Chatterbait, Spinnerbait, etc. Rod and Reel? 2025

Texasbassin reply :

I'm looking into getting a new setup for chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and other open hook moving baits. So far I've narrowed it down to two rods and thee reels. The rods are the Daiwa Tatula XT cranking rods in a 7' MH reg. glass rod, and a Denali Jadewood J2 7' MH mod. I don't know much about glass rods, any tips or advice? The reels are the Lews Speed Spool LFS, the Lews Mach I Speed Spool, and the Shimano Casitas 150. I notice the Mach I weighs half an ounce more, yet has a deeper spool, whereas the Casitas has less line capacity than both reels. Any thoughts on what to get or anything about the equipment? Thank you.

DirtyDeuceGoose reply :

I would try to handle the rods before you purchase. I know it's not always an option but it can sway your decision. I personally dislike glass rods.

Texasbassin reply :

Thank you. I wasn't to sure about the whole glass thing. I'll be sure to stop by somewhere and get a feel for them.

Yudo1 reply :

I don't like glass rods for single hook moving presentations. I do like them for cranks though. I use a 7' klx CRT which is MH and mod/fast.

Bluebasser86 reply :

I don't buy the glass for bladed jigs thing either. They're one of my favorite baits, and the fish have no problems eating them so deeply that I can't see anything but the blade sticking out of their mouths. I've tried the glass/composite rods, felt like I missed way more strikes that way.

Texasbassin reply :

Thank you for the feedback guys. I'll most likely go check out a Denali J2 in person to double check. Only issue now would be the reel. I hear a whole lot about the Lews reels, but have heard just as much if not more good things about Shimano's reels. Will the line capacity be a huge factor or no? If anyone has experience or advice I'd love to hear it. Thank you.

trupp30 reply :

Look at an iRod Gen 2 Stone Cold swim/bladed jig rod. I have one and have been fishing it for a few months now and love it. Light weight, balanced nicely, and the right amount of tip and backbone when setting the hook, with a swim jig, or bladed jig. And for $150, its a great deal.

RichF reply :

Going against the crowd on this one. I love my glass rod for bladed jigs. It's a 7'0 H Powell max spook and trap. I've used a regular graphite MH rod for it also. It's fine, just like the glass way better.

Never used Lews, but have heard mixed reviews. Many say they're great for the price (especially the mid-range ones). Others say they don't hold up to extended use. I'm a big Shimano guy. I have a Curado 200I on my bladed jig rod. Love it. It's smooth, casts great, good line capacity (I like to use 17 - 20 lb flouro on it), and the drag (like all shimanos) is butter.

Raul reply :

The last kind of rod in my mind for single open lures would be a crank rod.

RichF reply :

On 5/10/2016 at 11:31 PM, Raul said:

The last kind of rod in my mind for single open lures would be a crank rod.

I'm not sure if I'd like a MH glass rod for this application but the Heavy is perfect. When I realized the "best bladed jig fisherman in the world" (Brett Hite) uses a glass rod for this, I figured I might have made a decent choice.

Brikon reply :

I like a:

Medium-Heavy/Moderate Action.

6.3.1 Reel

Monofilament Line

just my personal preference.

blckshirt98 reply :

I use a Phenix X3 glass crankbait rod for chatterbaits and I wouldn't change. The glass rod really lets you whip the bait out there effortlessly and I've never had any hookup issues. There really is no right or wrong, just use what is most comfortable and feels best for you.

druben reply :

I prefer a Dobyn's Champion 734 with a 6:3:1 Curado

Texasbassin reply :

Appreciate the advice. Based off your feedback I think I will get the Casitas and check out both rods in person before I buy one. Being in Texas dirty water is common so I will most likely spool with 30 lb. braid and possibly 17 lb. flourocarbon.

