Chatterbait versus Swim Jig ? 2025
ChrisD46 reply :
For the sake of simplicity , I'll use chatterbait to define all vibrating jigs : What goes into your thought process or factors deciding on whether you will throw a chatterbait a particular day instead of a swim jig and vice versa ?
A-Jay reply :
For the sake of simplicity, I use water clarity as my basic guide.
Clear water usually indicates swim jig usage and in colored or stained conditions, you guessed it, a vibrating jig often sees action.
There are a few other factors in there for me as well.
They revolve around water temp, sun or clouds, wind speed & direction if any, as well as depth.
But that's a bit beyond simple.
A-Jay
Montanaro reply :
I disagree with some of Ajays post...
Water clarity is NO factor for me unless it is a rockey reservoir with few ambush points and suspended fish.
If there is a little wind....I throw a chatterbait. No wind I throw swim jig. If the bass are bumping chatterbait and not hooking up (hookups are great with chatterbait) I go to swimjig or I kill/hop the chatterbait.
Final point....skipping under bushes....if I am hanging too much I go to swimjig.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
Swimjig is my favorite bait and I chuck it all the time, I've tried chatterbaits a ton and I've never caught a fish on one.
Fishin' Fool reply :
Wind and a choppy surface for a chatterbait or spinnerbait. Good visibility and water clarity for a swim jig. Think of a swim jig as a finesse spinnerbait.
Munkin reply :
On 5/9/2019 at 6:05 AM, A-Jay said:For the sake of simplicity, I use water clarity and as my basic guide.
Clear water usually indicates swim jig usage and in colored or stained conditions, you guessed it, a vibrating jig often sees action.
There are a few other factors in there for me as well.
They revolve around water temp, sun or clouds, wind speed & direction if any, as well as depth.
But that's a bit beyond simple.
A-Jay
Could not have said it better myself.
Allen
Bluebasser86 reply :
Grass is the only place I fish a swim jig really. If it's too thick to fish a bladed jig or spinnerbait, I'll fish swim jig, which is very rare.
Oddly enough, I today was one of those days. I fished one of @Munkin's swim jigs in a firetiger/perch color in some dirty water with lots of stringy grass mixed with flooded shoreline grass and snot moss. Minus a Toadrunner fish that started the day, all of my fish slammed the swim jig. Unfortunately I was ill equipped to fish it and broke it off setting the hook on what looked to be my biggest fish of the day.
smalljaw67 reply :
My water is similar to Munkin's and both of us follow A-Jay's deciding factors for the most part. Sure, there are other considerations but for me, water clarity is a big one, but it also depends on what type of swim jig. For me, I make my own and I use what is commonly called a "Northern" swim jig. They are 1/4oz with a 3/0 - 4/0 medium wire hook with a sparse 35 - 40 strand skirt so it is more of a finesse type deal. I know some like using California style swim jigs that are 1/2oz or larger with 55 - 60 strand skirts with large hooks, if I was using something like that then water clarity would only be a small factor.
ChrisD46 reply :
Useful replies - I understand the nuances between the two a little better now ... Of course , there may be over lap so , it's best to experiment on a given day .
dgkasper58 reply :
On a side note- I have also never caught a fish on a chatterbait until I bought the Fogy from Seibert Outdoors! I have re-ordered twice since then and my bass fishing team caught most of their fish on it.
Choporoz reply :
I always begin with bladed jig because that's where my confidence lies. Most of the water I fish is pretty dirty, so that may have factored into how I got where I am. I still throw a swim jig, but generally only think of it in limited conditions:
-chatterbait bite isn't as good as I think it should be (but I switch to swim jig only after I've tried both light and dark chatterbaits)
-days when I just can NOT keep the snakeheads off the chatterbait
-certain conditions in spring and fall when bass are visibly feeding near the surface, or have pushed bait into the shore; for some reason, I reach for a swim jig first, because I've had success there in the past
Hawkeye21 reply :
I throw the chatterbait in all conditions. I have yet to try throwing just a swim jig.
Russ E reply :
I use both, but the chatterbait is usually reserved for slow rolling deeper water or when the wind is howling.
I use the swimjig whenever the water is relatively calm and fish are shallow.
Munkin reply :
On 5/9/2019 at 12:28 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Grass is the only place I fish a swim jig really. If it's too thick to fish a bladed jig or spinnerbait, I'll fish swim jig, which is very rare.
