Chatterbait, first expensive rod selection opinions

[BillMac81]

Chatterbaits are my favorite lure to fish and the lure I throw most of the time. I usually throw them on 40lb braid, and switched to a more moderate rod from a fast action and did notice my hookup ratio increased.  I'm ready to invest in a higher end rod for this technique ($225-275 budget) and for use in throwing large colorado spinnerbaits, but am going to have to buy blind over the internet as no shops around me have the rods I'm interested in.  I have been eyeing the Dobyns Champion 736 Glass for the better part of the year and was ready to pull the trigger, but recently I have had some shoulder issues and am a little concerned with these glass/blended rods being too heavy.  Others have reccomended the Shimano Expride 7'2" mh glass (slightly above my pricerange) and the Lews Custom Cranking 7'6" mh (below my price range, but not complaining).  Just wondering if anyone had insight, especially in regars to rod weights in the glass/composition rods since you can't find physical rod weights listed online.  Thanks for all the input!

[Dens228]

If you want to go up to $300 I use a MegaBass Diablo SpecR for chatterbaits and spinnerbaits.......love it. 

FYI I use it for swim jigs and deep cranks too.  

[Born 2 fish]

Alx toad face is a awesome rod for chatterbaits as well as other applications.

[Boomstick]

I use a Daiwa Tatula 7'2" MH/R glass rod for most of my chatterbaits. Since you are looking to spend a little more, the Tatula Elite 7'4" Brent Ehrler Crankin'/Bladed jig rod would be a logical step up, if you want to go glass. That Shimano Expride 7'2" should be amazing though, not only is it a higher model range but 7'2" is about the perfect length for chatterbaits and spinnerbaits.

 

If you are worried about glass being too heavy, you can go with a typical MH/F graphite rod for chatterbaits. Personally I've thrown spinnerbaits and chatterbaits on mine all day and I usually don't notice it until after several hours on the water, by which time I'm heading home anyway.

 

You might want a heavy rod too if you're throwing heavy chatterbaits - mine are usually 3/8 and 1/2oz though

[ChrisD46]

*The "wild card" is in the type of line you use for a chatter bait : Braid , FC or mono ? You either build in stretch (i.e. "give" in your line) or you create give in your rod choice to give bass a split second longer to get a chatterbait good in their mouth . If I'm not mistaken Brett E. is a braid mainline guy , so he builds in the required chatterbait "give" via his rod choice (i.e. glass , moderate MH action) . I prefer graphite MH /F ~ F moderate with Yo Zuri Hybrid #12 lb. line.

[Fishes in trees]

I think that any rod you'd use for a spinner bait you can use for a chatter bait.  My first choice ( not super  expensive, but not cheap) is a Fenwick AETOS 6'8" MH/fast.   It is just a little more "tippy" than my worm/jig rods which makes it a spinner bait rod IMO.  These rods were in the neighborhood of $150 more or less when they were available.  Not certain if Fenwick still makes that model or not.

Choice #2 is an old Diawa Light & Tough rod that I found in a pawn shop.  It is labeled as a wormin/jiggin rod (their spelling), it has way too much tip for me to be a decent worm rod, but it casts half ounce spinner baits & chatter baits great.  Price wise, I believe it was around $60 more or less, but it was at least a 15 year old rod when I got it - maybe probably older.

 

 

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

I think that any rod you'd use for a spinner bait you can use for a chatter bait.  

Echo this - spinner, chatter, jigs - all on the same rod for me.

[Captain Phil]

21 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

I think that any rod you'd use for a spinner bait you can use for a chatter bait.  

Purchasing an expensive rod will not make you a better fisherman.  It will make you a better consumer.  Lord knows we can use more of them right now.  ?

[DitchPanda]

I'm throwing mine on an old lightning rod shock...7ft medhvy modfast. Throw my spinner baits on there alot to...love the moderate tip. What are you guys using for a bladed jig rod?

[Teal]

I have 2 Powell 723 rods.  I typically throw one on the one with braid to floro leader.  Its rated as MH but really more like a mag medium with fast to extra fast action.  Works great.  It's a do all rod.   I hear alot about guys using CRANKING rods or Mod Fast rods, I think the lighter power being a M to mag medium is what evens it out for me.  No issues, good hook up ratio.  

 

Gonna try the new Judge rod and see how it does but really gonna stick with big sqaurevills and traps for it.

 

I dont see the hype of going to specific mid fast action for chatter baits, but dont hear the hype of not doing same for spinnerbaits, underpins, or plain paddle tails.

 

Most MH fast is gonna be fine.

[A-Jay]

10 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

I'm throwing mine on an old lightning rod shock...7ft medhvy modfast. Throw my spinner baits on there alot to...love the moderate tip. What are you guys using for a bladed jig rod?

Long Story Short ~

For two seasons I fished 3/8 & 1/2 oz vibrating jigs on a variety of MH Graphite, Glass & Composite Sticks.  

Tried braid & FC main line with each.

They all had their pluses & minuses in my mind.

In the end, and after a lot of trial & error, the composite stick won me over.

7' 4" MH Composite cranking rod with 15 lb FC is my Chatterbait go to rig.

I use this same stick for my open water, spinnerbait, rattlebait, squarebill & medium cranking deals as well.

YMMV

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

[new2BC4bass]

to the forum.

 

Nothing wrong with wanting a higher quality rod...even if it doesn't catch more fish.  I know from personal experience that doing so brings me more pleasure.  That alone makes it worthwhile to me since fishing in my area sucks big time.

 

I've wanted a Dobyns Champion 736CB Glass every since reading reviews on it.  

