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I Need Chatterbait Help! 2025


fishing user avatarRcfan7 reply : 

I have a few questions about chatterbait fishing.. 

 

1) What is the best way to fish a chatterbait?  ( drag on the bottom? burn it on top?)

 

 

2) What are the best (or your favorite) trailers to use... or do you have success without one at all?

 

 

3) Do you fish it any different based on what trailer you have? 

 

 

Any and all help is appreciated!


fishing user avatarBluebasser86 reply : 
  On 8/2/2015 at 3:29 PM, Rcfan7 said:

I have a few questions about chatterbait fishing.. 

 

1) What is the best way to fish a chatterbait?  ( drag on the bottom? burn it on top?)

 

 

2) What are the best (or your favorite) trailers to use... or do you have success without one at all?

 

 

3) Do you fish it any different based on what trailer you have? 

 

 

Any and all help is appreciated!

1. I like to use a very slow, stead retrieve, often times it will bump the bottom even. I will fish it faster to run it over grass or along dock edges, sometimes I'll stroke it off the bottom, I'll use an erratic stop and go, jerk and snap retrieve, but most of the time slow and steady wins the race.

 

2. I use a trailer 100% of the time, trailer hook 0% of the time. There isn't much I haven't tried for a trailer and my favorites change occasionally. Right now I'm big on; Pit boss or Rage Menace rigged sideways, Zman Diesel MinnowZ, Zman Turbo CrawZ rigged sideways, or a YUM swimming Dinger.

 

3. Nope


fishing user avatarA-Jay reply : 
  On 8/2/2015 at 4:07 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

1. I like to use a very slow, stead retrieve, often times it will bump the bottom even. I will fish it faster to run it over grass or along dock edges, sometimes I'll stroke it off the bottom, I'll use an erratic stop and go, jerk and snap retrieve, but most of the time slow and steady wins the race.

 

2. I use a trailer 100% of the time, trailer hook 0% of the time. There isn't much I haven't tried for a trailer and my favorites change occasionally. Right now I'm big on; Pit boss or Rage Menace rigged sideways, Zman Diesel MinnowZ, Zman Turbo CrawZ rigged sideways, or a YUM swimming Dinger.

 

3. Nope

 

Hey Blue ~ 

 

Have you tried the Berkley Havoc Ike's Devil Spear as a trailer ?

 

A-Jay


fishing user avatarMike L reply : 

1) See above...

2) Always use a trailer..best results with a headless skinny dipper

3) When I have used one naked, I don't change.

Mike


fishing user avatarJon G reply : 
  On 8/2/2015 at 4:07 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

1. I like to use a very slow, stead retrieve, often times it will bump the bottom even. I will fish it faster to run it over grass or along dock edges, sometimes I'll stroke it off the bottom, I'll use an erratic stop and go, jerk and snap retrieve, but most of the time slow and steady wins the race.

 

2. I use a trailer 100% of the time, trailer hook 0% of the time. There isn't much I haven't tried for a trailer and my favorites change occasionally. Right now I'm big on; Pit boss or Rage Menace rigged sideways, Zman Diesel MinnowZ, Zman Turbo CrawZ rigged sideways, or a YUM swimming Dinger.

 

3. Nope

best answer you will get. 


fishing user avatarbigbill reply : 

Trailers

Spinnerbaits mister twister 4" double split tail grub. Very hot.

Jigs a pork trailer(im old school)


fishing user avatarzeth reply : 
  On 8/2/2015 at 3:29 PM, Rcfan7 said:

I have a few questions about chatterbait fishing.. 

 

1) What is the best way to fish a chatterbait?  ( drag on the bottom? burn it on top?)

 

 

2) What are the best (or your favorite) trailers to use... or do you have success without one at all?

 

 

3) Do you fish it any different based on what trailer you have? 

 

 

Any and all help is appreciated!

1) Let the fish tell you how they want it. Fast, slow, on the bottom, higher up.

2) I've seen so many trailers work. Personally I use Keitech Swing Impact Fat or Keitech Crazy Flapper.

