Slowing down a chatter bait ....

[El jefe]

I'm looking for ways to slow down a chatter bait without stopping the vibration? I want to get the vibration but still be able to keep it on the bottom.... I've experimented with 1.25 oz jackhammers with a few different trailers but still can't get it to vibrate and bounce along the bottom like I want..... I know I can yo-yo it and other retrieves but trying to get where I can just slow roll it where it's still bouncing off the bottom AND vibrating. Thx.

[PhishLI]

Jackhammers and ProjectZs start up quickly and consistently vibrate during a slow retrieve, even lighter ones. 3/8oz ProjectZ Weedless shown below. I've been catching them lately slow rolled on the bottom ripping them through grass clumps.

[Jar11591]

This is where the gear ratio of your reel comes into play. A low ratio (5:1) will help slow down the bait but keep the blades moving. I use a 5:1 reel for all spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. Really helps with slow-rolling them. 

[casts_by_fly]

How deep are you talking?

 

Different vibrating jigs will vibrate at slower speeds.  The original chatterbait is just okay at slower speed and it can be affected by the trailer a lot.  A tremor from Siebert will vibrate at any speed until you hit the 'hunting' speed which is when it starts to hunt erratically randomly (which is a good thing).  Its less trailer dependent.

 

A 1/2 oz tremor with either a rage menace or a zako will sit on 10' comfortably.  Cast it out and let it hit the bottom first.  Then reel slowly.  A slower reel helps as noted above.  If you want to fish deeper, you're going to need the heavier ones.  Smaller trailers help keep it down.

[Bass Rutten]

Combining the above tips with thin braid (20-30lb) should accomplish your goal.

[El jefe]

25-40 ft deep.... I have tested it in my pool.... the blade may wobble a little but doesn't vibrate.... I've been using it with a Revo winch 5:1 reel..... it will start lifting as soon as it starts going fast enough to vibrate .... this is with the big 1.25oz jackhammer on 12lb flouro.

[gim]

1 hour ago, Jar11591 said:

This is where the gear ratio of your reel comes into play. A low ratio (5:1) will help slow down the bait but keep the blades moving. I use a 5:1 reel for all spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. Really helps with slow-rolling them. 

 

What he said.  Making yourself reel in slower can be difficult, so using a reel that has a slower gear ratio can do it for you instead.

[BassNJake]

59 minutes ago, El jefe said:

25-40 ft deep.... I have tested it in my pool.... the blade may wobble a little but doesn't vibrate.... I've been using it with a Revo winch 5:1 reel..... it will start lifting as soon as it starts going fast enough to vibrate .... this is with the big 1.25oz jackhammer on 12lb flouro.

You've got to long line them when trying to fish that deep.

The problem is with that much line out it deadens the feel.

You also run the risk of instantly being snagged.

Or falling asleep because each cast is like ten minutes of barely turning the handle.

[A-Jay]

3 hours ago, El jefe said:

I'm looking for ways to slow down a chatter bait without stopping the vibration? 

 

1 hour ago, El jefe said:

25-40 ft deep.... I have tested it in my pool.... the blade may wobble a little but doesn't vibrate.... I've been using it with a Revo winch 5:1 reel..... it will start lifting as soon as it starts going fast enough to vibrate .... this is with the big 1.25oz jackhammer on 12lb flouro.

 Ah yes, the age old problem - fishing super deep. 

So hard to do effectively, and so few baits and or techniques will do it well.

In fact I'm willing to say it's the shortest list in bass fishing.

Not too many tournaments won at the 40 ft depth.

Can a vibrating jig do that ? 

Maybe but IME, you're not going to be able to keep it moving AND Keep it on the bottom.

Just not designed to do it - just look at it, the blade pretty much forces the bait to move up. 

Hard enough to fish it in on the bottom in 15 ft feet let alone 40 ft. 

I'd say you're fighting a losing battle.

A single bladed spinner bait is an option, but it will need to be at least an ounce to start.

Even a dense swimbait needs to be stopped or paused to re-establish bottom contact.

At these depths, most anything you throw in more than 30 feet will as well. 

How about vertical jigging with a big spoon ?

A-Jay

[Big Rick]

4 hours ago, BassNJake said:

25-40 ft deep.... I have tested it in my pool....

You have a 40 ft deep pool?? Wow..... You should be diver certified with water that deep in your back yard!!

[Deleted account]

Are you trying to slow it down, or are you trying to get it deeper? Related, but not the same.

[casts_by_fly]

20 hours ago, El jefe said:

25-40 ft deep.... I have tested it in my pool.... the blade may wobble a little but doesn't vibrate.... I've been using it with a Revo winch 5:1 reel..... it will start lifting as soon as it starts going fast enough to vibrate .... this is with the big 1.25oz jackhammer on 12lb flouro.

 

Yeah, in that case about the only way you're going to fish it successfully is to yo-yo it.  Let it hit bottom, rip it up 3', and let it fall again.  Even then, that's painfully deep.  If you really, really wanted to fish it that deep on a steady reel, I image a 1 oz carolina rig would keep it down.  In that case you could get by with a lighter chatterbait.

