chatterbait ?

[rboat]

I know these things were popular a couple years ago and I have read through some of the old threads, however, I am wondering what I need to try to get some takers. I have every companies type and many colors and sizes. I have tried a normal retrieve like a spinnerbait. I tried the yo-yo retrieve. I even tried a deep slow retrieve. Nothing. I hear others that do very well. Is there a secret or something else to try? :-/ Thanks.

[Wayne P.]

This week, the bass at Lake Fork have been killing the Chatterbait using a steady retrieve just below the surface in less than 5' depths.

I've been using a chrome blade with a sexy shad skirt and Zoom double tail trailer in white. Also a gold blade with a sexy shad skirt and a Zoom double tail trailer in silver rainbow. Both are 1/4 oz.

[crw]

I have several of the Chatterbaits and use them from time to time. It seems when everything is right, it works well. For me this is not often. I have made many cast with a Chatterbait without even a bump, change to regular spinner and start catching fish.

I do line the vibrations the Chatterbait gives off. One odd thing is that most fish I catch with the Chatterbait are right at the boat or close to the boat. I can not even guess at to why that is.

I must admit, I will choose a regular spinner over a Chatterbait.

[ShouldBe0utdoors]

I've had my best luck with a steady retrieve.  Every time I have gone with a Chatterbait, it seems like I don't catch as many fish, but the fish I do catch are larger.

[Fishing Rhino]

The Chatterfrog is one of my favorites.  It has not been productive for me this year, yet.

It really produced for me, late summer, and fall.  My favorite spinnerbaits have yet to show me much this year.

Jigs were killer, March and April.  Then nothing, or next to nothing, when they started spawning.

Chatterfrogs worked best for me when they were fished at a speed that allowed them to bounce off rocks from time to time.

On other types of bottom, I'd expect them to produce well if it the "ticked" the bottom occasionally, stirring up a bit of sediment.

They do not do well in heavy vegetation.  Not bad in sparse lily pads or some types of vegetation.

[Sam]

If you can bounce the Chatterbait off any structure you may produce a strike.

Just keep trying.  Sooner or later you will get bit.

Also, try fishing the Chatterbait by dragging it on the bottom or popping it along the bottom.

Consider adding a trailer hook to improve your hook-up ratio.  

[CODbasser]

i dont use them unless the water is muddy or i am fishing at night...they work great in both conditions...when fishing them in muddy water us a slow retrieve and get the bait right next to the cover...for muddy water i like white/chartreuse with a chartreuse trailor...i like black or white at night...

[Marty]

Is there a secret or something else to try?

Maybe you haven't fished them enough or maybe you just haven't been in the right places at the right time. There's no reason not to get hit if you're fishing them around bass that are willing to hit a lure.

[bpNClgmouth]

I always use a zoom fluke as a trailer and dip it in some JJ's.  Just work it erratically and the fluke will make it jump and pull some aggressive reaction strikes