Different 'Types' of Chatterbaits 2024
A-Jay reply :
Despite being in its infancy as a bass lure, relatively speaking, the vibrating jig is already seeing changes that seem to inevitably happen to many baits already on the market. The first & perhaps most widely known model of ‘Chatterbait’, as it’s most commonly called, made quite a splash on the bass fishing market. It wasn’t long before the rest of the world jumped on the band wagon by producing & launching their own version of this most effective bait. There were some design ‘problems’ with a few of those first baits that saw them failing. Most notably, how & where the blade attached to the jig seemed to be a bit of a weak point, depending on the design. Before long, it was addressed and has been resolved for the most part by most all manufactures that offer them.
When taking a close look at the many baits being offered, there are slight difference in design noted. Now if & even how these differences, which I’ll note here in a bit, can or do change the effectiveness of these baits one way or the other, I cannot say as I’ve not fished them all. But I think that because the companies do not mention the differences, and continue to lump them all under the same designation, it’s worth a look.
So it appears that there are at least 5 or 6 types of baits designs. To be clear, these differences are all kind of minor I guess and revolve around either the type & connection point of the blade and / or the hook.
First is the original style bait where the blade is connected directly to the jig.
Next are the baits that use one (or more) split rings between the blade & the jighead.
This bait features a unique head & blade design where instead of having the head molded onto the hook like most jigs, the weighted head is actually molded onto the blade.
This one sees the blade connected directly to the hook but incorporates a unique free swinging, twisted hook attachment that enables anglers to swap-out hooks pretty easily allowing for almost any hook & trailer option one could come up with.
With a different take on the whole deal, the Molix Lover Skirted Jig is constructed from high performance ABS grade materials and sports a reverse shovel lip which is advertised to create an uncanny swimming action.
Finally this model from O.P.S. (Japan) uses a somewhat uniquely shaped “blade”. It’s constructed of a transparent reinforced plastic that’s attached directly to the jighead. I am particularly intrigued by this one and have a few on hand to fish this season.
** Disclaimer** There are some baits that companies are throwing into the vibrating jig pool where there is NO Blade attached but instead a ‘spinner’ is incorporated into the mix; positioned either in front, in back, above the bait and even below it. Although I haven’t fished any of these (and I probably never will) the absence of a blade makes it hard for me to include these in the vibrating jig category, mostly because they don’t vibrate. Seems more a like a candidate for the modified swim jig group.
So when you think of a “Chatterbait” which one do you think of ? Or better yet, what type are you having the most success with & why ?
A-Jay
ethan-333 reply :
i always throw the zman chatterbait with good success. sometimes taking off the skirt and using just a small swimbait
1201vilbig reply :
I've had too many Q.C. problems with the Original Chatterbaits. Even though I understand they have improved, I still have a bad taste in my mouth. As a result, I started looking for smaller, local to me businesses that I like to support. The Finch Nasty Thumper has been my bait of choice.
BASS302 reply :
I use the original style chatterbait. But only because I bought many of them when they first came out and I still have a bunch.
dmainor reply :
I prefer the Karu Lures Vibrashock, I love the action and the noise as the blades hits the football jig head. After a lot of use, the paint is beaten off the jibhead and the spots look like big eyes... The even have a version with a blade attached to a spinner bait called the vibraspin.
Dug
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
I only have zman original chatterbait, the hook is not so good get rusted very easily. Also the jig connect to blade is not very secure, I lost a while jig from practicing skipping.
Kidflex reply :
I'll stick with the zman brand. The upgraded versions are very nice from the original. I still use the original chatterbait if fishing very stumpy areas as the hook bends out fairly easy. I have some dm piranhas but chatterbait custom from tw is my favorite.
roadwarrior reply :
I have the original Chatterbait and improved versions; Fogy from Siebert Outdoors; Wobble
Head from Bluebasser86 and the Rage Blade. Although I experiment with a number of trailers,
the Structure Bug has become my favorite. All of these brands have performed nicely for me,
but if I had to choose just one, I think the Rage Blade performs best at slow speeds, fished just
off the bottom.
Oregon Native reply :
Quote
Pretty much use my own...I'm addicted. But still think I have lost too many good fish on them.
Montanaro reply :
Zman freedom for me.
The thing can get through some nasty cover i just wish they made a 1/4oz version. The 3/8 plus hook plus skirt plus trailer is easily 1/2oz if not 5/8
ThePolkFolk reply :
I have mostly used the z man baits but have recently picked up some rage blades. I only got to throw them for a little over an hour but I really like the action so far. Now I just have to stick a fish with one...
Choporoz reply :
I don't have a ton of experience, but I did dedicate a lot of hours to bladed jigs last year. I haven't tried OPM, Freedom or Molix styles. As to the more 'traditional' vs Rage styles, I use them both. I use @Bluebasser86's 'traditional' bladed jigs exclusively over zman, fogy, and others I tried. He makes a great lure that vibrates well at slow speeds and maintains great profile at fast retrieves, as well. I find the Rage blade style lures are a little better, however, when I want the action on the drop more-so than on the retrieve. They worked well on deeper fish when I fished it almost like a jigging spoon....but chattering all the way straight (or pendulum-ing) down; and then hopping or ripping it back.
