Chubby Darters

[tonyjor]

I just picked one of these up. It's kind of a silvery color and looks like a shiner. What kind of fish do they usually work on, if they even work at all? I tend to fish for Northerns and I want to try artificial bait the rest of the season. Does anyone else have any other artificials that work good for Northerns this time of year? Thanks for any input!

[hanson]

There is no reason that the Chubby Darter won't be effective on the northerns. Most swimbaits are and the Chubby is just a different style of swimbait. Lots of flash & vibration. I would go with one of the bigger Chubbys.

They also work well on Walleye, Perch, and I hear Crappie too.

[tmac3217]

From what I've heard, the Chubby Darters work really well for walleyes. Tip the rear treble with a minnow head or tail -- added scent and a little extra wobble.

[Northlander]

Once you get the hang of it the Chubby Darters can catch you a bit of everything. Awesome wlleye bait and those darn LOW Northerns have a few of mine in their mouths. Man they slam those things.

[who are those guy]

What stores offer those darters in the cities? & what size is good for about a 18" walleye?

[iffwalleyes]

I myself like the smallest size the make. I think it is a No. 4. The No. 5 is ok too. I think the No. 6 starts to get a little big. But you know what they say about using big lures. Big Lures=Big Fish Save that away for a rainy day eehh.

[Matt Breuer]

tonyjor,

Size 4 work great for crappies, perch, and 'eyes.

Size 5 for 'eyes and pike

Size 6 for pike

Pike loves Chubby Darters, as do 'eyes.

[Dan Thiem]

I always thought that a Chubby Darter was something that happened when an ugly girl walked in the room.

Sorry, I'm just kidding. I really like the lure. It's a great all around, go-to kind of lure for me. And those hooks are so sharp.

[tonyjor]

Thanks everyone! I plan on using it on Friday. Hopefully it works well. I have been pretty much skunked all season.

[Ed Carlson]

Andrew Klassen

Red River

Chubby darter CD-6 LOD

32.5" Walleye C&R

Bronze Back & Cayote

Red River

Chubby darter CD-6 GMO

31", 29", 27" Walleye C&R

Just a few of the many big walleye being caught on Chubby Darters on the Red this winter. As you can see, they work well. Don't be afraid to use the CD-6's on walleye..they love them.

[buzbunni]

"Early Morning Ed"...we meet again !

I have been loving my Chubbies this year. I have great success using them on Craps, 'Eyes, and Perch. I have yet to get a N. Pike with one, but that day is not far off I'm sure(maybe today?).

For lakes especially, I prefer the action of the Chubby to many other horizontal baits because it "plays" more neutrally bouyant(I'm making up my own silly phrases here), if that makes any sense. It doesn't sink so fast, in fact, it will go around in circles.

Please experiment with colors. Because the lakes I fish are rather clear, I have had most success using the natural colors(perch, realroach, gold).

Final note: I've caught teeny perch, teeny walleye, and teeny crappie on size #5. When they is hungry...they is HUNGRY!

Now, about that Sumo Chubby Darter....

[Northlander]

Ed I have to get up to the Red and catch some of those slob walleyes. Is there a good time in March? I was thinking since the Rainy Ice Leaders event looks like a no go I might head up your way? Please e-mail me some info. Thanks. [email protected]

[Eric Wettschreck]

Chubby darter, chubby darter, chubby darter.....That's all I've been hearing lately and I have no stinkin clue what they even look like. Where does a guy go to get some???? I have a trip scheduled in Feb and myself and 2 sons are staying in one of Matts fish houses on URL. Sounds like this is the lure to use if a guy can get his hands on one.

[StrosLit31]

What kind of jigging action do you guys usally use? I have a couple of these lures but have only caught a few fish. Usally have better luck with live bait.

[Matt Breuer]

Strohs, I like to swim the lure in a high jigging motion. Roughly a foot or more up off the bottom. I'll do this two or three times, then pause and jiggle. If nothing shows up I start over. When a fish comes calling I like to use a slow rise keeping the bait jiggling.

boilerguy, places like Fleet and Gander carry them. As well as many other sporting goods stores and bait shops in between! I suggest visiting them directly or calling them for the best selection on sizes and colors.

[Northlander]

Matt that looks like a Chequamagon Smallie in your avator. Hmmm and a slender spoon? No wonder Jim didnt catch a fish that day, you had the secret weapon #1. That was a fun day. The 4x4 berm jumping show was cool. That poor little Ranger may need some work done.

[Jex]

Please read forum policy.

[hanson]

Well, I found Eleanor at Thorne Bros. tonight!!!! 2 sizes also- the big & the bigger!! Picked them both up.

