Tailer recommendations for finesse jigs, mini chatterbaits, etc?

[radiozephyr]

Would like to grab a variety of actions and colors for around $20-$30.

I fish in the southeast, including a couple of blueback herring reservoirs. Targetting primarily spotted and largemouth bass.

 

The jigs I have are about 1/4 oz, and I'll be using them on a medium light moderate fast action rod, 8 lb braid to 8 lb fluoro. So not looking for plastics that will add lots of weight

 

So far all I have is a 3.8" keitech, which looks really great threaded onto the mini chatterbait. 

 

[Mobasser]

Zoom small chunk or Zoom small Critter Craw.

[bowhunter63]

Baby Rage craw or Sk River bug 

[MN Fisher]

3" Berkley Pit Boss

3" Berkley Chigger Craw

 

[Pat Brown]

Yamamoto twin tail grubs, zoom super Chunk Jr., SK Baby rage menace, Gambler boxer craw, Berkley chigger craw 3", Missile Baits mini D Chunk.

 

Don't be afraid to try a small paddle tail swim bait trailer like a storm largo shad/SK rage swimmer/gambler EZ/X Zone Swammer on a smaller jig profile.

 

The menace/chunk/twin tail grubs seem to consistently get bit when everything else is failing. 

 

The paddle tail trailers are the only thing that work at certain bodies of water I fish so at that point it's just different size/profile which is why I mention it's worth trying.

[TLHSS]

I fish the 1/8oz Flashback Chatterbait Mini with a Keitech Swing Impact 2.5 inch trailer. 

[FryDog62]

Best trailer I have used for Mini Max Chatterbait is the 3.5 inch Spunk Shad. I have found sometimes, certain hard-thumping paddle tails can fight against the chattering of the blade. But the Spunk Shad provides great action without messing up the thump!  

[A-Jay]

In the bait pic below, the top bait is ½ oz Jackhammer with a 4” Zako (Mostly for size comparison).

Below that are a selection of trailers and then the 3/8 (left) and ½ oz baits (right).  I have been having a hard time differentiating between the sizes. Old Guy Eyes.  Not sure it shows up in the pic but, I placed a small black sharpie dot on the bottom of the ½ oz heads.  We’ll see how long that lasts; hope it gets chewed right off !   Finally the trailer selection.  Using what I had on hand . . .

SK Baby Rage Craw, SK 4 inch Caffeine Shad, Evolution Baits HD Goby Swimbait, Yamamoto 3 inch Zako and a 4 inch Swim Senko.

A-Jay

[Hook2Jaw]

The 3.5" Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swimon is my Minimax trailer of choice, and it caught me a couple nice ones last summer.  I've got a good bit of faith in it.  I've been experimenting with trying to dress it with Fluke Jr's, but haven't found any success, so it's Kamikaze Swimons for me.

 

Haven't been throwing a jig enough over the past years to offer a suggestion, but I did land a 3 last weekend skipping docks with a finesse jig tipped with a Netbait Paca Chunk Jr.  Sweet little craw.  I expect it to do well, as the Paca Slim has been an absolute dynamite bait for me.

[casts_by_fly]

The rage Ned sized plastics look great on a jig. Pick your poison. 
 

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/rage-magnum-bug-rg-mgn-bug1

 

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/rage-ned-bug
 

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/rage-ned-craw

[radiozephyr]

21 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

Yamamoto twin tail grubs, zoom super Chunk Jr., SK Baby rage menace, Gambler boxer craw, Berkley chigger craw 3", Missile Baits mini D Chunk.

 

Don't be afraid to try a small paddle tail swim bait trailer like a storm largo shad/SK rage swimmer/gambler EZ/X Zone Swammer on a smaller jig profile.

 

The menace/chunk/twin tail grubs seem to consistently get bit when everything else is failing. 

 

The paddle tail trailers are the only thing that work at certain bodies of water I fish so at that point it's just different size/profile which is why I mention it's worth trying.

 

One option I've been considering for a small chatterbait is the baby goat from zman. Kind of a cross between a paddle tail and a twin tail grub. Although as someone else mentioned, I would hate for the thump of the tails to ruin the chatter of the blade

 

 

20 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

Best trailer I have used for Mini Max Chatterbait is the 3.5 inch Spunk Shad. I have found sometimes, certain hard-thumping paddle tails can fight against the chattering of the blade. But the Spunk Shad provides great action without messing up the thump!  