BTW, that Molix in the OP reminds me more of a scrounger than a chatterbait....maybe because the blade is 'fixed', but if I felt the need to categorize it one way or another, I think I'd lean towards scrounger-type.
blckshirt98 reply :
Without naming names to avoid a cease and desist, there's a chatterbait out there with a HUGE blade (like an elongated ping pong ball) that results in a crazy thump on a slow retrieve. Custom chatterbaits are all over, but the basic design is innovative so big props to whoever first came up with the design.
HeavyTwenty reply :
I still prefer how the original z-man chatterbait swims. I've tried an alternative that had a crazy amount of movement, probably the one blckshirt98 mentioned, and felt it didn't swim as well and it actually exhausted my wrists reeling it in. I end up fishing it as a regular jig in dirty waters rather than a swim jig.
The original chatterbait has been the best moving bait for me in Florida, probably due to crankbaits effectively being unusable in many lakes due to vegetation. And for whatever reason, chatterbaits seem to be more useful than spinnerbaits. A lot of people say you need to fish the chatterbait slow, but I get a ton of hits when I burn it. I usually slow retrieve, but add in burns to hopefully cause a reaction.
BassWhole! reply :
I get more bites with the original, and modify them to minimize its well documented shortcomings. I think the direct connection between the blade and jig makes a difference, and all the other companies approaches are for legal, not fishing reasons.
Scarborough817 reply :
i love fishing the bladed jig but only use 4 variants it
- siebert outdoors fogy
- bluebasser86 wobble head
- z-man project z
- strike king rage blade
for me it depends on the cover and speed i'm fishing, if there is a lot of timber i am going to fish the rage blade because it comes up over brush better. if i am fishing grass with hard bottom i fish the fogy. if i am fishing any other grass it is the wobble head or the project z depending on what weight i want.
lonnie g reply :
I can attest to that strike king "rage" worked great in lake fork. solid red for down there
Choporoz reply :
@A-Jay, I realize this is old, but I love threads like this. Posts that spell out specific differences in similar lures, succinctly and all in one place. Thank you. Would it be too much trouble to update the pic links, please?
And maybe someone smarter than me might want to update some of the newer examples out there, like cupped blades, or different ring/eye attaching points/hardware.
Hawkeye21 reply :
I've been trying to find other vibrating jigs that I like but nothing compares to the Z-Man's. The Custom version from TW is a great one for the price but the Jack Hammer is my favorite. Nothing beats it.
bassinwithburg reply :
At the risk of sounding like a youtube-brainwashed doofus for spending 16 dollars on a jig with a blade on it, I have to say my favorite chatterbait is the jackhammer. I just have full confidence in all the components that i just don't on other baits, specifically the clasp. The vibration is super reactive and a pretty good thump (it even started vibrating when the wind blew). especially when I hop it on bottom with a craw trailer which is one of my favorite retrieves. The hand tied skirts are real nice but I could honestly care less.
The one complaint I do have about the JH is the bait keeper that everyone always freaks out over. It's great and all, but the wire keeper doesn't handle skinnier plastics well and the wire comes through after a few bites.
That being said I do keep the chatterbait custom and weedless project z for my wood and laydown fisheries because even a $15.99 chatterbait will still magically find it's way into a stump.
tight lines
A-Jay reply :
On 4/22/2019 at 11:14 PM, Choporoz said:@A-Jay, I realize this is old, but I love threads like this. Posts that spell out specific differences in similar lures, succinctly and all in one place. Thank you. Would it be too much trouble to update the pic links, please?
And maybe someone smarter than me might want to update some of the newer examples out there, like cupped blades, or different ring/eye attaching points/hardware.
Thank you.
My PC died last week and I'm working off my phone. Hate it. Give me a bit and I'll repost those pics if I can.
A-Jay
Koz reply :
I use both the Z-Man Original and the Elite. Both have been such big producers for me this year I'd say it's now my favorite bait in stained water conditions.
The only drawback with the Original is sometimes the blade does not always engage quickly. Other than that, paired with the correct trailer it has been great for me.
Bankbeater reply :
I use the original Z-Man.
JT Bagwell reply :
For well over 10 years I have been using the Phenix baits Vibrator jig. It was what Brett Hite used back in the day before he switched over to Zman. He won back to back tour events ($250,000) on the Vibrator jig and Yamamoto Swim Senko combination and that is still one of my go-to combos today.
Like a lot of companies, Phenix was hit with the cease and desist letters from Zman and had to stop making the Vibrator jig a time or two but a few years ago they came out with a version that didn't violate any patents and still works great.
Whatever brand you use (assuming it has solid components and won't break) they are definitely fish catching machines.
