Fishing with chatterbaits???

[smokefan]

I've saw a guy fishing on tv with a chatterbait and he was wearing them out. I know it was tv and prob filmed over 2 or 3 days, but the guy said something that caught my attention. He said that chatterbaits are good for to catch fish on pressured waters, even ponds if down sized. Do any of you guys have exerience with them? Have you caught many fish on them? And this may be the stupid question, but how do you fish them-fast, slow, shallow, deep? I have no clue on them, but if theres a chance of catching fish with them I will try them. Thanks in advance for the info........smoke

[DJD]

Heck yeah I love em and always have one tied on. They throw easy since they are so compact and you can fish them fast or slow. I like to fish them shallow and run them past logs or stumps and or over them and then let them drop. I guess alot like a spinnerbait but better IMO.

[smokefan]

So you can fish them like a spinnerbait? Do you have favorite brand? I am going to pick up a couple of the smaller ones and try to figure out how to usa them.

[DJD]

I like the original they seem to shake more. You can fish them like a jig in certain areas as well.
3/8oz for sure....Never liked anything smaller myself I think they are fantastic baits.

[Fish2win]

I also use Chatterbaits a great deal. I agree with the previous post about the spring water temperature however I also do well with it in the fall. It often will work better in clear water than a conventional spinnerbait . I make one small alteration. I take off the skirt and replace it with a 4 inch spuer fluke. That gives the bait a different profile and will allow it to glide in an enticeing manner when you pause the bait. It is a great big fish bait aorund heavy cover and smallmouth love it at night when slow rolled. Fish2win

[sglass]

I have fished them since they have came out on the market. Here is a few things I have learned over the past few years. When the water is between 62and 72 they will flat out wear a chatterbait out on certain days. Once the water gets warm they hardly touch it though. Most my luck has came early AM or evening or overcast days. 3/8 oz works best for me. I only use two colors the black and blue and the white and chartreuse without the rattle because the vibration will be enough noise for the fish. They are very versatile as you can roll them over wood for reaction bites or fish them like a crank and throw along a rock wall and get slammed. I think it is a must to give the skirt a flare when you are retrieving the chatterbait by slight twiches every now and then while reeling back to the boat. I have been hammered doing this as it gives the skirt some livliness. I do not use trailer hooks because I have had great luck with hookup success and trailer hooks get hung up easily. Several times here in central Ky I have went to lakes and caught 20 plus on the chatterbait. One tournament a couple years ago I caught a limit in 7 cast. You just have to tie one on and sling her around and hang on. This time of the year you can catch some hogs off of it!! Good luck and hope this helps!!

Shawn

[davidsa]

I have fished them since they have came out on the market. Here is a few things I have learned over the past few years. When the water is between 62and 72 they will flat out wear a chatterbait out on certain days. Once the water gets warm they hardly touch it though. Most my luck has came early AM or evening or overcast days. 3/8 oz works best for me. I only use two colors the black and blue and the white and chartreuse without the rattle because the vibration will be enough noise for the fish. They are very versatile as you can roll them over wood for reaction bites or fish them like a crank and throw along a rock wall and get slammed. I think it is a must to give the skirt a flare when you are retrieving the chatterbait by slight twiches every now and then while reeling back to the boat. I have been hammered doing this as it gives the skirt some livliness. I do not use trailer hooks because I have had great luck with hookup success and trailer hooks get hung up easily. Several times here in central Ky I have went to lakes and caught 20 plus on the chatterbait. One tournament a couple years ago I caught a limit in 7 cast. You just have to tie one on and sling her around and hang on. This time of the year you can catch some hogs off of it!! Good luck and hope this helps!!

Shawn

I was going to say it is feast or starvation with a chatterbait just like a spinnerbait can be. Shawn may have answered why I've had periodic luck with them in the spring but then they don't do much come June.

I fish the original chatterbait brand and like the 3/8 and lighter presentations. A few years ago during the Spawn at KYL a guy told me to use a chatterfrog (big head, special frog trailor). For about 2 days I wore out the 3-6lbers.

[skeeter11008]

I always have one tied on and fish it like a spinnerbait. I like the Booyah version better due to the springlike hook that makes it harder for the fish to throw it. I caught a ton of fish on the original ZMan Chatterbait as well.

[first2fish]

Hey guys, i have used the black and blue at night and had the rod about ripped out of my hand by letting it sink to bottom and ripping it up 1-3 feet off bottom. The vibration they put off will bring them running at night !

[vetsvet]

The orignal was Rad Lures or Z-Man can't remember,but a few years back Charlie Ingram did his show on TV ( Fishing University) with Casey Ashley on ChatterBait. I have a ChatterFrog, Standard skirted Chatter, Flippin'Chatter and Chatter Trick. Caught fish on them all

[smokefan]

I think I am going to give them a try. I will prob get a cheap couple of them from wally world and figure them out. I dont have a boat so i'm looking at any thing to get me that extra bite at a heavily pressured pond. Thanks for all the info and I'll let you all know how I do.

[MagikSmallie]

I have not fished it very much at all, and I have only caught 1 fish that i can remember on the bait....and it was over 6lbs....so tie one on throw it and see for yourself!!