[GetFishorDieTryin]

On 11/26/2020 at 10:14 AM, BillMac81 said:

Chatterbaits are my favorite lure to fish and the lure I throw most of the time. I usually throw them on 40lb braid, and switched to a more moderate rod from a fast action and did notice my hookup ratio increased.  I'm ready to invest in a higher end rod for this technique ($225-275 budget) and for use in throwing large colorado spinnerbaits, but am going to have to buy blind over the internet as no shops around me have the rods I'm interested in.  I have been eyeing the Dobyns Champion 736 Glass for the better part of the year and was ready to pull the trigger, but recently I have had some shoulder issues and am a little concerned with these glass/blended rods being too heavy.  Others have reccomended the Shimano Expride 7'2" mh glass (slightly above my pricerange) and the Lews Custom Cranking 7'6" mh (below my price range, but not complaining).  Just wondering if anyone had insight, especially in regars to rod weights in the glass/composition rods since you can't find physical rod weights listed online.  Thanks for all the input!

Obviously its up to you what you want to get.  It important for it to be light so you can wing it all day but unless your dragging a bladed jig on the bottom you don't need a super sensitive rod. 

Fiberglass rods are great but they are little heavy and not very versatile.  I like using a slower Fast or a mod fast.  If you want to use braid get a slower action rod, if you want to use mono or FC be careful you don't a rod with to much flex. 

Length plays a factor in rod speed.  Longer rods tend to have more tip then shorter rods.  So if you go from a 7ft mod F to a 7'6 mod fast in the same line of rods the 7'6 will have more flex especially if the # of eyes is the same.  It works the other way too, a 7' F will generally have less flex then a 7'4 F rod in the same lineup.   

Find out how much your favorite trailers weigh and add that to the weight of the CB you use most often.  Look for a rod that is likely to have a sweet spot as close to the combine weight as possible.  

 

Personally I throw 1/4s CBs all the time.  I actually found that my 7'1 M F Muse is an exclent 1/4 CB rod.  It has a slower Fast action, that gives you great sensitivity.  When i get a hit the fish feels no resistance from the softer rod.  Couple with FC or mono by the time I feel the fish has had plenty of time to get the bait in the back of his mouth.  My bite to land % is excellent, about 9/10. The softer tip keeps the hook pinned during the retrieve. 

The 7'2 MH ModF 13 Omen Black 3 @130$ is a great CB rod and can be used for many other things.  Its 36T blank is really light and sensitive and the action alows for bomb casts.  They have longer MH Mod Fasts if your looking for a longer rod.  Hope this helps

 

 

[lynxcat]

Bought the Daiwa Tatula Elite Howell MH/R 7’4 today on BF to use specially on Chatterbaits. I’m optimistic it will be a great combo with braid. CBs have become my go to baits in the last few months so now I’ll switch my MH/F to jigs and other bottom contact lures. 

[ABurk]

My dedicated chatterbait rod is a 6’10 M/M duckett fishing Jacob wheeler sig rod. I’ve tried my chatterbaits on my tatula rods as well as on my 7’3 MH/F Jacob wheeler rod. I get the best hookups on my 6’10. It’s an awesome rod for $140. Just my 2 cents. Hope you find a rod that fits your liking!

[iabass8]

dobyns 736cb

[Bandersnatch]

4 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Long Story Short ~

For two seasons I fished 3/8 & 1/2 oz vibrating jigs on a variety of MH Graphite, Glass & Composite Sticks.  

Tried braid & FC main line with each.

They all had their pluses & minuses in my mind.

In the end, and after a lot of trial & error, the composite stick won me over.

7' 4" MH Composite cranking rod with 15 lb FC is my Chatterbait go to rig.

I use this same stick for my open water, spinnerbait, rattlebait, squarebill & medium cranking deals as well.

YMMV

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

A-Jay, what's that combo weigh? 

[roadwarrior]

I fish my jig rod. 7'4"  RainShadow Eternity/ Shimano Conquest 100/ Tatsu #15.

https://www.rainshadowrodblanks.com/product-cat/1828/

 

[A-Jay]

On 11/27/2020 at 4:53 PM, Bandersnatch said:

A-Jay, what's that combo weigh? 

Don't know off the top of my head.

But that's rarely a big concern for me.

Either way, and I'm guessing here, but it surely weighs a little less than this . . .

A-Jay

 

 

[NorthernBasser]

I use a Kistler Feel N Reel. It's a hybrid rod, blending glass with graphite. Absolutely love it. 

[FishTank]

I have tried a couple of my rods for chatterbaits and have found one rod that I like best....  7' St. Croix Avid MH Fast.    I use this rod for just about everything but love it for chatterbaits with a trailer and heavier spinnerbaits.. 

[Choporoz]

19 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

I think that any rod you'd use for a spinner bait you can use for a chatter bait.  My first choice ( not super  expensive, but not cheap) is a Fenwick AETOS 6'8" MH/fast.   It is just a little more "tippy" than my worm/jig rods which makes it a spinner bait rod IMO.  These rods were in the neighborhood of $150 more or less when they were available.  Not certain if Fenwick still makes that model or not.

I have been using 7' MHF Aetos with braid for years, and I throw chatterbaits a lot.  

[Mike L]

Phenix X series composite crank rod. 
 

 

 

Mike

[aPaul19]

On 11/26/2020 at 11:10 AM, Born 2 fish said:

Alx toad face is a awesome rod for chatterbaits as well as other applications.

This is exactly where I was going to go.  I don’t love glass rods and as such the Toadface has been my go-to.  Super versatile too but really great with chatterbaits.

[masterbaiter9117]

falcon deep runner