On 5/10/2016 at 8:32 PM, trupp30 said:

Look at an iRod Gen 2 Stone Cold swim/bladed jig rod. I have one and have been fishing it for a few months now and love it. Light weight, balanced nicely, and the right amount of tip and backbone when setting the hook, with a swim jig, or bladed jig. And for $150, its a great deal.

I will be sure to check the rod out. Only issue may be the $150 price point, but if it's worth I'll most definatley consider it.

Mr Swim Jig reply :

For those baits I would look at the Daiwa Tatula 7' 2" MH/R rod, it is a great rod for these types of baits and it is also a great swim jig rod.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

If a bass wants to eat your bait you couldn't pull it away from them if you wanted to. If you're getting short strikes changing blades, skirt, trailer or retrieve is a good move. A fast action Rod in an appropriate power will launch a bait if needed and still be accurate and provide good hook sets.

Kidflex reply :

Check out the Powell max 3D 725 Crankbait rod, at Shelton's clothing for $99 shipped. It's perfect for spinner baits and chatterbaits. It's a medium heavy moderate fast rod that'll throw 5x's and dd22's effectively and wouldn't have a problem with what you want to do with it. A lot of power in mid section and not as flimsy as glass rods

buzzed bait reply :

i did use a dobyns champion 705 glass cranking rod for chatterbaits and it worked pretty well when i had it. but for the longest time i've been using a regular (not xt) tatula 6'10" MHF rod and that thing is incredible for those techniques. i've recently bought another, nicer, rod to take its place, but i can't for the life of me bring myself to sell the tatula, it's just that good. see if you can find one of the regular tatulas and pair it up with the Lew's LFS and you'll have a great combo!

Logan S reply :

I use different rods for chatterbaits and spinnerbaits. For spinnerbaits I use the relatively standard MH/MF (mine is a 6'10"). I've used MH/F as well and it worked fine.

For chatterbaits, I'm in the heavy-power glass rod camp. For me it's not really about hooking and/or losing fish, it's about how the rod handles and works the chatterbait itself. For some reason it makes the bait to come through and pop off grass a lot easier, which allows me to fish it more efficiently/effectively. In open water or around hard cover it might be a different story, but for the type of chatterbait fishing I do (shallow tidal water, heavy grass) they seem to be made for each other. I also got the idea from Brett Hite. When the nearly unanimous choice for the best bladed-jig fisherman on earth talks, I listen .

Reel doesn't really matter, both are pretty easy to cast so just use what you like...I like 7:1 gears. I use 15 lb Flouro for line.

WPCfishing reply :

On 5/10/2016 at 8:57 PM, RichF said:

Going against the crowd on this one. I love my glass rod for bladed jigs. It's a 7'0 H Powell max spook and trap. I've used a regular graphite MH rod for it also. It's fine, just like the glass way better.

Never used Lews, but have heard mixed reviews. Many say they're great for the price (especially the mid-range ones). Others say they don't hold up to extended use. I'm a big Shimano guy. I have a Curado 200I on my bladed jig rod. Love it. It's smooth, casts great, good line capacity (I like to use 17 - 20 lb flouro on it), and the drag (like all shimanos) is butter.

I use Lews reels exclusively. Tourney pros to Mags. Never any problems. I won't buy any other reel brand.

DirtyDeuceGoose reply :

If anyone has fished the Evergreen Heracles Leopard and can chime in with how that rod fishes could be beneficial to this thread I think.

RichF reply :

On 5/12/2016 at 12:09 AM, DirtyDeuceGoose said:

If anyone has fished the Evergreen Heracles Leopard and can chime in with how that rod fishes could be beneficial to this thread I think.

I'll let you know when I win the powerball

Texasbassin reply :

Really appreciate all the feed back and I believe I've made my decision.. I'm ticking with the Jadewood and Shimano Citicas. Glass rods seem like a better choice in a heavy power, or maybe just for chatterbaits and cranks. I think the best all around decision is to stay with the graphite rods. Although I will most definately get my hands on a glass did sometime in my bass fishing career. Thank you very much for the help I really appreciate it.

