One of the most popular baits around, the Chatterbait (bladed jig) is consistently winning tournaments left and right across the nation. But just when should you throw it?
In short, a Chatterbait should be thrown around submerged Hydrilla, shallow and muddy water, stump fields, and virtually any pre-spawn scenario.
Although this is a summary of where to throw a Chatterbait, I outlined below specifically where to fish it and exactly how to fish it in each given situation.
1. Submerged Hydrilla
I’m going to put the next sentence in all caps just so we’re clear.
DO NOT GO TO A GRASS LAKE WITHOUT A CHATTERBAIT TIED ON!
World-renowned southern lakes such as Guntersville, Toho, Chickamauga, Seminole, and Eufaula are just a few of the big bass factories where tournaments in the last decade have been dominated by the Chatterbait.
Most of these tournaments have been dominated by the same technique; ripping the bladed jig through grass, eliciting a reaction bite from big, fat, hungry bass. There is something about the design of a Chatterbait that makes it perfect for coming through grass such as hydrilla.
You may be familiar with the technique of letting a lipless crankbait get hung up in the grass and then ripping it out to get a bite. Ripping a Chatterbait is the same concept but is a different look than the lipless approach that the bass have been looking at for the past 20 or 30 years.
The latest and greatest super bowl of bass fishing (The 50th annual Bassmaster Classic at Lake Guntersville) was absolutely dominated by the Chatterbait being ripped through grass as outlined in the article below.
2. Shallow and Muddy Water
If you take a look at how second-place Classic finisher Todd Auten did most of his damage, you will find that he was fishing shallow, muddy water in the back of Browns Creek at Lake Guntersville. His lure and technique? Tossing a Chatterbait through isolated eelgrass clumps and ripping it through whenever he bumped a clump.
The presence of the Chatterbait in shallow, muddy water helps since bass mainly feed using their lateral line. A fish’s sight is extremely limited in muddy water but the vibration that the Chatterbait gives off helps the fish to hone in on the bait.
Cold, muddy water is a situation which most bass fishermen dread and for good reason. This is the exact situation that Todd Auten was faced with during the 2020 Classic but he was able to capitalize on the conditions by employing a Firecraw colored Chatterbait.
3. Stump Fields
Stump fields can be daunting from the angler’s perspective as it can seem like there’s no rhyme or reason as to why the fish are in certain spots. Chunking a Chatterbait through the tree tops helps to cover water in vast fields of trees.
The blade of a Chatterbait helps the bait to get through stumps and trees very well. Believe it or not, purposefully ramming your bait into trees and then pausing for a second is a great way to get a reaction bite. You have probably heard of employing a similar technique with a squarebill crankbait but the Chatterbait simply gets through the brush better.
If you are in a deeper field of trees like the Spring Creek area of Lake Seminole, using a heavier 3/4 ounce or 1 ounce Chatterbait and “yoyo-ing” the bait along the bottom can produce big bites if the fish are holding along the bottom of the trees in the winter.
4. Any Pre-Spawn Situation
It would be a challenge for you to go anywhere during the pre-spawn season and NOT catch fish on a Chatterbait. All of the scenarios listed above are potential pre-spawn situations where a Chatterbait could catch ’em.
Fish in grass lakes, especially in Florida, will use grass beds to stage before they move up onto the bank to spawn. Locating the grass and then fishing it with a Chatterbait mimics shad that the fish want to stock up on before pushing to the shoreline. Early tour events in Florida are dominated by anglers ripping their bait through the grass for staging bass.
Often in spring, the water will cool down from rain which triggers the fish to move to the bank. Rain brings muddy water and cold, muddy water equals less than ideal fishing conditions. Slow-rolling a Chatterbait in these conditions mimics the action of a slow-moving shad which presents an easy meal to lethargic fish. The action of the blade also helps the bass find the bait in the murky water.
In highland reservoirs where fish don’t have any cover to stage on, stumps and submerged tree fields may be their only option for staging grounds before the spawn. Locating these fields of stumps is easy but once you find them, tree fields can be hard to dissect. Focus on the outside edge of the field just as you would a grass edge. If the water is deep, us the yo-yo technique I discussed in the section above to reach deeper fish.
Trailers
Chatterbait trailers are an essential part of your Chatterbait fishing success. Below are a few of the top trailers and why they work so well.
a. Yammamoto Zako Swimbait
The Yammamoto Zako can be a bit pricey but if you can stomach the price, it’s certainly worth it. It has minimal action when put on the back of a Chatterbait which is part of what gives it a more natural look.
b. Berkley Powerbait The Deal
The Deal by Berkley is one of the latest and greatest Chatterbait trailers to hit the market. It has a great profile to mimic shad or bluegill and has amazing double-tail action when used as a trailer on a Chatterbait.
c. Z-man RazorShadz
The Z-man RazorShadz are simply put: Durable. I’ve gone entire tournaments just using one and never having to replace it. The action is great for mimicking shad or bluegill and buying these is a great bang for your buck simply because of the durability.
Wrapping it up
Hopefully, this article gave you some great situations as to when to throw a Chatterbait. Learning to become a master of the Chatterbait is crucial as it is winning more and more tournaments as the years go on. Below are a few related questions in case you were pondering about additional Chatterbait information.
Related Questions
1. What Size Chatterbait for Bass?
A 3/8 ounce or 1/2 ounce Chatterbait will work in most bass fishing scenarios. In deeper water, 3/4 ounce and even a 1-ounce bait will do the trick.
2. What Size Trailer for Chatterbait?
A 4-inch soft plastic trailer is the best-sized trailer for a Chatterbait. A 3-inch bait may work when using smaller Chatterbaits.
3. What Color Chatterbait?
Stick to bluegill and shad imitating colors for Chatterbaits. White and peal are great colors to mimic shad. Green pumpkin and sexy shad are great bluegill imitators.
