailing bass on one and you lose it you have another to tie on. 

[LxVE Bassin]

Black/blue and white is all you will need. All the color combos are to entice you to spend more money.

[TnRiver46]

I got 6 of them from @Bluebasser86, so far this is the only one I have thrown. It works. 

[Dens228]

12 hours ago, LxVE Bassin said:

Black/blue and white is all you will need. All the color combos are to entice you to spend more money.

Not arguing your success but you may want to give the white/chartreuse a shot, you may be surprised.

[Choporoz]

1 minute ago, Dens228 said:

Not arguing your success but you may want to give the white/chartreuse a shot, you may be surprised.

Agreed.  Other colors work for me at times, but even then, white variations are working....I rarely (never?) found a time when dark worked better than whites 

[Harold Scoggins]

All the above. Think clear water or stained water.

[Deleted account]

In clear water, Something that mimics a baitfish, or crawfish. In murky water, chart/wht or blk/bl. 

[deadadrift89]

As most others already stated I use white(baitfish color) in clear water and black/blue in stained. Great thing is replacement skirts are cheap and easy quick change same as with swim jigs/spinnerbaits, I use a bluegill color skirt in some places where the fish relate to them more than shad.

[LxVE Bassin]

4 hours ago, Dens228 said:

Not arguing your success but you may want to give the white/chartreuse a shot, you may be surprised.

I got all the colors to be honest but my success has come on black/blue and white so I started sticking to those colors and only buying those colors. I have caught em white/chartreuse but not the same kind of sucesss. 

[bholtzinger14]

I have never had really any luck with chatterbaits. Decided to dig them out of the bottom of my tacklebox and glad I did. Maybe this one might look familiar @Bluebasser86.

[Bluebasser86]

9 hours ago, bholtzinger14 said:

I have never had really any luck with chatterbaits. Decided to dig them out of the bottom of my tacklebox and glad I did. Maybe this one might look familiar @Bluebasser86.

One of my favorite colors, especially for big fish. I probably carry 5-10 of my black and blue bladed jigs at any given time. 

[bholtzinger14]

15 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

One of my favorite colors, especially for big fish. I probably carry 5-10 of my black and blue bladed jigs at any given time. 

I remember when I ordered these from you I said just give me a mix of colors. I just lost this one and think I am out of black and blue. I will need to order more soon.