Chatterbait rod selection

[Stylinbeaver]

Been really fired up about throwing a chatterbait. Have had great days throwing a white jackhammer and nothing else. Only issue I've ran into every time is landing the fish. It has been on average about 50%. Currently I am fishing a cashion 7 foot medium heavy fast rod. Its graphite and has a softer action than most of my other medium heavy rods. Also using 17 pound copolymer with a 6.2 ratio reel. Been seeing a lot about the evergreen combat sticks and seeing the endorsement from Brett Hite. Really considering picking one up and hoping to fix my landing percentage. Only issue now is deciding between the 7 foot medium heavy glass or the 7 foot 3 heavy glass rod. Only difference is the medium heavy has a slow tip and the heavy has a moderate slow tip. Anybody use this rod or have any input on which to get? I really don't see throwing any chatterbait heavuer than a 1/2 oz.

[Fishes in trees]

Fiberglass rods are heavy - even though they might be lighter than they used to be, they are heavy.  If you're throwing chatterbaits most of the day with a fiberglass rod, your wrists are going to be sore at the end of the day.   I'd look for a long time for a graphite rod with comparable action before I'd throw a fiberglass rod.

 

I often change my mind on what is a good chatterbait rod.   These days, I'm using a couple of options.  Option A - last fall at a pawn shop I got an old Diawa L & T worming/jiggin rod.   It has way too much tip for me to use it for throwing jigs or worms, but I really like it for throwing chatterbaits in the half ounce range.   Option B - Academy Sports occasionally has All Star rod on sale and I got an All Star spinner bait rod (the purple one) for around $50 and I like it for throwing spinnerbaits and chatterbaits in the half ounce range.  I seldom throw chatterbaits any lighter than that.

 

No clue how much these rods weigh, but they are lighter than any fiberglass rod that I've looked at recently in different tackle shops.

[Stylinbeaver]

9 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

Fiberglass rods are heavy - even though they might be lighter than they used to be, they are heavy.  If you're throwing chatterbaits most of the day with a fiberglass rod, your wrists are going to be sore at the end of the day.   I'd look for a long time for a graphite rod with comparable action before I'd throw a fiberglass rod.

 

I often change my mind on what is a good chatterbait rod.   These days, I'm using a couple of options.  Option A - last fall at a pawn shop I got an old Diawa L & T worming/jiggin rod.   It has way too much tip for me to use it for throwing jigs or worms, but I really like it for throwing chatterbaits in the half ounce range.   Option B - Academy Sports occasionally has All Star rod on sale and I got an All Star spinner bait rod (the purple one) for around $50 and I like it for throwing spinnerbaits and chatterbaits in the half ounce range.  I seldom throw chatterbaits any lighter than that.

 

No clue how much these rods weigh, but they are lighter than any fiberglass rod that I've looked at recently in different tackle shops.

Thanks for the feedback. Only complaint I've heard about the combat stick is the weight. Said its a awesome rod but is heavy. If the bite is on a chatterbait, I end up throwing it all day. Most of the time for me, they are biting it or not biting it at all. So fatigue is a issue to consider. 

[NHBull]

I know I am starting to sound like a broken record, but the MBR flex really excels for bladed jigs.  ?

[Stylinbeaver]

13 minutes ago, NHBull said:

I know I am starting to sound like a broken record, but the MBR flex really excels for bladed jigs.  ?

Have a link so I can check specs? I think that's a loomis rod correct? Might be priced higher than what I usually spend on rods? 

[NHBull]

14 minutes ago, Stylinbeaver said:

Have a link so I can check specs? I think that's a loomis rod correct? Might be priced higher than what I usually spend on rods? 

https://www.jannsnetcraft.com/gloomis-fishing-rods/e6x-g-loomis-mbr-843c-fishing-rods.aspx

[Stylinbeaver]

28 minutes ago, NHBull said:

https://www.jannsnetcraft.com/gloomis-fishing-rods/e6x-g-loomis-mbr-843c-fishing-rods.aspx

Appreciate the link. For some reason I was finding the deep flex rod that was like 300 bucks. Have any issues with losing fish or having trouble keeping pressure on them?

[NHBull]

20 minutes ago, Stylinbeaver said:

Appreciate the link. For some reason I was finding the deep flex rod that was like 300 bucks. Have any issues with losing fish or having trouble keeping pressure on them?

I have 7 MBR'S  but not an e6x......I am sure others will comment 

[Born 2 fish]

Want a cheaper option try a bass pro cranking stick in 7 or 7’6 mh.

[FryDog62]

I’m not in the glass camp for Chatterbait rods.  Yes, they are heavier, but just as much of a factor is the “numb” sensitivity or lack thereof.  
 

For me, I like to feel the weeds as I’m going along - that’s where the fish are.  Graphite is lighter and more sensitive.  I like a Moderate-Fast graphite blank, I’m currently using an iRod Stone Cold Bladed Jig rod.  Like the 7’2” Daiwa Howell rod too as well at 7’2” Expride Moderate-Fast graphite rod.  

[DitchPanda]

I throw my bladed jigs on a cheap old Berkley lightning rod shock..7ft medhvy mod fast ...not fancy but I really like it. Throw spinnerbaits on there to. I'm in the camp of topwater and moving bait rods don't need to be top dollar...I save my rod money for bottom contact and finesse rods.

[Tywithay]

7'4" MHRB Tatula Elite. Those baits are the reason this rod exists. It'll absolutely launch a squarebill into orbit too. Versatile taper.

[txchaser]

When are you losing them?

How heavy is the grass?

