Chatter Baits

[hatrix]

What is the best technique for these things? Today was the first time I really used one and I caught 5 fish on it. I couldn't really nail down a good retrieve for it. I kept trying different things to see what would work the best, but all the fish I caught I was doing some thing different each time. I tried pretty much every kind of retrieve I could think of. Also do you use a trailer and if so what do you use on them?

[Bluebasser86]

I've had my best success fishing them in the same places I'd fish a spinnerbait with a steady retrieve. Sometimes messing with the bend on the blade seems to help you catch more fish also. One of my go to baits around scattered weeds.

[Sam]

You fish them anyway you want.

Fast. Slow. Slow roll. Up and down. Stop and Go. Straight back at you.

Anything goes until you discover the pattern.

As for your trailer query, small flukes; large flukes; Paca Craws; Rage Craws; the trailer that comes with them; finesse worms; anything goes.

Be sure to add a trailer hook.

Have fun and post pics.

[clayton86]

I nail smallmouth on the mini version never had luck withthe full size. I just reel em on a stop and go retreve bumping into rocks and logs. I usually run a mister twister for a trailer

[Wayne P.]

What is the best technique for these things? Today was the first time I really used one and I caught 5 fish on it. I couldn't really nail down a good retrieve for it. I kept trying different things to see what would work the best, but all the fish I caught I was doing some thing different each time. I tried pretty much every kind of retrieve I could think of. Also do you use a trailer and if so what do you use on them?

I use them when the pattern involves a slow horizontal presentation, usually above vegetation and/or cool water. The only trailer I use is the Zoom twin tail trailer.

[endless]

The small chatters are my go to bait for small ponds when I fish from the bank. I use Live Magic Shads for trailers.

[hatrix]

Well I fished it again today for a little while and did pretty decent with it. I caught a couple just slow rolling it along the bottom but I did even better using it kinda like a jig. I noticed it will stand perfectly up right when you let it sit on the bottom. I found a old bag of black power worms with a chartreuse tail that match my chatter bait that is also chartreuse. I ripped off the top 2" since 7" seemed a little to long. I would start with my tip pointing at the water and slowly pick it up to about 11 o'clock and let it fall back down on a semi clack line then let it sit for a few secs and do this all the way back. I kinda liked it better then a jig since I was covering a lot of water faster and it has incredible action while I was jigging it. I cant imagine throwing one of these all day since it practically vibrates my arm off, but fishing it like a jig wasn't so bad since I got a little break in between the crazy vibrations.

[clayton86]

Well I fished it again today for a little while and did pretty decent with it. I caught a couple just slow rolling it along the bottom but I did even better using it kinda like a jig. I noticed it will stand perfectly up right when you let it sit on the bottom. I found a old bag of black power worms with a chartreuse tail that match my chatter bait that is also chartreuse. I ripped off the top 2" since 7" seemed a little to long. I would start with my tip pointing at the water and slowly pick it up to about 11 o'clock and let it fall back down on a semi clack line then let it sit for a few secs and do this all the way back. I kinda liked it better then a jig since I was covering a lot of water faster and it has incredible action while I was jigging it. I cant imagine throwing one of these all day since it practically vibrates my arm off, but fishing it like a jig wasn't so bad since I got a little break in between the crazy vibrations.

They make a jigging version that has a slightly diffrent head type it also has a ewg hook with trailer pin

[Bass Junkie]

I've done well bulging it just under the surface, especially when trying to cover water. The last time I used a chatterbait I nailed down a pattern in 2ft. of water after a storm came through. The fish were up feeding on the surf kill, and were reacting welll to a Brown/Orange chatterbait (my version) with a Brush-Hog style trailer bulged across the top of the water.