Poll: Best Chatterbait Rod

[T-Billy]

I tried a bunch of different MH F rods for chatterbaits when I first started fishing them. Lots of lip hooked and lost fish was the result. Since switching to MF composite rods, choked is the norm rather than the exception. 

I'd recommend a MH 3/8- 1 1/2 as the minimum, and a heavy 1/2-2 as ideal. 

[1984isNOW]

@A-Jay I respect that you want to respect the OP, but that was 2 years ago as this was recently resurrected, and we were still talking about the specific topic posted - chatterbait rods. Thanks for your thoughts, I haven't had a chance to actually use it for a chatterbait, but I'll let you know how it feels. I went shorter for 2 reasons - more accurate casting around cover, and that was the rod on sale haha.

 

@AlabamaSpothunter Thanks for sharing both your negative and positive experience, I'll take an ugly functional rod over a pretty dull rod any day. If I didn't just buy what is supposed to be a chatterbait rod and could buy a rod over 100 bucks I would definitely give that one a go - you got me amped with your description. 

 

Given that the rod I got is moderate and not moderate-fast I'm thinking I'm going to use braid. @AlabamaSpothunter What line were you using on that set up? 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

1 hour ago, PUTitinYOURmouthFISH said:

@A-Jay I respect that you want to respect the OP, but that was 2 years ago as this was recently resurrected, and we were still talking about the specific topic posted - chatterbait rods. Thanks for your thoughts, I haven't had a chance to actually use it for a chatterbait, but I'll let you know how it feels. I went shorter for 2 reasons - more accurate casting around cover, and that was the rod on sale haha.

 

@AlabamaSpothunter Thanks for sharing both your negative and positive experience, I'll take an ugly functional rod over a pretty dull rod any day. If I didn't just buy what is supposed to be a chatterbait rod and could buy a rod over 100 bucks I would definitely give that one a go - you got me amped with your description. 

 

Given that the rod I got is moderate and not moderate-fast I'm thinking I'm going to use braid. @AlabamaSpothunter What line were you using on that set up? 

I'm using 15lb PLine ultimate fluorocarbon.    I really like it's sensitivity, and it's very abrasion resistant.   

 

I'm not ripping grass with them, and want them to run as deep as possible, so 15lb is about the perfect medium for my usage.   

 

One thing I've realized with this rod is that angle of attack and the way this rod was designed with larger end foam piece allows you to stick it in your side while retrieving in prep of a strike.   Very comfortable rod to set the hook on, unlike a JWR rod that starts to hurt the top of my hand after lots of set hooks.   I think a few other chatterbait rods have this end section design.   

 

Roland Martin has a great video on this, and some kind of widget he puts on his rods that assist with them.    Just google Roland Martin Chatterbait, sure it will pop up.   It's a great run down of setup, and how to use them, and when to use different weighted models.   

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Welp I found my new favorite Crankbait rod as well ?

 

Caught a pig today on it using a squarebill, and over the past 2 days, it's boated 15-20 fish on the crank.   Not a single fish came unpinned, something I've never experienced with crankbaits until this rod.  I honestly believe I would have lost the big fish today if not for the rod because of my moronic handling of the net to early in the fight.   If I could boil it down to one single word for this rod, I would use "forgiving".....this is the most forgiving rod I've ever fished.   

 

The rod is just incredible for moving baits of all types it seems, the only downside is that it's ruined me.   I don't want to fish with other rods right now until I go back to bottom contact fishing.  If it moves, I want this rod in my hands.    

 

Lastly, it's deceptively light for what it is, back-to-back days I've thrown hundreds of cast with it, and zero fatigue.    The sensitivity is exceptional as well, you can feel even the slightest swirl at your bait, and the slowest thump of a crankbait or chatterbait's blade.    

 

I'll be getting a second one soon enough so that I can dedicate another one to crankbaits.  I know they make a raved about Rebound crankbait rod, but this one seems perfect already, and it's nice to have consistency from moving bait rod to moving bait rod I would imagine.