3) No


fishing user avatarRcfan7 reply : 

Thanks everyone! I will try a few of those trailers!


fishing user avatarkickerfish1 reply : 

I will echo bluebassers comments. I just like a paddle tail trailer on them like the 3.8 fat impact or a similar bait. I also use 3.5 to 4 inch single tail grubs as well. Go to baits in the spring and fall for me.


fishing user avatarTwoCan reply : 
  On 8/2/2015 at 3:29 PM, Rcfan7 said:

I have a few questions about chatterbait fishing.. 

 

1) What is the best way to fish a chatterbait?  ( drag on the bottom? burn it on top?)

 

 

2) What are the best (or your favorite) trailers to use... or do you have success without one at all?

 

 

3) Do you fish it any different based on what trailer you have? 

1. Let the fish tell you what they want. I like to bump it on cover or reel it in slowly while jerking it around. It's not always what they want though.

 

2. My favorite trailer is a Zoom Swimmin Super Fluke. The tail on that fluke gives it a nice extra subtle action.

 

3. Nope.

 

TC


fishing user avatarBrnnoser6983 reply : 

I guess I can add one that I do different for #1, And I guess it isn't really different. I like to burn it when i know they are top feeding. Sometimes I can get the blade to ripple the top of the water. But mostly I follow the same as others have mentioned.

For me I like to use Bruiser paddle tails.


fishing user avatarDye99 reply : 

The biggest fish Ive caught this season were all on Chatterbaits with trailers...

 

And it seems everyone of them was with a different retrieve!

 

Sometimes slow bumping the bottom during the day running slow, sunset times pitching it up to the bank or into cover then running it back to the boat, and after dark burning the surface....

 

The CB is one of my favorite baits, I really dont think there is a wrong way to use them or a wrong color as long as you just listen to what the fish want at the time...


fishing user avatarDye99 reply : 
  On 8/3/2015 at 7:37 AM, Brnnoser6983 said:

For me I like to use Bruiser paddle tails.

 Here as well, those bb paddle tale jr's drive the fish wild!


fishing user avatarBluebasser86 reply : 
  On 8/2/2015 at 10:03 PM, A-Jay said:

Hey Blue ~ 

 

Have you tried the Berkley Havoc Ike's Devil Spear as a trailer ?

 

A-Jay

I have not. I know they're popular as a trailer, but nowhere around here carries them. I tried them as a T rig bait and they were awful for me so I got rid of them before I thought to try them. I'm going to have to remember to add a couple packs to my next order so I can give them a try. 


fishing user avatarMike2841 reply : 

1. Get a black and blue chatterbait

2. Put a rage tail menace on it

3. Reel it in as so as possible while making it "chatter"

4. Catch big bass


fishing user avatarBrnnoser6983 reply : 
  On 8/3/2015 at 9:51 AM, Dye99 said:

Here as well, those bb paddle tale jr's drive the fish wild!

Yeah they do. I couldn't keep the small mouths off the other weekend.


fishing user avatarroadwarrior reply : 
  On 8/2/2015 at 3:29 PM, Rcfan7 said:

I have a few questions about chatterbait fishing.. 

 

1) What is the best way to fish a chatterbait?  ( drag on the bottom? burn it on top?)

 

 

2) What are the best (or your favorite) trailers to use... or do you have success without one at all?

 

 

3) Do you fish it any different based on what trailer you have? 

 

 

Any and all help is appreciated!

 

1. Fish the Chatterbait where you would fish a spinnerbait or crankbait. The action of a

steady retrieve with an occasional pop wis enough, youdon't need to "work" the lure.

 

2. I like a Rage Tail Stuctue Bug rrigged vertically on any of the "Chatterbaits" or a Rage

Tail specifically on a naked Rage Blade.

 

3. No. 


fishing user avatarblckshirt98 reply : 
  On 8/2/2015 at 3:29 PM, Rcfan7 said:

I have a few questions about chatterbait fishing.. 

 

1) What is the best way to fish a chatterbait?  ( drag on the bottom? burn it on top?)

 

 

2) What are the best (or your favorite) trailers to use... or do you have success without one at all?

 

 

3) Do you fish it any different based on what trailer you have? 

 

 

Any and all help is appreciated!

 

1) There's no right or wrong way...let it fall, speed burn it in, change up speeds, bounce it off the bottom.  Treat it like a swim jig because that's basically what it is, just with the extra vibration blade.

