Chatterbait Thank You

[txchaser]

Just a note to say thank you to all of you for turning me on to chatterbaits. Didn't fish for 20 years, a lot has happened since then. 

 

Fishing some ponds in clear water for a few days (Green Pumpkin on both) and an 80 acre stained water lake (chart/white).

 

Zman Elite in both colors, which I wouldn't have chosen those colors without yall either. 

GY Zako trailer in matched colors.

 

Looked way too big to me, but WTH lets go for it. 

 

Fished it near the bottom, pretty slow, kicked in the vibration in about 1/3 of the pulls.

 

Ponds are full of dinks, they wouldn't touch it, but once they got a little bit bigger they seemed to like it. It's been a long time since I've seen something get hit this hard, especially in winter. No nudge, no tap, just hammered. Every time they were deep in the mouth, mostly on the roof. 

 

Thanks, that was lots of fun and I learned something new. 

 

Ps: why do they hit this thing so hard even though it is chilly out (for Texas)?

 

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

14 minutes ago, txchaser said:

Ps: why do they hit this thing so hard even though it is chilly out (for Texas)?

I believe it's the fairly large profile in combination with the strong vibration that gives the impression of a bigger prey item that makes them feel they need to strike it hard at times to stun the bait.

 

On a side note, some of the biggest fish I've caught on bladed jigs were strikes that barely felt like anything at all, almost like the bait just got a little lighter or the blade had caught on some grass. So don't be afraid to check swing if you're not sure. 

[FishDewd]

I've never had any luck on chatterbaits, but that's probably 99% my fault tbh. I'm not the best at reading "feel" but I'm always trying to improve on that. With that said, there's something about feeling that thump and seeing the rod tip twitch like "dunk, dunk, dunk, dunk" as it reels in.

[choppertime]

What size rod are you using? what brand and length and action? I have my chatterbait rod is an old shimano crucial mh/xf...looking to change

[txchaser]

3 hours ago, choppertime said:

What size rod are you using? what brand and length and action? I have my chatterbait rod is an old shimano crucial mh/xf...looking to change

6.6 MH/F (because that's what I have) 

[Harold Scoggins]

How long has the chatterbait been out? I know it has to have been 20 years since I first tied one on. I was home in Illinois visiting my brother and we were on Jacksonville Lake. I remember my brother handing me one and told me to give it a try. At first glance I thought it was the stupidest thing, too use to my spinnerbaits I guess. When I watched that first LM come up from behind and inhale that bait, I was definitely sold. The chatterbait has landed me many nice bass since, @txchaser. Thanks @Bluebasser86 for turning me on to those Living Image skirts, I'll be customizing a few of those chatterbaits in a couple of weeks.

[TnRiver46]

What’s the lowest water temp that y’all catch fish with blades jigs? Might toss one today, it’s about 47 degree water most places around here. Maybe a lake or two will be above 50

[A-Jay]

6 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

What’s the lowest water temp that y’all catch fish with blades jigs? Might toss one today, it’s about 47 degree water most places around here. Maybe a lake or two will be above 50

High 40's for me ~ 

 

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

21 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

High 40's for me ~ 

 

A-Jay

Gotcha thanks 

[fishballer06]

I've caught fish in the spring not long after ice out on a chatterbait. Water probably in the low/mid 40's.

[BassNJake]

4 hours ago, Harold Scoggins said:

How long has the chatterbait been out? I know it has to have been 20 years since I first tied one on. I was home in Illinois visiting my brother and we were on Jacksonville Lake. I remember my brother handing me one and told me to give it a try. At first glance I thought it was the stupidest thing, too use to my spinnerbaits I guess. When I watched that first LM come up from behind and inhale that bait, I was definitely sold. The chatterbait has landed me many nice bass since, @txchaser. Thanks @Bluebasser86 for turning me on to those Living Image skirts, I'll be customizing a few of those chatterbaits in a couple of weeks.

I remember years ago i had what was called the Eaker shaker.

(it won best of show at the 1998 icast)

It was a blade and you had to attach it with a clip but you could add it to anything.

First fish I caught on it was when I added it to a mister twister on a ball head jig.

 

[Deleted account]

On 12/26/2018 at 11:51 PM, txchaser said:

Fished it near the bottom, pretty slow, kicked in the vibration in about 1/3 of the pulls.

That's very good grasshopper. When you can glide it along with no action and start and stop the blade at will inches from the bottom, we will send you away from the temple to go beat up misbehaving cowboys...

[Bluebasser86]

12 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

What’s the lowest water temp that y’all catch fish with blades jigs? Might toss one today, it’s about 47 degree water most places around here. Maybe a lake or two will be above 50

42 is the lowest I know for sure I've caught them in. Back of pockets in spring right after ice out in about 2' of water.