Why a Glass Rod for Chatterbaits?

[Dan Turpin]

Why do some suggest a glass rod for fishing chatterbaits? 

[JHoss]

Personal preference. The idea behind it is when your bait contacts a clump of grass, you just keep reeling and the glass will load up and then rip the bait through the grass. With a stiffer graphite rod you have to pop it to free the bait.

 

My main chatterbait setup is a glass rod and its pretty good about this. But the main reason I haven't switched to something lighter is that this setup has produced a very high landing percentage for me. 

[F14A-B]

I use a Heavy, moderate fast IMX CBR for vibrating jigs. I don’t use them a whole lot, I prefer throwing fat square billed crank baits but my rod is very adequate at double duty so there’s that..

[Choporoz]

26 minutes ago, Dan Turpin said:

Why do some suggest a glass rod for fishing chatterbaits? 

Wasn't me.   Tried it.  Hated it.  Maybe...maybe if I only burned chatterbaits, I might get an occasional hookset.  But for me it was frustrating experience.  

[RAM3139]

1 hour ago, JHoss said:

Personal preference. The idea behind it is when your bait contacts a clump of grass, you just keep reeling and the glass will load up and then rip the bait through the grass. With a stiffer graphite rod you have to pop it to free the bait.

 

My main chatterbait setup is a glass rod and its pretty good about this. But the main reason I haven't switched to something lighter is that this setup has produced a very high landing percentage for me. 

Interesting.  I havent tried glass yet, but on a moderate graphite rod I had trouble getting it to pop free cleanly, so I went back to a MH/F.  I was trying to snap it free like I do on the fast action, but maybe it would have been better just straight reeling?

 

[casts_by_fly]

same logic as for crankbaits.  When a bass inhales a moving bait, you want a little bit of give in your setup so that he can properly inhale it for the times when they are eating but not absolutely crushing it.  the more give, the deeper the fish takes it and the better chance of a hookset.  That's the logic anyway.  I've not had any issues with fish inhaling chatterbaits with mono and fast graphite rods.

[Junger]

I first started throwing chatterbaits on a 7’ MH/F rod, and I would say I lost 40% of the fish to jumps. After a season of that I realized that the big hook was making a bigger hole whenever a fish jumped and would eventually get big enough to pop out. I switched to a mod-fast rod, but not glass and I can’t recall losing a fish on it since. I may try a glass rod, but I prefer ripping a chatter bait through the grass, especially the thick hydrilla we have.

[JHoss]

29 minutes ago, RAM3139 said:

Interesting.  I havent tried glass yet, but on a moderate graphite rod I had trouble getting it to pop free cleanly, so I went back to a MH/F.  I was trying to snap it free like I do on the fast action, but maybe it would have been better just straight reeling?

 

I believe the one I'm throwing is a heavy moderate which may help. I throw it on 17 or 20 lb fluoro, but I've heard of some guys going to braid with a glass rods if they can't get it to bust free. I still have to pop my rod to clear grass on occasions, but it seems to be less frequent than when I threw it on a graphite rod. 

 

I will say the weight is a disadvantage. My glass chatterbait rod is the heaviest rod I own by a long shot. 

3 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

same logic as for crankbaits.  When a bass inhales a moving bait, you want a little bit of give in your setup so that he can properly inhale it for the times when they are eating but not absolutely crushing it.  the more give, the deeper the fish takes it and the better chance of a hookset.  That's the logic anyway.  I've not had any issues with fish inhaling chatterbaits with mono and fast graphite rods.

This is another big factor for why I like my glass rod that I forgot to touch on. I tend to be quick on the trigger with moving baits and a glass rod lets them get it a little deeper. 

[rangerjockey]

I don't fish a grass lake so I couldn't say about that deal. I will say that for me , they seem to get behind the bait and push it . I can see where the idea to slow down swinging on them too soon may work although I personally use graphite.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

For me it's in order to allow the fish to get it deeper and delay my response, as a side bonus it doesn't rip the bait to quickly away from cover.....both points have been covered above.

