Chatterbait & Crankbait Setup

[NickBender]

Hey y'all.

After searching through the forums, and handling various rods and reels, I've landed on a Dobyns 705cb and either a Shimano SLX XT or Daiwa Tatula CT for a 3/8oz chatterbait and shallow to medium diving crankbait rod. Looking for a setup that has the versatility to do both, but also try to keep the combo around $250. 

 

Just looking for advice or suggestions on if this/these combos would be a good entry-level setup for the techniques. 

 

Thank you!

[J Francho]

The rods I use for crankbaits (moderate) is the polar opposite from what I use for chatterbaits (x-fast).  

[Choporoz]

Good luck!

I know that many throw chatterbaits on less than fast rods, but I tried using the rods I throw cranks on and hated it.  I only use MHF now.  (Sometimes, HF for heavy, deep chatter presentations)

[MN Fisher]

I'm with Chop ^ - MH/F for chatters here too. But the 705CB is a great crank-rod.

[Bluebasser86]

I use a H/F for bladed jigs and a MH/M for cranks. If I had to use one for both, I'd probably opt to use the MH/M for a do all rod. I do use a 7' MH Lightning Rod Shock for my bank beater bladed jig/crankbait/lipless/spinnerbait rod and it does a pretty good job. 

[Jmurphy87]

I bought a st Croix MOJO bass glass rip and chatter rod, it's a heavy moderate rod rated 1/2-1 3/8 Oz. It's a decent rod I like it, I run a Curado k in 6.2 on it with 16 lb abrazx. The rod was $150.00 I think, I have also used a MOJO bass mh/f and that works great also. The last one I used was a zebco omega medium rod with a lews xfinity with 30 lb braid, it worked also not ideal but it hauled in a 17 inch bass so badly covered in weeds that you couldn't see the fish.

[RDB]

My favorite moving bait rod (by far) is the Alpha Angler ChatterBound (S-glass composite).  It has some tip but good backbone and handles Chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, SB & medium crankbaits perfectly.  It is more than you want to spend ($235) but it’s versatility may eliminate the need for another rod.  They also have a satisfaction guarantee with no questions money back including return shipping if you don’t like it.

[The Maestro]

The small trebles on crankbaits vs a big single hook on chatterbaits require different action rods. As well as the fact that I want more power to rip a chatterbait through weeds. I know some people like slower (even glass) rods for chatterbaits so I guess it works for them.

[HaydenS]

You’re looking at two different rods, unless you are using big diameter hooked crankbaits, and smaller diameter hooked chatterbaits.  

If I was doing this^, I go with a MH that has a little more tip than usually.  Or throw it on a MH with 14 pound mono.  Loosen the drag with the crankbaits, and tighten it up for the chatterbait.  

[NickBender]

5 hours ago, J Francho said:

The rods I use for crankbaits (moderate) is the polar opposite from what I use for chatterbaits (x-fast).  

I do have a 7’2 SLX MH/XF I could use for chatterbaits, and get the MH/M for cranks and lipless. I was hoping to keep the former for jigs and tigs. I only have one baitcaster, as I’m just starting out. Slowing learning and building ?.

 

4 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I use a H/F for bladed jigs and a MH/M for cranks. If I had to use one for both, I'd probably opt to use the MH/M for a do all rod. I do use a 7' MH Lightning Rod Shock for my bank beater bladed jig/crankbait/lipless/spinnerbait rod and it does a pretty good job. 

I’ve read about that H/F you use for jigs, and would get it if I didn’t already have a MH/XF SLX rod I think I could use now as a chatterbait rod. Trying to build my equipment, and I only have one baitcaster combo at the moment… looking for my second one for another application. Open for suggestions! 

[T-Billy]

That 705cb will serve you well for a chatterbait if you use braid. I've tried several setups for chatterbaits and settled on a 7'6" MH cranking rod and 30# braid. The soft tip lets them get it good, but the rod has the backbone to drive that 5/0 home, and the braid gives me the same hook setting power at any distance. I hook and land a higher % than any other setup I've tried.

I have an SLX XT. Nice reel. Very smooth. You could get an extra spool and run mono or flouro for cranking and braid for a Chatterbait on that rod. It'll serve you well for both that way.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

13 makes some stout cranking rods that are fairly cheap.  I haven't fished with them only handled them, but they're crazy light and feel pretty good.  The 1/4-1 1/2oz feels like it would be great for 3/8 chatters.  Not so sure how it would do with lighter shallow cranks.  I would imagine that it would do pretty well with 1/2oz or bigger cranks cranks like fat johns and what not.  

[swhit140]

Powell Diesel Crankbait Rod 7' Med Hvy Mod, I have 2 of these rods and I really like them. I use one for crankbaits and one for bladed jigs. 

[PressuredFishing]

15 hours ago, NickBender said:

Hey y'all.

After searching through the forums, and handling various rods and reels, I've landed on a Dobyns 705cb and either a Shimano SLX XT or Daiwa Tatula CT for a 3/8oz chatterbait and shallow to medium diving crankbait rod. Looking for a setup that has the versatility to do both, but also try to keep the combo around $250. 

 

Just looking for advice or suggestions on if this/these combos would be a good entry-level setup for the techniques. 

 

Thank you!

 

A glass or composite rod does good for most moving baits with treble hooks, chatterbaits may benefit more from your standard jig rod because it's a single hook. Both reels you stated are good, dobyns rods are good, and to be completely honest you can throw cranks on a softer jig rod with mono, mono has stretch and will do what a fancy cranking rod with floro will do. P.S wait till black friday!

[Bluebasser86]

9 hours ago, NickBender said:

I’ve read about that H/F you use for jigs, and would get it if I didn’t already have a MH/XF SLX rod I think I could use now as a chatterbait rod. Trying to build my equipment, and I only have one baitcaster combo at the moment… looking for my second one for another application. Open for suggestions! 