 

2) Anything you'd use as a jig or spinnerbait trailer will work.  Standard rules apply (match the trailer to the lure, match the lure to the conditions).  I've had success with a single tail grub, and paddle tail swimbaits.

 

3) Nope!


fishing user avatarMCS reply : 
  On 8/2/2015 at 3:29 PM, Rcfan7 said:

I have a few questions about chatterbait fishing.. 

 

1) What is the best way to fish a chatterbait?  ( drag on the bottom? burn it on top?)

 

 

2) What are the best (or your favorite) trailers to use... or do you have success without one at all?

 

 

3) Do you fish it any different based on what trailer you have? 

 

 

Any and all help is appreciated!

 

1) see Bluebassers reply. Plus some times I will kill it and pop it up....like rippin grass with a lipless.

 

2) Try a burner craw, lake fork magic shad, zoom fluke or a EZ swimmer.

 

3) no


fishing user avatarbuzzed bait reply : 

only wanted to add that you can often catch them on this bait on the fall.  need to be aware of the sudden little jump or tick in your line as you're letting it fall down from the cast before retrieving it.  you might not think they'd hit it that way, but they sure will..... 


fishing user avatarBalshy Fishing reply : 

What do you recommend as far as maker and weight for the chatterbait?

 

I'm assuming ZMan Chatterbaits? 


fishing user avatarblckshirt98 reply : 
  On 8/4/2015 at 12:25 PM, The All-Star said:

What do you recommend as far as maker and weight for the chatterbait?

 

I'm assuming ZMan Chatterbaits? 

 

The first gen D&M Piranha's are my favorite but you need to find them on eBay since they had to change the design (Z-Man patent violation).  ZMan chatterbaits are fine, but I'd get the ones with the trailer keeper (the Project Z's have them, not sure about the Pro, and the Original does not).  I've also used the Picasso Shock Blade which is built like a tank and I think has the best "fall" presentation...goes down at a nice angle and the blade flutters softly back and forth.  Only downside with the Shock Blade is that if you reel in too fast it'll start to "spiral" like a corkscrew through the water, so you need a slow/moderate retrieve on it.


fishing user avatarBluebasser86 reply : 
  On 8/4/2015 at 12:25 PM, The All-Star said:

What do you recommend as far as maker and weight for the chatterbait?

 

I'm assuming ZMan Chatterbaits? 

I almost only use 3/8oz. The new Project Z baits are well built baits. Of course I fish my own a majority of the time but I do have a couple of the Project Z and Rage Blades. They all move differently and serve different purposes. 


fishing user avatarMCS reply : 
  On 8/4/2015 at 12:25 PM, The All-Star said:

What do you recommend as far as maker and weight for the chatterbait?

 

I'm assuming ZMan Chatterbaits? 

 

I usenu tech crazy jig and KaRu vibrashocks. The vibrashock has an great wobble and the blade ticks the jigs for a different sound. 3/8 oz pretty much all the time. 


fishing user avatarBucketMouth15 reply : 

Steady retrieve usually, maybe some quick pauses if noting is biting. Grubs with twister tails or swimbaits are my most used trailers.


fishing user avatarCWB reply : 

X2 on the Swimming Dinger. Also Havoc Beat Shad and Lunker City Swimmin Ribster. Give the Z-Man Project Z a try. Pricey but well worth it. Great colors, and super well made.


fishing user avatarBW208 reply : 

I cant catch many fish on a chatter bait to save my life.  Maybe I will try a sideways pit boss.  What are your guys' go to colors?


fishing user avatarCWB reply : 

Bluegill.


fishing user avatarblckshirt98 reply : 

At the local reservoir I throw them at regularly, any kind of Sexy Shad color (water is usually stained/dirty btw).


fishing user avatarBankbeater reply : 

1) What is the best way to fish a chatterbait?  ( drag on the bottom? burn it on top?)  You can slow roll it, burn it fast, or work it like a jig on the bottom.  Let the bass tell you what they want

 

 

2) What are the best (or your favorite) trailers to use... or do you have success without one at all?  I like to use a superhog, ultravibe speed craw, or a super chunk. The same trailers I use for jigs.

 

 

3) Do you fish it any different based on what trailer you have? No.




8545

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