Fish coming off on Chatterbait?

[Deleted account]

22 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I think one issue is fish eating them deeply and getting hooked in the thin skin along the top of the mouth at a weird angle and the hook tears out during the fight. 

Yup, I bend my single hooks up ever so slightly, I find you get "more meat" most of the time. Big difference with frogs too.

[RenzokukenFisher]

Lots of good points. I'll probably start tinkering with my hookset to see what happens if I try a sweeping hookset and such. I think winter made me lazy and I started doing a jerky cross body hookset lol.

[huZZah]

I saw something in passing that the metal blade that makes it “chatter” can get in the way of a good hook set, but also make it easier for the bait to push itself out of the fishes lip. Something with how the fishes mouth goes on when you set the hook but also while reeling in. ?‍♂️  Couldn’t find it again but I feel like it was a Roland Martin video. Not a dedicated chatter bait one but just randomly talking while he was fishing. Maybe. 

[RDB]

I think a lot of people miss fish on chatterbaits for 2 reasons.  They either half heartedly set every time they hit a weed and introduce slack or they set too quickly.  Bass are notorious for swiping at chatterbaits so, much like a buzz bait, you have to let them get the lure.  There have been a lot of comments about reeling up the slack and setting the hook but I’m not sure why there is slack to reel up.  As several other posters stated, I believe the best way to pin a bass on a chatterbait is to keep reeling until the rod loads and sweep.

[Koz]

1 hour ago, RDB said:

There have been a lot of comments about reeling up the slack and setting the hook but I’m not sure why there is slack to reel up. 

 In the winter months I get more strikes on a chatterbait with a lift and drop technique. I don't necessarily let it get to the bottom, but I do lift up and let it drop.

 

Some people also drag a chatterbait like a standard jig. I've tried that as well but have had zero success with that.

 

In warmer months I'm more likely to do a straight retrieve and occasionally add a pop so the bait changes direction.

[RDB]

1 hour ago, Koz said:

 In the winter months I get more strikes on a chatterbait with a lift and drop technique. I don't necessarily let it get to the bottom, but I do lift up and let it drop.

 

Some people also drag a chatterbait like a standard jig. I've tried that as well but have had zero success with that.

 

In warmer months I'm more likely to do a straight retrieve and occasionally add a pop so the bait changes direction.

I agree...I will vary retrieves and impart action as well.  I was just suggesting that folks should try to stay in contact with the bait and not throw slack as that can be a negative.  I looked around for a video and found a good, 2 minute explanation.  Google “How to set the hook with chatterbaits” and there is a great explanation by Walker Smith.

[E-rude dude]

Wow

parts of the country really are different.

I fish bladed jigs on a medium rod 5.3:1 reel and 14# flouro line. Never did more than a lean to the side for a hook set. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

On 3/24/2021 at 5:14 PM, RenzokukenFisher said:

Hey hope everyone is well. Lately fish seem to be coming off my chatterbait left and right and I swear it seems like they aren't even hooked half the time. My set up is a 7'2 MH moderate fast action rod and I pair it with 50lb braid to a 15-20lb mono leader. I'm starting think maybe I've just weakened up on my usual hookset because I didn't have this problem until recently. Does this look like a gear issue or maybe user error? Thanks - Elias

The one thing that makes all the difference in the world that you need when fishing ChBs IMO that I see rarely mentioned no matter the gear your using is good file or hone to keep that point sticky sharp.  Every half hour or so make sure that hook bites into your finger nail from every angle.  As long as that hook is sticky it doesnt take much pressure to sink it, especially with braid.  I found that waiting a half a beat after feeling a good hit then setting the hook gives me the best hookup ratio.  Whether you use a softer rod, mono or just have the mindset to let them take it before you bow up on them its up to you. 

[zeth]

I've lost maybe 1 fish on a bladed jig. I either throw on a Dobyns 704 or just a regular old Quantum Smoke MH/F.  Both get 30lb braid. 15-20lb leader depending on the cover I am fishing etc. When I get bit I never jack em. I just keep reeling until the rod is loaded and kind of just set the hook. 

[Dumbbassanglr]

On 3/25/2021 at 9:16 PM, GetFishorDieTryin said:

The one thing that makes all the difference in the world that you need when fishing ChBs IMO that I see rarely mentioned no matter the gear your using is good file or hone to keep that point sticky sharp.  Every half hour or so make sure that hook bites into your finger nail from every angle.  As long as that hook is sticky it doesnt take much pressure to sink it, especially with braid.  I found that waiting a half a beat after feeling a good hit then setting the hook gives me the best hookup ratio.  Whether you use a softer rod, mono or just have the mindset to let them take it before you bow up on them its up to you. 

This

[ChrisD46]

*Perhaps there is not other bass fishing providing more debate than that of a chatter bait set up - specifically line and rod selections !

[roadwarrior]

16 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

*Perhaps there is not other bass fishing providing more debate than that of a chatter bait set up - specifically line and rod selections !

The chatterbait is just another variation of a jig. Set up should be the same.

[N Florida Mike]

I never catch anything on a chatterbait , so I don’t have to figure it out!! ?

[Bankbeater]

I've noticed on my chatterbaits that the hooks won't stay sharp.  I've gotten so everytime I use one, I'll hit the hook with the file to sharpen it back up.  

[E-rude dude]

On 3/28/2021 at 7:39 AM, roadwarrior said:

The chatterbait is just another variation of a jig. Set up should be the same.

It can also be used like a crank bait. Which explains a lot why my setup is much lighter. In Northern lakes by summer time the weeds have taken over the bottom. Cranking a Chatter bait across the top ticking the weeds has become my preferred way to fish it.

The biggest mistake people make when fishing it this way is to jerk the rod to free it from weeds. This causes missed strikes and bad hook sets because the hook is no longer facing up it is now fluttering sideways. If you just keep cranking the reel but crank just a little faster when you feel it hang up in weeds the lure pops out in the correct position ready for a strike. Which usually happens after it pops loose. The hook set when fishing it this way is a sideways sweep or lean just like a crank bait.

 

[j bab]

1. It could be that they're just not eating it all the way, have you tried a different color?

2. Could be the setup. I personally have a great hookup & landing ratio on a 7'-7'2" MH with straight 15lb CXX. I've landed many 5+lb bass with this setup, even ripping it out of grass.

3. Could be the hookset. I often set the hook too quick and take it away from them. The copoly helps with this, but it's also a technique thing. Basically, once you feel it stop chattering or feel an obvious bite, reel down and sweep set hard.