Texasbassin reply :

On 5/11/2016 at 10:27 PM, Logan S said:

I use different rods for chatterbaits and spinnerbaits. For spinnerbaits I use the relatively standard MH/MF (mine is a 6'10"). I've used MH/F as well and it worked fine.

For chatterbaits, I'm in the heavy-power glass rod camp. For me it's not really about hooking and/or losing fish, it's about how the rod handles and works the chatterbait itself. For some reason it makes the bait to come through and pop off grass a lot easier, which allows me to fish it more efficiently/effectively. In open water or around hard cover it might be a different story, but for the type of chatterbait fishing I do (shallow tidal water, heavy grass) they seem to be made for each other. I also got the idea from Brett Hite. When the nearly unanimous choice for the best bladed-jig fisherman on earth talks, I listen .

Reel doesn't really matter, both are pretty easy to cast so just use what you like...I like 7:1 gears. I use 15 lb Flouro for line.

I like your advice. However, sadly, I have one Rod to work with which is why I chose graphite for an all-around. Oh the problems of a budget XD. Thank you.

Mike L reply :

On 5/11/2016 at 2:09 AM, blckshirt98 said:

I use a Phenix X3 glass crankbait rod for chatterbaits and I wouldn't change. The glass rod really lets you whip the bait out there effortlessly and I've never had any hookup issues. There really is no right or wrong, just use what is most comfortable and feels best for you.

I use the X 11 composite for crank and jerk baits and won't change either...

The M1 mh/f is my spinner/ chatter rod and won't change that either

Mike

smalljaw67 reply :

Normally I like fast action rods for chatterbaits and spinnerbaits and I like the length to be shorter as I target cast with them. That said, I think I found the best chatterbait/spinnerbait rod I ever used, at least for now and by the fall I'll have a better handle on it. I got a 6'9" heavy power Hammer rod, the thing is very light with Winn Grips and it is stout but has a mod fast type action, I've only caught 17 fish on it so far, 5 of a spinnerbait and 12 with the chatterbait and not a single fish lost. It doesn't sound like much but I never have caught 12 fish in a row on a chatterbait without losing at least 2, so that really made me happy. I purchased the rod for fishing larger topwaters in the 5/8oz to 1oz range and pretty soon I'll get to try it but right now it has become my goto spinnerbait rod. The make a 7' heavy that will work for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits from 3/8oz and up, the reason you go heavy is they are like a 1/2 power lighter than other rods, the heavy is like a stout medium heavy while their medium heavy is what Kistler would call a light medium heavy, I honestly never thought I'd be recommending those rods but I've been impressed with mine. The downside is they use micro guides and if you use braid with a leader it may not be for you but I'd go graphite in the Tatula as the glass is a little heavier weight wise and softer too, more backbone in the graphite model.

npl_texas reply :

Is a reel in the low 6:1 ratio the consensus? I just purchased one of the Dobyn's mislabeled 736CB glass rods and am looking for a good reel to pair with it. I'm also going throw up to 6xd's with it.

Burke reply :

On 5/11/2016 at 4:13 AM, druben said:

I prefer a Dobyn's Champion 734 with a 6:3:1 Curado

Love my 734

Chance_Taker4 reply :

Great choice on the setup. Denali Jadewood series rods used to be one of the most suggested rod on this forum next to the Veritas but more and more it faded away into the abyss. I like to go against the grain and use products that don't get the attention (Denali, Carrot Stix, Ardent to name a few) and the J2 is the rod I use for one of my spinnerbait/chatterbait setup at the present time I have mine paired with an Ardent Apex Pro which is I believe the same price as the Casitas but (my opinion) better features i.e aluminum frame vs the Casitas graphite frame. I am not knocking the Casitas though it is a great reel but I think the J2 with an 7:1 Apex Pro is a better setup in my opinion.

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