 

Thanks for the tip!

 

19 hours ago, A-Jay said:

In the bait pic below, the top bait is ½ oz Jackhammer with a 4” Zako (Mostly for size comparison).

Below that are a selection of trailers and then the 3/8 (left) and ½ oz baits (right).  I have been having a hard time differentiating between the sizes. Old Guy Eyes.  Not sure it shows up in the pic but, I placed a small black sharpie dot on the bottom of the ½ oz heads.  We’ll see how long that lasts; hope it gets chewed right off !   Finally the trailer selection.  Using what I had on hand . . .

SK Baby Rage Craw, SK 4 inch Caffeine Shad, Evolution Baits HD Goby Swimbait, Yamamoto 3 inch Zako and a 4 inch Swim Senko.

A-Jay

 

That zako looks awesome, but the fat body might add too much weight for my medium light moderate fast rod. So I'm thinking of trying the swim senko, trimmed down to about 2.5"

 

11 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

The rage Ned sized plastics look great on a jig. Pick your poison. 
 

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/rage-magnum-bug-rg-mgn-bug1

 

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/rage-ned-bug
 

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/rage-ned-craw

 

My only concern with using ned plastics is that they stand up. Which could be great, but is there ever a time when you want your jig trailer to lay fat on the bottom?

 

[softwateronly]

12 hours ago, Hook2Jaw said:

The 3.5" Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swimon is my Minimax trailer of choice, and it caught me a couple nice ones last summer.  I've got a good bit of faith in it.  I've been experimenting with trying to dress it with Fluke Jr's, but haven't found any success, so it's Kamikaze Swimons for me.

 

Haven't been throwing a jig enough over the past years to offer a suggestion, but I did land a 3 last weekend skipping docks with a finesse jig tipped with a Netbait Paca Chunk Jr.  Sweet little craw.  I expect it to do well, as the Paca Slim has been an absolute dynamite bait for me.

 

22 hours ago, radiozephyr said:

Would like to grab a variety of actions and colors for around $20-$30.

I fish in the southeast, including a couple of blueback herring reservoirs. Targetting primarily spotted and largemouth bass.

 

The jigs I have are about 1/4 oz, and I'll be using them on a medium light moderate fast action rod, 8 lb braid to 8 lb fluoro. So not looking for plastics that will add lots of weight

 

So far all I have is a 3.8" keitech, which looks really great threaded onto the mini chatterbait. 

 

 

Swimmon on a finesse jig or even free rigged has been good to me this year, and is great on chatterbaits.  On a jig, the tails subtly float and wave like the skirt.  I'm also starting to fall in love with the 3.8" jackall ishad for finesse jigs, neds, and minimax.  I love finding multiple uses for my trailers. 

 

scott

 

[A-Jay]

@radiozephyr

I am going to say in adance that IMO, there will be times that your medium light moderate fast stick is going to be ineffective when it comes time to set the hook with Mini Max.  And thats regardless of the trailer type & size as well as what line you choose. Perhaps consider a Medium fast instead.  That hook may be small but it's still beefy enough to over power such a light blank.

A-Jay

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, radiozephyr said:

My only concern with using ned plastics is that they stand up. Which could be great, but is there ever a time when you want your jig trailer to lay fat on the bottom?

 

The rage neds are not buoyant like Z-man elaztec.  They sink just like all other rage products.

 

Another option for the minimax is the lake fork live magic shad in 3.5".  I just received a pack and haven't fish one yet, but size wise they are perfect for the minimax.  

[radiozephyr]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

@radiozephyr

I am going to say in adance that IMO, there will be times that your medium light moderate fast stick is going to be ineffective when it comes time to set the hook with Mini Max.  And thats regardless of the trailer type & size as well as what line you choose. Perhaps consider a Medium fast instead.  That hook may be small but it's still beefy enough to over power such a light blank.

A-Jay

Really? I know I've had issues driving a hook through certain plastics...  but I figured a 2/0 open hook wouldn't be an issue.

Do you think I should use exclusively with lightwire hooks with that rod? If so could you recommend a different bladed jig with a lighter hook?

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, radiozephyr said:

Really? I know I've had issues driving a hook through certain plastics...  but I figured a 2/0 open hook wouldn't be an issue.

Do you think I should use exclusively with lightwire hooks with that rod? If so could you recommend a different bladed jig with a lighter hook?

