Chatterbait Jack Hammer Vs Original 2024
ratherbfishin1 reply :
What’s the difference, is it worth the price tag for the jack hammer? I’ve seen them at stores and really don’t see much of a difference between the original and jackhammer.
Catt reply :
I do quite well with the original but some will say you can't catch a single fish unless ya throwing the Jackhammer!
RichF reply :
The components on the Jackhammer are just way better quality. Much better hook, double wire trailer keeper, nice painted blade, etc. I finally bit the bullet and picked a couple up during TW's black friday sale. Haven't thrown them yet, but they're definitely nice. Worth $15?....Eh, we'll see. I'm skeptical. I like the Chatterbait Elites just fine at $6.
A-Jay reply :
I agree with @RichF -
The quality of the bait is very good.
What I like about it is; the strength of the stainless steel blade, the Gamakatsu 4/0 BMF heavy wire Flippin Hook, the effective top /bottom double wire trailer keeper, the durable hand-tied skirt and finally the high-quality Decoy Egg Snap. I can't say if it's The Best, as I haven't fished them all.
While clearly not the magic bait it may be advertised as, I can say that when fished in the right place, at the right time, in the right way, The Jack Hammer catches fish for me.
Whether 'it's worth the price' - may be a personal choice.
Before I fished them - I thought perhaps not.
After last season fishing them - I say yes it is.
YMMV
And for a little added incentive - here's a little action on the Jackhammer from last October.
A-Jay
GReb reply :
I tried a bunch of the cheaper models from different brands and their builds are just inconsistent. Two identical baits and one will run better than the other. After buying a jackhammer I won’t go back.
MassYak85 reply :
On 3/10/2019 at 5:06 AM, GReb said:After buying a jackhammer I won’t go back.
Part of the reason I won't buy one, at least not until I can afford to be replacing 17 dollar chatterbaits when toothy critters inevitably steal them.
MIbassyaker reply :
I have one (1) sparkling-new Jackhammer ready to go the moment I am able, and I intend to arrive at an answer to this exact question. I just need open water first.
webertime reply :
Consistency and quality of Jackhammer make it really close to "worth it ". The head shape I feel helps keep the bait down better than regular chatterbaits. The out of the package "hunt" is really nice to.
The first time you break one off on a cast and it soars across the sky is quite a feeling though.
LxVE Bassin reply :
On 3/10/2019 at 9:15 AM, MassYak85 said:Part of the reason I won't buy one, at least not until I can afford to be replacing 17 dollar chatterbaits when toothy critters inevitably steal them.
I stocked up on TW Black Friday sale. Should be good for the season with the amount I bought.
bigjean663 reply :
My first and only fish on a chatterbait was this past Thursday on a jackhammer. 15 minutes later I snagged it on something and broke it off. Throwing them while being a bank fisherman is dangerous.....and even more dangerous when it’s unfamiliar waters.
Brad Reid reply :
On 3/10/2019 at 9:38 PM, bigjean663 said:My first and only fish on a chatterbait was this past Thursday on a jackhammer. 15 minutes later I snagged it on something and broke it off. Throwing them while being a bank fisherman is dangerous.....and even more dangerous when it’s unfamiliar waters.
Well, you can honestly say you caught a $17 bass, I suppose.
Sounds like a nice lure to me and I am betting that its price will decline over time. Jackhammers will ultimately sell at a price that optimizes profits for the company.
But, the Z-Man Freedom Chatterbait is the one that really interests me. At about half the price of a Jack Hammer, it has that very cool free-swinging jig head, this and it allows anglers to attach any size and/or design of hook to it. So, one could rig up something weedless, or open hook, a longer shaft hook, wide gap or other, etc. Any attached plastic will swing free, too.
Brad
HeyCoach reply :
On 3/10/2019 at 9:56 PM, Brad Reid said:Well, you can honestly say you caught a $17 bass, I suppose.
Sounds like a nice lure to me and I am betting that its price will decline over time. Jackhammers will ultimately sell at a price that optimizes profits for the company.
But, the Z-Man Freedom Chatterbait is the one that really interests me. At about half the price of a Jack Hammer, it has that very cool free-swinging jig head, this and it allows anglers to attach any size and/or design of hook to it. So, one could rig up something weedless, or open hook, a longer shaft hook, wide gap or other, etc. Any attached plastic will swing free, too.
Brad
With the free swinging head, would that make the body have a more subtle wiggle?
webertime reply :
On 3/11/2019 at 12:20 AM, HeyCoach said:With the free swinging head, would that make the body have a more subtle wiggle?
Yes.
Brad Reid reply :
On 3/11/2019 at 12:20 AM, HeyCoach said:With the free swinging head, would that make the body have a more subtle wiggle?
Agreed with webertime. I have some Freedom Jig Heads of various sorts, a few other items from the company including a spinnerbait. I haven't had them long enough to use anything but the swimming jig head but it works really well. I plan to try this version of a chatterbait, will likely get one with my next order.
ww2farmer reply :
On 3/10/2019 at 8:46 PM, webertime said:Consistency and quality of Jackhammer make it really close to "worth it ". The head shape I feel helps keep the bait down better than regular chatterbaits. The out of the package "hunt" is really nice to.
The first time you break one off on a cast and it soars across the sky is quite a feeling though.
Or when a 40" Pike chases it down boat side faster than you can reel it away from him. I have actually had them leap out of the water to grab it as I pull it away.
To the Op's question....yes they are worth it, but don't think they are the only bladed jig you need. I use a few different one's in my rotation for different situations.
For example:
Jackhammer = best all around bait for me
Project Z = best "pressured fish" and clear water bait for me....the head DOES NOT clack on the blade...think of the Jack hammer/Project Z combo as rattling vs. silent shallow crankbait.
