Chatterbait & Crankbait Setup

[J Francho]

 

Who said I "softer"?  So you used a lower power rod and were losing fish and then upped the power and started catching?  That has zero to do with taper or losing fish.  A fast taper means you get into the power for hook setting quicker, which actually solves your issues, irrespective of taper.  X-fast does not mean soft.  Neither does moderate or slow.  Your counterargument has too many contradictions.  I'm of the opinion that taper matters little with regards to hookset.  Taper affects the feel of the retrieve, and the lure's behavior, and to some extent can have an effect on casting.  I think this the real reason so many like a moderate or mod-fast rod (myself included) for general casting - it's nice.

[NickBender]

When I was using the SLX MHXF with 15# fluro and chatterbaits on a private 35 acres lake, I didn’t miss one fish I put the hook into. Now, I don’t know if I missed a swipe or a bite… 
 

I’m trying to replace the MHXF as my chatterbait rod, so I can free it up for T-Rigs and jigs, which I assume it would be a better rod for. Otherwise, I’m not sure what application I would use a MHXF for. 

[J Francho]

Chances are you will miss any swipe, unless you foul hook the fish by some stroke of luck.  No rod will fix that.

[Choporoz]

So... @NickBender. ..I think you are right, that your MHXF will be a decent Trig/jig rod.  Try it, if you haven't. 

  You are probably also correct thinking you will want a medium or moderate rod at some point soon.  Don't get too hung up on limiting application to any rod....you are going to learn so much more, so much faster by tying something on and fishing it without regard to what rules you have read.  Few of my favorite rods ended up being the sweet spot for what I thought I was buying them for.  Many of them found their true calling after being rejected as a jig or Trig rod, to be honest...lol

[Cody28]

7 hours ago, J Francho said:

Chances are you will miss any swipe, unless you foul hook the fish by some stroke of luck.  No rod will fix that.

When a fish swipes you’re gonna miss most of them for sure, but sometimes they get skin hooked in the lip and the more moderate rod helps land these fish. 

[NickBender]

Well, I think I'll just stick with the SLX 7'2 MH/XF for chatterbaits, and get a MH/MF for crankbaits and lipless, since I don't have any other baitcasting combo yet. Thanks for the insight and advice y'all! 

[Bankbeater]

I have a 7'0" mh/f that acts more like a mh/m.  I use that rod for crankbaits and chatterbaits both.  I keep the weights between 1/4 and 1/2 oz.

[Scott804]

I don't think the 705CB would make for an adequate chatterbait rod. It is a little on the lighter side, especially for medium heavy. 

 

I use a St Croix Legend Glass 7'2MM and do incredibly well with chatterbaits and cranks on the same rod. Obviously that rod is a pretty big price jump from the Fury 705CB, but I believe St Croix makes the Mojo Glass on the same blank. A lot of the guys in here are talking about using HXF rods for chatterbaits. Don't let that discourage you from a moderate rod. I know guys who use braid, mono, fluoro, heavy, medium, fast, moderate, glass, composite, graphite all for chatterbaits. It really is just a personal thing. Run what you like, and if you want to use cranks on the same rod, go moderate! I really would consider a St Croix glass rod though. Worth every cent. 

[Boomstick]

On 10/27/2021 at 12:22 PM, Cody28 said:

I found the St. Croix Mojo Bass spinnerbait rod to be perfect. It is a 7'0" MHMF which works great.

This rod is probably about as good as you'll get that can handle a chatterbait and a crankbait.

[Boomstick]

On 10/27/2021 at 1:24 PM, ajschn06 said:

I used a Daiwa Tatula 6'10" MH rod last year for chatterbaits-with braid.

That rod is perfect for chatterbaits with flurocarbon, although I did use braid and didn't have a problem losing a lot either.

[Aaron_H]

14 hours ago, NickBender said:

Well, I think I'll just stick with the SLX 7'2 MH/XF for chatterbaits, and get a MH/MF for crankbaits and lipless, since I don't have any other baitcasting combo yet. Thanks for the insight and advice y'all! 

 

I've got that SLX rod that I use for jigs and Texas rigs. I've thrown chatterbaits on it as well, and landed some nice fish with it, including one of my biggest chatterbait fish. Personally I prefer a little more parabolic bend to the rod, I currently throw them on a 7'1" MH/F that's more in between fast and moderate-fast. But your SLX will absolutely work for the technique, I say have at it and see what works best for you.

 

Pairing that with a MH/MF (like a Dobyns 705CB) for cranks will give you a lot of versatility between the two setups.

[NickBender]

2 hours ago, Scott804 said:

I use a St Croix Legend Glass 7'2MM and do incredibly well with chatterbaits and cranks on the same rod. Obviously that rod is a pretty big price jump from the Fury 705CB, but I believe St Croix makes the Mojo Glass on the same blank. A lot of the guys in here are talking about using HXF rods for chatterbaits. Don't let that discourage you from a moderate rod. I know guys who use braid, mono, fluoro, heavy, medium, fast, moderate, glass, composite, graphite all for chatterbaits. It really is just a personal thing. Run what you like, and if you want to use cranks on the same rod, go moderate! I really would consider a St Croix glass rod though. Worth every cent. 

Thank you for the advice! I’m strongly considering something in the St. Croix camp. 

 

6 minutes ago, Aaron_H said:

Pairing that with a MH/MF (like a Dobyns 705CB) for cranks will give you a lot of versatility between the two setups.

That’s what I may end up doing if I keep the SLX rod.

[Boomstick]

^ If you want to go with a glass rod, the Daiwa Tatula 7'2" MH/R glass rod would be a solid option. The first gen is actually nearly ideal for both, the second is a little softer tip but it still works well.

 

I wouldn't throw a chatterbait on the St Croix Mojo Glass 7'2", that is a little bit too moderate but it is a good cranking rod for sure.