So, what’s all the chatter about chatterbaits?
Always looking for that new bait that will give me an edge, I recently looked into the “chatterbait” so I can up my game on the water. While this bait is not a new lure by any means, I believe this one has been kept under wraps by many pros to keep that competitive edge on the tournament trail.
There are many brands and hobbyists making bladed jigs, the chatterbait I thought was synonymous with this style jig. However as I recently found out, the chatterbait and the original design are currently owned and patented by Z-Man Fishing Products of South Carolina. I reached out to Z-Man to get some tips on fishing this unique lure. A call to Cory Schmidt, (Marketing & Media at Z-Man) gave me the “low down” and how to fish the chatterbait for success.
It didn’t take long to understand this is a multi-purpose bait and not limited to just one style of presentation. While it looks just like a typical bass jig with a funny blade on the front, it can be fished much differently. Typically, the bait is presented in a cast & retrieve style. The weedless design allow for use around cover as well as open water. The lure can be cast into lily pads and retrieved just under the surface, while the blade and profile keep it bouncing off anything that would hang up a different bait. It can be fished through most weed cover, however I would avoid dense matted weeds (save that for a floating frog).
When retrieved, the bait gives off tremendous vibration, you can really feel it in the rod as you retrieve. “If you ever feel the vibration stop, set the hook,” Schmidt told me, noting that 90% of the time, it will be a fish.
Of course, weed cover is just one area this bait is productive. Grassy flats can produce some huge fish, and they can be tempted to bite with a retrieve right across the top of the vegetation. Cory said when paused, the bait will go into an erratic “hunting” or slow “side to side” swimming motion which will often draw a strike. Many times when you bring the line tight, you will already have a fish on!
Presented in open water, the lure can be utilized similar to a spinnerbait or buzz bait. It will still perform well with a fast retrieve, up high in the water column. Of course, a smaller weight head is recommended for this presentation. Using again an occasional pause will increase the baits effectiveness.
Standing and fallen timber are also idea productive areas for this bait. The lure is weedless and snag-proof enough to bounce off logs and submerged growth, right where those big ones like to hide. Don’t be shy about casting it into areas other lures would typically get hung up.
Use this on drop-offs and ledges much like you would a deep diving crank bait. Look for edges in the 20-foot depth range, with deeper water nearby. In warmer months, fish will often hang out in the cooler depths to ambush bait on the edge of these areas as deeper nearby waters offer both protection and cooler temperatures.
The bait itself is of ample size, however it is often paired with a plastic trailer to enhance its size and action. Paddletail swimbaits are often a preferred choice. Either in the same color as the skirt or a contrasting color. Anglers also choose crawdad style trailers, imitating that natural action of a scurrying crawfish near bottom.
Besides the beefy profile and the combination of a noisy blade that rattles like a rogue freight train, high vibration you can feel right up to the rod tip, and flash from the reflective blade, makes the chatterbait a triple threat offering in any fishing situation. Experiment with different retrieves, head weights, colors, etc. There doesn’t seem to be any wrong way to fish this versatile lure. Tough conditions like heavily stained or muddy water will benefit from the loud presentation and vibration, so even if fish cannot see it, they may feel its presence in their strike zone.
This is certainly a unique lure worthy of having in every angler’s tackle box. Those days when fish have that case of lockjaw, something different like a chatterbait may be the tool in the box that gets the job done.
Go get on ‘em!