Picasso Shock Blade Tungsten Knocker = best deep water bait for me. I have tried the heavier Jackhammers, and Project Z's and the Shock blade trumps them both in deep water.
Chatterbait freedom = best at coming through wood and docks for me.
And lastly the Chatterbait custom = poor mans Jackhammer. It's a good all around bait, and a nice step up from the "regular/original" Chatterbait without costing an arm and a leg.
I used to make my own, and still do assemble a few each season, but since I have not been able to get direct attach to the blade heads anymore, I just buy them now.
OnthePotomac reply :
I like any of the ZMan chaters with the 5/0 hook. Lovin' that big hook.
Dom Hendricks reply :
I have had more luck on the original and the z man project z than the jackhammer but I broke off the white and chartreuse jack hammer after catching 4 fish on it. The monkey strikes again.
5by3 reply :
Jackhammer is one of, if not THE best, Chatterbait ever created imo. No Chatterbait should be worth $15... but that didn’t stop me from buying a few ????
diversity210 reply :
Picasso Shock blade chatterbaits. Absolute fantastic chatterbaits. They are a superior chatterbait than the z man classics, and Ive gotten bit and ive had far more bites on the Picasso's than even the Z man project z chatterbaits, and I like the project z as the blades vibrates much more than on the classic. I have personally never used the Jackhammer though
Dens228 reply :
On 3/13/2019 at 7:15 AM, diversity210 said:Picasso Shock blade chatterbaits. Absolute fantastic chatterbaits. They are a superior chatterbait than the z man classics, and Ive gotten bit and ive had far more bites on the Picasso's than even the Z man project z chatterbaits, and I like the project z as the blades vibrates much more than on the classic. I have personally never used the Jackhammer though
That's good to hear since I just bought a couple of Picasso's last week.
Harold Scoggins reply :
On 3/10/2019 at 4:53 AM, A-Jay said:Whether 'it's worth the price' - may be a personal choice.
The hook upgrade alone makes it worth it IMO @ratherbfishin1. Can you catch fish using the original? Sure you can, but as @A-Jay mentioned, it comes down to personal choice. If you want premium/quality tackle, you will pay to play. The next Memorial Day sale at TW is right around the corner.
1201vilbig reply :
I've caught a lot of fish on the Jackhammer. As mentioned by quite a few, it is a quality bait. That being said, I was introduced to the Finch Nasty Glade Blade recently (a weedless bladed jig). Sweet Baby Jesus - what a bait at 1/2 the JH price. I see a few of the pros are using it now also.
https://finchnastybaitco.com/products/glade-blade
stratoliner92 reply :
On 3/13/2019 at 12:28 PM, 1201vilbig said:I've caught a lot of fish on the Jackhammer. As mentioned by quite a few, it is a quality bait. That being said, I was introduced to the Finch Nasty Glade Blade recently (a weedless bladed jig). Sweet Baby Jesus - what a bait at 1/2 the JH price. I see a few of the pros are using it now also.
https://finchnastybaitco.com/products/glade-blade
How well do these stay down in water column or do they tend to rise up on retrieve?
Thanks
928JLH reply :
I've fished a few but can't justify the price point. They hang up just as easily as the original chatterbait too. I will not buy the original. They climb too high in the water column, rust easily, and don't chatter well on initial start up. I found a retired fella from Table Rock Lake and get excellent ones for 3.99 each and fish better than ones three times the price.
David228 reply :
I’m a believer, found some on sale for $12 and picked up a few. Not sure what the deal is but I can’t keep the fish off of these things. Had a buddy who fishes the customs and thought I was crazy for paying for the jack hammers.... maybe he’s right but I certainly won’t throw anything else now that I have the confidence I have.
Harold Scoggins reply :
All this Jack Hammer talk has got to stop, I placed another JDM order.
michaelsrex reply :
On 3/14/2019 at 8:45 AM, Harold Scoggins said:All this Jack Hammer talk has got to stop, I placed another JDM order.
Where from again?
LonnieP reply :
I fished a Jackhammer for the first time the other day. While I didn’t catch anything on it I could see a big difference in the quality vs the original. The Jackhammers blades start vibrating the instant I started the retrieve, it stays down in the water column and It doesn’t blow up on a fast retrieve.
pauldconyers reply :
Personally it's the Z-Man Project Z Weedless Chatterbait for me.
Uknowme reply :
On 3/14/2019 at 8:45 AM, Harold Scoggins said:All this Jack Hammer talk has got to stop, I placed another JDM order.
I saw this color and had to get it along with the bluegill. This color was really hard to find but I got it done. I had no idea Japan had extra colors. So thanks for posting!
1201vilbig reply :
On 3/14/2019 at 3:19 AM, stratoliner92 said:How well do these stay down in water column or do they tend to rise up on retrieve?
Thanks
They stay down!
GReb reply :
Eager to try the new Strike King Thunder Cricket. Its a few dollars cheaper thank the jackhammer and will likely be more readily available in stores being that it’s SK. I’m expecting it to perform on par with the Jackhammer
pauldconyers reply :
On 3/15/2019 at 11:21 AM, GReb said:Eager to try the new Strike King Thunder Cricket. Its a few dollars cheaper thank the jackhammer and will likely be more readily available in stores being that it’s SK. I’m expecting it to perform on par with the Jackhammer
Just the look of it online doesn't seem to be anything special. Saw Bass Pro had spots reserved for them to be filled in the next few days. Looks like TW had them on Friday to purchase.
Harold Scoggins reply :
On 3/14/2019 at 9:45 AM, michaelsrex said:Where from again?
You'll find them on most Japan tackle sites.
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