[T-Billy]

Learn to make your own if ya wanna fish 'em deep. This bait starts faster/easier, and shakes at a slower speed than even the Jackhammer. The turbo blade from Barlows or LPO also has less lift. Deadly when crawled along the bottom or fished with a stop n go retrieve. 40' might be asking alot, but 25' isn't a problem.

 

[BigAngus752]

I have never fished any vibrating jig that will thump slower than a @Siebert Outdoors Fogy.  It will thump just about as slow as you can move it.  The main issue with bottom contact and a vibrating jig is the contact itself (with a rock, stick, vegetation, whatever) can stop the vibration.  The nice thing about the Fogy is that just a turn of the handle will get it thumping again, unlike many of the Chatterbait products which need a snap of the rod to get it vibrating again.  Full disclosure, I've never fished a Thunder Cricket so I can't compare.  I probably never will because I can buy three Fogys for the cost of one of one Thunder Cricket.  

[casts_by_fly]

29 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

I have never fished any vibrating jig that will thump slower than a @Siebert Outdoors Fogy.  It will thump just about as slow as you can move it.  The main issue with bottom contact and a vibrating jig is the contact itself (with a rock, stick, vegetation, whatever) can stop the vibration.  The nice thing about the Fogy is that just a turn of the handle will get it thumping again, unlike many of the Chatterbait products which need a snap of the rod to get it vibrating again.  Full disclosure, I've never fished a Thunder Cricket so I can't compare.  I probably never will because I can buy three Fogys for the cost of one of one Thunder Cricket.  

have you fished the tremor also?  I find they start up as slow as you want also and was hoping you could compare. 

[T-Billy]

26 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

I have never fished any vibrating jig that will thump slower than a @Siebert Outdoors Fogy.  It will thump just about as slow as you can move it.  The main issue with bottom contact and a vibrating jig is the contact itself (with a rock, stick, vegetation, whatever) can stop the vibration.  The nice thing about the Fogy is that just a turn of the handle will get it thumping again, unlike many of the Chatterbait products which need a snap of the rod to get it vibrating again.  Full disclosure, I've never fished a Thunder Cricket so I can't compare.  I probably never will because I can buy three Fogys for the cost of one of one Thunder Cricket.  

I've never fished a Fogy, but it has the same blade that I use. As you stated, that blade will start with just a slow turn of the reel handle. The Thunder Cricket doesn't compare. It doesn't start as easily, work as slowly, or shake as hard. 

[Munkin]

Smaller blade is the only thing I could suggest that hasn't already been mentioned.  The design of the bait causes it to lift.

 

Allen 

[BigAngus752]

4 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

have you fished the tremor also?  I find they start up as slow as you want also and was hoping you could compare. 

I'm sorry I have not but I just looked at them and the Elite sure looks interesting.  It's either genius or junk.  No idea which.  

4 hours ago, T-Billy said:

I've never fished a Fogy, but it has the same blade that I use. As you stated, that blade will start with just a slow turn of the reel handle. The Thunder Cricket doesn't compare. It doesn't start as easily, work as slowly, or shake as hard. 

Have you tried the "bubble blade"?  It doesn't work all the time, but I've had a few days where they wouldn't bite anything and then I try a bubble blade and get big fish in the boat.  

[Jig Man]

Have you tried bending the blade tip for more vibration.

[casts_by_fly]

13 hours ago, BigAngus752 said:

I'm sorry I have not but I just looked at them and the Elite sure looks interesting.  It's either genius or junk.  No idea which.  

Have you tried the "bubble blade"?  It doesn't work all the time, but I've had a few days where they wouldn't bite anything and then I try a bubble blade and get big fish in the boat.  

i don’t know the elite, but the tremor is great. Fast startup and good thump. If you want it to hunt erratically a quick turn of the reel or pop of the rod does it. Sharpest hooks I’ve ever seen. 

[Togue]

I often fish a deep, rocky reservoir that only allows shore fishing. I normally slow drag football jigs but sometimes like to move faster and cover water in the 20-40' range. 

 

For getting that deep and staying on the bottom, I use a tungsten swing head jig with blade. There is the Z-man Freedom Cfl chatterbait but I prefer a swing head jig with a Queen blade. Poor picture but this is a strike king tungsten football head with a 4/0 hook. This doesn't solve the speed problem (although it's pretty good at slow speeds) but let's you go fast enough to keep the blade thumping at much deeper depths. Also, thinner skirts, trailers, and line help me get deeper.

[zpelletier]

On 7/23/2022 at 11:48 AM, casts_by_fly said:

tremor is great. Fast startup and good thump.

who makes that one?

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, zpelletier said:

who makes that one?

Siebert outdoors, board sponsor. 
 

https://siebertoutdoors.com
 

And some pictures of where they need to be, dirty shad color (green pumpkin over barred chartreuse- great stained water color).