 

All I know is that a glass composite rod (Alpha Angler Chatterbound) made all the difference in the world for me.   For whatever reason, hooking fish on a full sized chatterbait is one of the toughest baits for me.    The glass rod corrected most of that for me.  

[gim]

15 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

with mono

 

The give is with the mono then instead of the rod.  I do the same with jerk baits because I use a stiff graphite rod but the reel has mono, which has some stretch.

[A-Jay]

To start, I fish the 3/8 oz. and the ½ oz. almost exclusively. 

Reserving the few 3/4 oz. baits for casting into a heavy wind.  

 

 These baits are so versatile and yet unique, they can be fished on just about any thing you’d like to throw it on. Is one type “Better” than another?  Who Knows?  I use what I like and what I have confidence it – that goes for all my fishing and I’d encourage that mind set to anyone & everyone who is willing to listen.  What one angler uses and even has success with, may not be right for another.  So use what you like.  Here's what I like – 

 

   I totally prefer moderate action rods for single hook moving baits. (And many treble hook baits for that matter).  And well before I settled on the ones mentioned below, I was like many anglers in that I was totally unsure what to use or what I would prefer. So after ‘reading’ and watching too many videos, I just went ahead and purchased and then fished a graphite (St Croix), 100 % Glass (Lamiglas) & a Composite stick (Quantum). Needed to be able to compare them- side by side.  Only way I could expect to answer the question.

 

As for the gear (rods Specifically) the way I fish a vibrating jig or chatterbait usually determines what blank material I favor. 

Glass rods are just a no - go for me in any chatterbait application.

They work, but there are so many trade off, it's not worth it for me. 

 

When I fish the bait early/late season, low & slow - very much like a jig,

I use a graphite jig rod. - 7'1" MH/F

The bites are coming when the bait is barely crawling along the bottom or even stopped completely.

Very much like a jig, so for me the graphite's superior sensitivity wins this one.

 

After that it's composite all the way, all day everyday. 

When I'm fishing a chatterbait in a more traditional horizontal moving fashion, 

Composite stick excel in every category for me. 

Long casting, effective hook setting and fish landing properties.

 

I use 15 lb FC line on every chatterbait application where I am hunting plus size brown bass here.

 

Final note, IMO, ripping a bait out of grass, which we all know gets bites,

is a different deal depending on the blank material. (and line type) 

IME, and because I fish in clear water and can easily see my bait, 

snapping a bait up & out of soft cover with graphite, although easier I suppose,

launches the bait forward a much greater distance than with a Composite stick.

How much depends on a few things but it can be a significant difference

and one that might change the number of bites I get in a day.

A bait caught in the grass with a fish looking right at it, suddenly moves or jumps out and starts to 'get away'.   Now if the bait moves say a foot or 18 inches, the bass can often make up that ground in a flash.  Boom - fish on.

  But if the bait rockets forward 4 or 5 feet, the bass might not even see it or realize it's moved. 

It's just gone; vanished.

And by then I've resumed my retrieve and the fish is left 10 feet back

wondering what the heck just happened.

Something to think about and perhaps try out for yourself. 

You might be surprised at the difference. 

A-Jay

 

 

[MediumMouthBass]

8 hours ago, Dan Turpin said:

Why do some suggest a glass rod for fishing chatterbaits? 

I fish chatterbaits alot, just not as much as a lipless or a ned....

I use a very stiff MH fast action rod. I love ripping baits out of the grass, and thats when the bass hit them. Using a glass rod works alot for most guys, but letting the rod load up on grass and it popping out just isnt as aggressive, and wouldnt work for the way i fish them. Plus ripping it out of the grass is half the fun! I understand why alot of people use glass rods, but i dont think ones better than the other, i think its all the person using them, and how they fish it.

I havent had any come off the hook yet and keep my drag quite tight, i use hybrid line too.

 

Same goes for crankbaits, everyone says you need a moderate, or a glass rod for them.

I fish almost all my crankbaits, especially lipless on the same rod. 7'3" MH Fast Aird X.

