Coldwater Chatterbait

[MN BassFisher]

A lure that has really grown on me over the last season or two is the Chatterbait or bladed jig. It was a top producer for me during the cold water months (Spring and Fall seasons) and when fishing dirty or stained waters. Bass and Pike seem to love em! The biggest question is what type of trailer to use as I've found several that have yielded good results.

 

[BoxMN]

I'll have to give them more a of a try again this spring. I haven't done great with them, better with pike than bass, but that is a given

I have just found an old fashioned spinnerbait to work better for me. Granted, I mostly fish very clear water (15-23' clarity) so maybe that plays a role? 

You recommend a faster retrieve? I haven't burned them, but have tried slow to medium retrieve and also jigging it. Just not as hot as I was hoping they would be for me.

[th64]

I like spinners a lot too-versitille, durable, weedless-so when would you decide a chatter bait is the better choice compared to the spinner?

[MN BassFisher]

21 hours ago, BoxMN said:

I'll have to give them more a of a try again this spring. I haven't done great with them, better with pike than bass, but that is a given

I have just found an old fashioned spinnerbait to work better for me. Granted, I mostly fish very clear water (15-23' clarity) so maybe that plays a role? 

You recommend a faster retrieve? I haven't burned them, but have tried slow to medium retrieve and also jigging it. Just not as hot as I was hoping they would be for me.

I mentioned that in the video but only because it was an oddity to me. I don't typically burn them in unless I'm fishing real shallow wood and reeling fast to avoid hang ups. In this case I could feel the Chatterbait wasn't vibrating like you want it to so I started burning it back to the boat and that's when the Pike came to the surface and ate it. 

20 hours ago, th64 said:

I like spinners a lot too-versitille, durable, weedless-so when would you decide a chatter bait is the better choice compared to the spinner?

I find myself switching to Spinnerbaits once the weeds start to get thick as they are more weedless than Chatterbaits. I do like Chatterbaits when the water is cold, weeds aren't very thick, there is wood present and the water is a bit stained or murky.

[BAIT956]

I use a varied retrieve, trying to find out on any given day what they want.  Usually it is medium, just enough to keep it going above or through the weeds.     Depth of weeds determines the weight of the lure too.  I vary between 3/8 and 1/2 oz.

I use a 5" twister tail for a trailer.  Same as for spinnerbaits.

[BTL]

They are a very popular lure out here, especially in the Spring. Definitely a good cold water choice. Nice vid!

[JP Z]

For the Pros on the past Elite tourney they all seemed to be using a type of swimbait for the trailer.  Might want to give that a try