 

You might try line with a little more stretch, either lighter line or a stretchy mono.

 

For what it's worth, I have an MH "regular" tatula elite (howell I think), and it is a hair too little backbone for me. It'd be perfect if it was the heavy. And importantly, I fish chatterbaits on braid/leader.

 

[walleyecrazy]

I bought a new rod to use specifically for chatterbaits this year, and think I have found my ideal chatterbait rod. I am using the Dobyn's Sierra 734c. It is listed as a fast action but is really much more of a mod fast, which is what I want for a chatterbait rod. The rod seems to have the perfect balance of tip and backbone for fishing a chatterbait.

[Ogandrews]

43 minutes ago, walleyecrazy said:

I bought a new rod to use specifically for chatterbaits this year, and think I have found my ideal chatterbait rod. I am using the Dobyn's Sierra 734c. It is listed as a fast action but is really much more of a mod fast, which is what I want for a chatterbait rod. The rod seems to have the perfect balance of tip and backbone for fishing a chatterbait.

Was about to recommend a dobyns 734. I have a 733 as well and that is great for if you like a softer rod. Very versatile taper, even thrown squarebills and lipless cranks on it with success. 

[Stylinbeaver]

9 hours ago, txchaser said:

When are you losing them?

How heavy is the grass?

 

You might try line with a little more stretch, either lighter line or a stretchy mono.

 

For what it's worth, I have an MH "regular" tatula elite (howell I think), and it is a hair too little backbone for me. It'd be perfect if it was the heavy. And importantly, I fish chatterbaits on braid/leader.

 

Usually loosing them when they jump. Grass is not to heavy. Most fish lost are in shallow water where the only direction to go is up. Don't watch my bait most of the time, just wait for the rod to load up. Then I do a swing hook set. Left or right. Try to keep steady pressure without hossing them in. Have kept them hooked for the  1st time they jump but the closer they get to the boat, the more they get off. The fish I do land are usually hooked great in the roof of the mouth, or they are barely hooked on the side and have a nice big hole in their mouth. 

Edited May 26, 2020 by Stylinbeaver

[NHBull]

If you have a Crank Bait rod, try it and see if it helps.

If it does the MBR is a good choice.

 

You could also be having an issue with the hook-set.  Not uncommon since most chatterbait hooks are beefier than many worm hooks

[JediAmoeba]

I used to use a medium power, moderate fast action rod for cranks.  I switched to a MH, fast action rod and immediately started missing fish and having them come off on airborne jumps.  Went back to a cranking rod and now land almost all of them again.  

 

I prefer the way a MH, Fast feels from everything to casting, retrieve and fighting fish...but the lost fish is a no go.  

[A-Jay]

These baits are so versatile and yet unique, they can probably be fished on just about any thing you’d like to throw it on. Is one type “Better” than another?  Who Knows?  I use what I like and what I have confidence it – that goes for all my fishing and I’d encourage that mind set to anyone & everyone who is willing to listen.  What one angler uses and even has success with, may not be right for another.  So use what you like.  Here's what I like – Rod, Reel & line.

 

   I totally prefer moderate action rods for single hook moving baits. (And many treble hook baits for that matter). 

And well before I settled on the one mentioned below, I was like many anglers in that I was totally unsure what to use or what I would prefer. So after ‘reading’ and watching too many videos, I just went ahead and purchased and then fished a graphite (St Croix), 100 % Glass (Lamiglas) & a Composite stick (Quantum). Needed to be able to compare them- side by side.  Only way I could expect to answer the question.

 In the end, they all worked OK, but I settled on the composite.

Just has the right combination of castability, sensitivity, hook setting and fish fighting ability.  So, I sold the graphite stick and ‘retired’ the glass ones. 

 

  I use the same rod (and Reel) for spinnerbaits & vibrating jigs as well as squarebills, shallow & medium diving crankbaits.  A 7’4” MH Composite Quantum KVD Crankbait rod. 

 

 

   I use & prefer a ‘slower’ reel.  Helps keep me from fishing the bait to ‘fast’.  Something I continue to struggle with and always need to pay attention to; especially after I get a few.  I use a Shimano Calcutta 200D round reel.  Has a 5.7:1 ratio.  I love these reels.  A pleasure to chunk & wind all day.

 

 As for line, I prefer Fluorocarbon; specifically, Seaguar InvisX or Tatsu in 15lb. 

Done.

A-Jay

[PhishLI]

9 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 A 7’4” MH Composite Quantum KVD Crankbait rod

AJ, Please share the model # of that rod if it's easy. I'm pretty sure I spotted a few at the local F&S in the clearance rack just before the lock down. 

[A-Jay]

9 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

AJ, Please share the model # of that rod if it's easy. I'm pretty sure I spotted a few at the local F&S in the clearance rack just before the lock down. 

It's the Quantum TKVD746MB Tour KVD PT Cranking Rod ~

A-Jay

[Allen Der]

15 hours ago, Stylinbeaver said:

Usually loosing them when they jump. Grass is not to heavy. Most fish lost are in shallow water where the only direction to go is up. Don't watch my bait most of the time, just wait for the rod to load up. Then I do a swing hook set. Left or right. Try to keep steady pressure without hossing them in. Have kept them hooked for the  1st time they jump but the closer they get to the boat, the more they get off. The fish I do land are usually hooked great in the roof of the mouth, or they are barely hooked on the side and have a nice big hole in their mouth. 

sounds like you may be setting the hook too hard.  I usually just use a reel set.  stick your rod tip in the water if you sense a jump coming.  could also try a lighter mono with a little more stretch.