I use the H/F for bladed jigs (chatterbaits). It's a 6' 9" H/F but it would make a poor crankbait rod. I use a 6' 10" MH/M St. Croix Legend Glass that I think would probably do pretty well for bladed jigs also but it's out of your price range unless you find a deal on it like I did. 

[CrashVector]

I use an Abu Garcia SilverMax combo for chatterbaits.

 

7', MH, Fast.

 

I don't really use crankbaits at all.

[ChrisD46]

There are two distinct camps for chatterbait users when it comes to rods : Fast action rods OR moderate action rods ... The wild card in the selection of chatterbait rods also depends on whether or not you use braid main line or FC  , Co-Poly  or Mono main line with varying degrees of stretch ?

[NickBender]

10 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

20 hours ago, NickBender said:

I use the H/F for bladed jigs (chatterbaits). It's a 6' 9" H/F

Do you find yourself using a 3/8 oz or 1/2 oz with that Heavy power? I may be fishing the wrong time of the year, but I don’t notice a lot of grassy flats in our lakes. 

[Bluebasser86]

43 minutes ago, NickBender said:

Do you find yourself using a 3/8 oz or 1/2 oz with that Heavy power? I may be fishing the wrong time of the year, but I don’t notice a lot of grassy flats in our lakes. 

I use a 3/8oz 95% of the time. 

[Cody28]

I have tried using true cranking rods for chatterbaits and do not like it, but many do if there is enough backbone. I also tend to blow open the mouths of fish if I use a MHF rod. After a long and hard search, I found the St. Croix Mojo Bass spinnerbait rod to be perfect. It is a 7'0" MHMF which works great. I would also see no problem using this rod for cranks with any line other than braid. St. Croix is known for having a heavy backbone with a more moderate taper than most, so this falls right into the type of rod I believe you are searching for. Not a noodle, but plenty soft. This rod specifically has a much softer tip then I would have ever expected. I havent missed a fish on a chatterbait since using this rod. 

[Cody28]

21 hours ago, NickBender said:

I do have a 7’2 SLX MH/XF I could use for chatterbaits, and get the MH/M for cranks and lipless. I was hoping to keep the former for jigs and tigs. I only have one baitcaster, as I’m just starting out. Slowing learning and building ?.

 

I’ve read about that H/F you use for jigs, and would get it if I didn’t already have a MH/XF SLX rod I think I could use now as a chatterbait rod. Trying to build my equipment, and I only have one baitcaster combo at the moment… looking for my second one for another application. Open for suggestions! 

You will lose a lot of fish fishing a bladed jig on an extra fast rod. It may have a jig hook, but it is moving, often gets swiped at, and has a big blade out in front that will blow the fishes mouth open if ripped too hard. Medium Heavy Moderate Fast is the best way to go if possible. If not, look for a MHM with braid (the braid makes a big difference and leaders can be tied) or a softish MHF rod. I would also fish a MF before using a MHXF. If you have to use that rod get the stretchiest line you can find. 

[Choporoz]

11 minutes ago, Cody28 said:

You will lose a lot of fish fishing a bladed jig on an extra fast rod. 

I first heard this over a year ago.....it doesn't make any more sense to me now than it did then.

I use braid, no leader.  I highly doubt that I am blowing fish mouths open....but if I was......how would I know that?

[J Francho]

47 minutes ago, Cody28 said:

You will lose a lot of fish fishing a bladed jig on an extra fast rod.

This myth gets regurgitated so often.  That's all it is.

[ajschn06]

42 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I first heard this over a year ago.....it doesn't make any more sense to me now than it did then.

I use braid, no leader.  I highly doubt that I am blowing fish mouths open....but if I was......how would I know that?

 

I used a Daiwa Tatula 6'10" MH rod last year for chatterbaits-with braid.  I lost a few fish, but didn't think it was anything out of the ordinary.  That rod is STIFF for a MH, especially compared to what I used most of this year- Abu Garcia Vendetta 6'9" MH.  I also switched to fluorocarbon.  I did not lose a single fish but more importantly I could see that they were hooked much better and could feel that they had just a little longer to suck it in before I set the hook.  It's not something I would have ever noticed if I didn't try something a bit softer. 

 

FWIW, I also tried a Heavy Fast dobyns rod and it was waaaay to soft for my liking.

6 minutes ago, J Francho said:

This myth gets regurgitated so often.  That's all it is.

 

It's not a myth

 

Edit: Should clarify that X-Fast isn't what would cause you to lose fish, but something that's overly stiff is definitely a problem for a chatterbait..

[Cody28]

35 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I first heard this over a year ago.....it doesn't make any more sense to me now than it did then.

I use braid, no leader.  I highly doubt that I am blowing fish mouths open....but if I was......how would I know that?

There are accounts on youtube that show underwater footage of how lures/fish act, but from personal experience of losing fish its just a theory honestly. What is important to me is that I lose fish on rods that are too fast when throwing bladed jigs. Additionally, I do not like extra fast rods for jigs in general. My reasoning is it makes it easier to shake the hook out due to the heavy weight being outside of the mouth, giving them leverage when slack is put in the rod. A fast action is plenty for the hook set and provides a little give to avoid the rod losing its bend. Again this is just a theory based on personal experiences. 

4 minutes ago, J Francho said:

This myth gets regurgitated so often.  That's all it is.

Myself and others around me lose less fish on a softer rod and thats all that is important to me. You use whatever rod you want thats the beauty of fishing. If you haven't lost a fish on the bladed jig with your set up then theres no reason to change. That just was not my personal experience with faster tipped rods.