If the line rating is something like 4-8lb test and the lure rating is 1/8 - 1/4 oz, yes. All jigs incuding bladed jig excel when fish in or at least near cover. Usually soft cover.  Think weeds.  You may be under gunned using a medium light moderate rod, regardless of the hook.

A-Jay

[radiozephyr]

17 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

If the line rating is something like 4-8lb test and the lure rating is 1/8 - 1/4 oz, yes. All jigs incuding bladed jig excel when fish in or at least near cover. Usually soft cover.  Think weeds.  You may be under gunned using a medium light moderate rod, regardless of the hook.

A-Jay

You're saying you think a medium light moderate fast rod is not good for fishing soft cover at all? I've had success throwing a dropshot into brush piles, holes in weeds, grass lines, etc.

 

Btw, my line rating is 4 - 10 lb, lure rating is 1/8 - 5/8 oz.

[Pogues2300]

For the chatter bait I’d recommend hog farmer spunk Shad 3.5. I’ve done really well with the bigger version on regular chatter baits. Not super bulky and just kinda lets the lure lead and the trailer reacts. 

[WRB]

On 6/21/2023 at 10:05 AM, radiozephyr said:

Would like to grab a variety of actions and colors for around $20-$30.

I fish in the southeast, including a couple of blueback herring reservoirs. Targetting primarily spotted and largemouth bass.

 

The jigs I have are about 1/4 oz, and I'll be using them on a medium light moderate fast action rod, 8 lb braid to 8 lb fluoro. So not looking for plastics that will add lots of weight

 

So far all I have is a 3.8" keitech, which looks really great threaded onto the mini chatterbait. 

 

Try to find trailers 2 1/2” to 2” for 1/4oz jigs with smaller claws or no claws for bottom contact.

Most floating finesse or 5” strait hand pour worms can be cut in half then spilt about 1 1/2” with a safety razor to make tails for good for trailers.

Tom

 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, radiozephyr said:

You're saying you think a medium light moderate fast rod is not good for fishing soft cover at all? I've had success throwing a dropshot into brush piles, holes in weeds, grass lines, etc.

 

Btw, my line rating is 4 - 10 lb, lure rating is 1/8 - 5/8 oz.

I'm saying none of this is good For Me.

Small dink bass would come out easily, however I would have zero expectation of successfully extracting a big bass out of cover with your set up.

Might be good for you though, especially if you enjoy posting up 'I lost a Big One' threads.

Seem to be a lot of those lately.

Hope you don't join the club. 

Good Luck.

I'm done here.

Read up on some stuff it will help you, I promise.

https://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish

A-Jay

 

[radiozephyr]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

I'm saying none of this is good For Me.

Small dink bass would come out easily, however I would have zero expectation of successfully extracting a big bass out of cover with your set up.

Might be good for you though, especially if you enjoy posting up 'I lost a Big One' threads.

Seem to be a lot of those lately.

Hope you don't join the club. 

Good Luck.

I'm done here.

Read up on some stuff it will help you, I promise.

https://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish

A-Jay

 

 

All I do is read up ?

 

I do use a medium heavy rod, but I think part of the reason I prefer medium light is because I enjoy a hard fight. Losing a big fish always sucks, of course. But patiently landing a 3 lb bass on a medium light rod is a fun challenge compared to effortlessly winching them in. That's just my opinion; most bass around me aren't monsters anyway.

 

Regardless of our differing preferences, I appreciate your input and advice! ?

[A-Jay]

10 minutes ago, radiozephyr said:

 

All I do is read up ?

 

I do use a medium heavy rod, but I think part of the reason I prefer medium light is because I enjoy a hard fight. Losing a big fish always sucks, of course. But patiently landing a 3 lb bass on a medium light rod is a fun challenge compared to effortlessly winching them in. That's just my opinion; most bass around me aren't monsters anyway.

 

Regardless of our differing preferences, I appreciate your input and advice! ?

It's all good.

I think we're both here to learn and reading about different methods,

styles & opinions is the way it usually happens.   

I'm not a 'wincher' either but I do mostly target the bigger bass (SMB) in the waters I fish.

Sometimes I even get a few.  When selecting my gear, it needs to be up to the task of handling the biggest fish I can hope to land.

Lesser fish hooked are simply a means to that end.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

 

[Catt]

Hale’s Craw Worm on the jig

 

 

[optimator]

10 minutes ago, Catt said:

Hale’s Craw Worm on the jig