Oddly enough, I today was one of those days. I fished one of @Munkin's swim jigs in a firetiger/perch color in some dirty water with lots of stringy grass mixed with flooded shoreline grass and snot moss. Minus a Toadrunner fish that started the day, all of my fish slammed the swim jig. Unfortunately I was ill equipped to fish it and broke it off setting the hook on what looked to be my biggest fish of the day.
Those sunfish swim jigs are working for everyone except me this year.
Allen
Koz reply :
FWIW, in my area I rarely catch anything on a chatterbait in clear water conditions. But in just about any degree of stained water it has been my top producing bait.
GReb reply :
Generally I fish a chatterbait from winter through spawn and swim jig from post spawn to winter. Pulling a swim jig through thick pads during the summer is some of my favorite fishing. The blowups can be unreal
Munkin reply :
On 5/9/2019 at 12:28 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Grass is the only place I fish a swim jig really. If it's too thick to fish a bladed jig or spinnerbait, I'll fish swim jig, which is very rare.
Oddly enough, I today was one of those days. I fished one of @Munkin's swim jigs in a firetiger/perch color in some dirty water with lots of stringy grass mixed with flooded shoreline grass and snot moss. Minus a Toadrunner fish that started the day, all of my fish slammed the swim jig. Unfortunately I was ill equipped to fish it and broke it off setting the hook on what looked to be my biggest fish of the day.
There are more to take its place.
Allen
CroakHunter reply :
I enjoy throwing both types of jigs. But as mentioned above water clarity and temp help make the choice. Winter time is great for swimming a jig. Still havent found a swim jig I like so I just swim my pitching jigs
Also recommend the fogy, something special about that football head
DSTN reply :
My take is a combo of a couple responses already. If the water has some color to it and the water isn't glass smooth then I'm starting with a chatterbait. This is the case the vast majority of the time where I fish. If the water is clear or calm then I'd favor a swim jig or possibly willow bladed spinner bait.
fishwizzard reply :
I am far more in the Team Swimjig camp then most people here it seems
like. I will most always reach for a swimjig first and will generally only use a chatterbait in very stained water, very high winds that make casting a spinnerbait annoying, or when I am straight up out of other ideas and feeling desperate.
I do catch quality bass on them when I do throw them but there’s something about throwing a big single hook lure without a weedguard thats just too much hubris for me to handle. Like we all saw what happened to Icarus.
In all seriousness, I also kind of feel that between swimjigs and spinnerbaits there isn’t much “missing” that a chatterbait will provide me.
Yakalong reply :
I usually start with a chatterbait (a lot of confidence in them) and if they don't work then the swimbait gets thrown. I try to keep it simple.
bowhunter63 reply :
Swimjig with a swimbait on the back.I have caught some on Rage blade but really dont do well on a chatter bait.If i throw blades its a spinner bait.I dont know maybe a confidence thing.
Mr Swim Jig reply :
I will throw a swim jig pretty much anytime, anywhere and in any water condition...I will not hesitate to throw a chatterbait if the fish are not biting the swim jig. I have a lot of confidence in both baits and both baits will catch quality fish...
You will always find a swim jig, chatterbait and a spinnerbait tied on a rod on the deck of my boat....
Ksam1234 reply :
I throw a swimjig most if the time over a chatterbaits. They are more weedless as I fish around mostly weeded area. Chatterbaits are better for more windy and stained water for me.
Oregon Native reply :
Low light times or windy conditions seem to get the most commitment from the bass for me. Doesn't matter if the water is clear or stained. What seems to also really matter is weather it's white or green pumpkin.....so far the white is still bringing them in. It's interesting how you can be getting short strikes because you really like to throw it....then the wind will pick up and it's .....GAME ON.
ww2farmer reply :
My preferences are based on my own personal exp. with each style of bait and when/where they have produced for me.
Swim jig: Clear to slightly off colored water. Grass, wood, and docks for cover. Ultra-shallow to mid-depth (up to 10 FOW), light to moderate breeze.
Chatter bait: Slightly stained to dirty water. Grass and rock for cover (they are snag machines around wood and docks) Ultra-shallow to mid-depth (also up to 10'FOW), and a light breeze to a stiff wind.
I rarely get bit on either when it's slick calm.
The chatterbait DOES get some very clear water work in for me when the grass is getting thick and almost topping out near the surface. It does a good job of "calling" fish up out of thick grass provided I use a natural color and subdued blade that produces little flash.
I use both in ALL water temps and seasons, and let wind/clarity/cover dictate my choice.
Trailers are more important with a swim jig, I like high action trailers with those. With a chatterbait, I prefer a low to no action trailer.
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