TBAG reply :
On 4/23/2019 at 11:30 PM, Koz said:I use both the Z-Man Original and the Elite. Both have been such big producers for me this year I'd say it's now my favorite bait in stained water conditions.
The only drawback with the Original is sometimes the blade does not always engage quickly. Other than that, paired with the correct trailer it has been great for me.
What are your favorite trailers?
Choporoz reply :
On 4/24/2019 at 8:07 PM, TBAG said:What are your favorite trailers?
I have used a number of different trailers, but pretty much only use Structure Bug anymore. White or dark.
Koz reply :
On 4/24/2019 at 8:07 PM, TBAG said:What are your favorite trailers?
On my bluegill colored Z-Man I use the Berkley Havoc Pit Boss in the "Perfection" color. For the white/grey fleck Z-Man chatterbait I use a cheap Zoom paddletail in solid white. I would prefer to use a Keitech Swing Impact, but they tear easily and that gets too expensive for me.
Hawkeye21 reply :
If you want a good trailer try the Z-Man Diezel swimbait. If you don't lose the lure then one bag could last you an entire year. If you don't want a swim bait style I recommend any Elaztec plastics. They do not get tore up from fish and will last numerous catches. I use to love the Yamamoto senko swims but I'd go through a bag every outing and it was ridiculously expensive. Now I only need a bag or two for the entire year.
Burke reply :
On 4/23/2019 at 10:57 PM, A-Jay said:Thank you.
My PC died last week and I'm working off my phone. Hate it. Give me a bit and I'll repost those pics if I can.
A-Jay
As I was checking this out, do you still have pictures of it. Can you re-link it?
A-Jay reply :
On 4/22/2019 at 11:14 PM, Choporoz said:@A-Jay, I realize this is old, but I love threads like this. Posts that spell out specific differences in similar lures, succinctly and all in one place. Thank you. Would it be too much trouble to update the pic links, please?
And maybe someone smarter than me might want to update some of the newer examples out there, like cupped blades, or different ring/eye attaching points/hardware.
On 8/24/2019 at 9:52 PM, Burke said:
As I was checking this out, do you still have pictures of it. Can you re-link it?
Pics have been updated ~
A-Jay
moguy1973 reply :
I typically use the original Chatterbait or the Project Z Chatterbaits. I do have some Rage Blades but I have found that the skirt can interfere with the head if the strands get wrapped around the blade on the cast or when it hits the water. I have a naked Rage Blade that I've used a bearded chigger craw on that it really doesn't like to work with.
NHBull reply :
While I lime the Jack hammer, I usually put the custom on. The smaller hook yields me better hookups and I am usually fishing for 3-5 pounders
A-Jay reply :
On 8/25/2019 at 3:43 AM, NHBull said:While I lime the Jack hammer, I usually put the custom on. The smaller hook yields me better hookups and I am usually fishing for 3-5 pounders
I fish the Jackhammer myself at least 75% of the time I'm throwing a vibrating jig.
It's been like magic for me especially early & late season.
I've been mixing in the SK Thunder Cricket here recently - just for a change of pace.
Decent bait I guess.
While the name is no doubt unforgettable, jury's still out on it's production potential.
A-Jay
A-Jay reply :
On 8/25/2019 at 3:43 AM, NHBull said:While I lime the Jack hammer, I usually put the custom on. The smaller hook yields me better hookups and I am usually fishing for 3-5 pounders
Perhaps re-think the Jackhammer hook possibilities.
I'm using it almost exclusively for Brown Bass -
Pretty decent ones at that.
A-Jay
Burke reply :
On 8/25/2019 at 6:03 AM, A-Jay said:Perhaps re-think the Jackhammer hook possibilities.
I'm using it almost exclusively for Brown Bass -
Pretty decent ones at that.
A-Jay
Nice Smallie there !
Bluebasser86 reply :
My imitation jackhammer has been doing alright for me 
billmac reply :
I throw whatever is on sale at Walmart. ????
MrNurbtastic reply :
I have one jackhammer that while I love how nice the components are and how fast it starts to vibrate, I haven't been able to catch anything on it no matter what I do. Back in July I was in a tournament, attempted throwing the JH a bit, nothing, I switched to my local tackle shop's Chatterbait (Weird hook on it but thumps super hard) and bam, 2.5 lber. I did extreme damage to the bass on that lake the previous year on the same bait catching twelve and fourteen lbs from the back of the boat. I don't have a picture of it right now but maybe I'll put one up.
JoePhish reply :
One of the baits I've caught a lot of good fish on this year has been a white Z-Man Micro Chatterbait trailed with a Producto Tournament Grug. Resembles a bite size shad, I guess. I throw it on medium light spinning gear with 8 lb FC. Some great fights with that set up.
YoTone reply :
I broke down and bought myself a few when tw has their black Friday sale. I don't use them bank fishing in fears of losing them to a snag but they have been a top producer this year for me. Not sure if it helped me catch more but I'm satisfied with it.
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