Matt will no what I'm talking about, the Shelby GT-500, uh, the LOD Chubby Darter.

[Matt Breuer]

The Shelby GT 500, the GT 500...

By the big and bigger are you referring to the CD5 and CD6, or the CD6 and the Giant Chubby???

[Ryan Berger]

I also went to Thorne Brothers yesterday,, spent way to much as always. They do have a basket full of chubby darters on sale,, I think for $2.99 but dont quote me.

[Ed Carlson]

Matt does TB's have the LOD's in stock?

The only place I know who has the LOD's is Salmo USA direct. But Eh....they might have got them in at TB's? Lots of them CD-6's in LOD and GMO headed to Canada these days Eh.

You might want to check out the Zippers too. Especially the LRR, LFT, and the PBO.

[Jex]

please read forum policy.

[trapperdirk]

Well I have a hard time getting them in stores up here and scoop up a few anytime I get south . Them dang northerns just love them too,too much while I'm fishing for walleyes .Just managed to grab the only two in a store the other day in GMO 6 at 25 bucks for the pair with tax included .Pricey to be wasting on northerns but I hate using leaders mostly when fishing for eyes .If theres a northern around rest assured he's gonna slam the chubby darter and I use them on lakers sometimes as well .Good product that works but pricey .A must have .

TD

[Ed Carlson]

Ya pike dig them Chubbys and they can snip mono or superbraids with nearly as much ease.

I have been testing a new leader material made by GAMMA TECHNOLOGIES and I really like the stuff. GAMMA TECH is the same folks who make FROG HAIR line and leaders.

They make a couple types of specialized ice system leaders materials. One is a 100% Fluorocarbon. Another is a Hybrid Fluorocarbon, the GAMA ICE. The third is a special co-polymer line, the ESP ICE, and is smooth as silk and super strong. They are tough stuff and almost invisible in the water. For a Fluorocarbon they knot well and makes a good tough leader, very abrasion resistant stuff.

The GAMMA ESP ICE, this is a Hi-Tech copolymer that is formulated with extra manageability and far more flexible in the cold. For walleye, I rig a ESP ICE #10 (0.010" 0.25mm) leader 18" to 24" long with a tiny swivel on the top of the leader and a No-Slip Loop Knot on the lure end. This GAMMA TECH stuff is a very stealthy leader system with superior strength. It comes in line weights down to #1 so it is handy stuff for panfish too, especially the 100% florocarbon ICE. They come in handy 55-yard spools that stack to each other and form a nifty leader dispenser system.

They also make a 100% transparent fluorocarbon leader material in larger weights like 12-80# tests that make EXTREAMLY tough leaders. I will be testing this further in the next few month, looks very promising to me so far.

If you need a more bullet proof option a made to order micro Berkley 7-stand un-coated wire is the safest bet when pike are likely. A tiny ball swivel at the top and a Berkley CrossLock snap on the bottom is a good choice for a 7-strand wire leader on spoons and Chubbys. I think the thinner the better but as long as you keep the leader material under #10 mono diameter the CD-6's will fly properly. The thicker and heavier the leader the less action you will get from a flying lure.

GAMMA line is not cheap, yet it will last a long time and add extra performance to the systems you apply it. Try a leader spool in your favorite test weight once and see what you think. I have a hunch you will be pleased and stack on a few more.

With lures at 5-10 bucks a pop investing in good leader options will pay off in more fish and less trips back to the bait shop for more lures.

[trapperdirk]

Yes Ed and it sounds like exactly what I'm looking for .I don't care for wire or even the black nylon leaders and have been trying everything else I can think of to handle the smash of a northern .I'm extremely fussy in my presentation for eyes but when I'm in the hunt I feel confidant in my presentation .I have 8 walleye lakes within 15 minutes of my house and most of them contain northerns if not all .I do get a good percentage of the northerns up but lose my share too and when they are tagging me at 12 bucks a pop on lures that are not readily available it gets frustrating to say the least and the alternative of losing my presentation bothers me too because I hook up less with my intended target species which is walleye . I have one spot on a lake where I fish 40 ft of water for big eyes in the 10 pound class and right up to 14 so far and the pike are non existant but if I move into that 20ft or less range to get some eaters thats where the northerns start to create the problem . Another lake I fish also has lakers and lots of pike and there I get into this situation of whether to go leader and hookup less with the lakers or to go bare and feed them pike my lures .

Thanks for your input on this ED and I will be watching out how you make out in your tests and hopefully I can lay my hands on this leader material if your tests are positive .DANG THEM NORTHERNS .lol

TD