Ill just loosen the drag just a bit, havent lost any bass on that either, including a 10lber.

 

Again rod actions, and materials are just guidelines for what works best for most, not what works best for you. It all comes down to the individual using it.

[fishballer06]

Some people just prefer to do things wrong. 

[Columbia Craw]

I am right there with A-Jay with two additional considerations. First, you can acquire a moderate action by design or material. You get to choose. Glass rebounds slower than composites and all graphite rebounds the quickest.  Here’s three examples of very goods vibrating jig rods:  Dobyns Kaden 735 CB. All graphite and moderate.  NFC Edge  EFX Pro Hybrid MBR 706-1C. Composite, moderate, slower rebound. Alpha Angler Rebound 7’ Glass. Made from S2 glass, moderate with power and the slowest rebound of the three. 
 

Why moderate?  A-Jay nailed it but consider this. A vibrating jig is a jig. But this jig has two points that hinge or swivel.  This gives bass the ability to rock the jig in all kinds of angles unlike a traditional jig.  That movement is an open door for slack and relieving tension on the hook.  This is why treble hook baits benefit from moderate slower actions to stay hooked up. The goal, constant tension without ripping the hook out or bending the hook out. 
 

One last point. I don’t buy in to the idea slow rods allow the bass to suck in a moving bait deeper.  If it’s something that gives you confidence, that’s great.  It’s winter I guess.😁

[Aaron_H]

6 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

I am right there with A-Jay with two additional considerations. First, you can acquire a moderate action by design or material. You get to choose. Glass rebounds slower than composites and all graphite rebounds the quickest.  Here’s three examples of very goods vibrating jig rods:  Dobyns Kaden 735 CB. All graphite and moderate.  NFC Edge  EFX Pro Hybrid MBR 706-1C. Composite, moderate, slower rebound. Alpha Angler Rebound 7’ Glass. Made from S2 glass, moderate with power and the slowest rebound of the three. 
 

Why moderate?  A-Jay nailed it but consider this. A vibrating jig is a jig. But this jig has two points that hinge or swivel.  This gives bass the ability to rock the jig in all kinds of angles unlike a traditional jig.  That movement is an open door for slack and relieving tension on the hook.  This is why treble hook baits benefit from moderate slower actions to stay hooked up. The goal, constant tension without ripping the hook out or bending the hook out. 
 

One last point. I don’t buy in to the idea slow rods allow the bass to suck in a moving bait deeper.  If it’s something that gives you confidence, that’s great.  It’s winter I guess.😁

 

This was why I made the switch. I have traditionally thrown my chatterbaits on a reasonably parabolic/slow 7'1" MH/F, I affectionately referred to it as a "Moderate fast+." On that rod, I threw it braid-to-leader, and while I caught many good fish, those big ones more often than not would come unpinned on the jump no matter how I tinkered with drag, rod position, reeling, etc. Switched to straight mono, and landed my current biggest chatterbait fish at just under 7.5lbs, but I still kept losing more big ones than I landed on the jump, the graphite was just unloading too fast and like you said with those extra rotation points versus a traditional jig it was giving just enough slack to throw the bait.

 

Made the switch to a glass rod a couple of months ago and while I have a much smaller sample size, the results are very promising so far.

[Brian11719]

On 11/22/2024 at 4:16 PM, Columbia Craw said:

Here’s three examples of very goods vibrating jig rods:  Dobyns Kaden 735 CB. All graphite and moderate.  NFC Edge  EFX Pro Hybrid MBR 706-1C. Composite, moderate, slower rebound. Alpha Angler Rebound 7’ Glass. Made from S2 glass, moderate with power and the slowest rebound of the three. 

+1 for the 735CB. Have tried a really moderate action and a fast action and my personal preference is something with a little more bend but also stiff enough to get a larger single hook through...I get moderate action for treble hooks but I personally think mod fast is better for vibrating jigs and after trying out a few different options I landed on the 735CB and have been happy with it. Also great for a one knocker spook and a 5/8-3/4oz lipless IMHO.