Chubby Darter??

[NAMASafetyDirector]

Just added one to the arsenal today, I was wondering if most people tip them with some sort of bait or just jig them as is. I have been using Jigging shad raps and Jigging Rap's as well as a host of other jigs and normally tip them all with a minnow head or 1/2 a minnow. I have also seen guys be effective with just the jig, (the darter that is) no meat. Just wanted to know some of your preferences. Thanks

[Team Otter]

No meat.

[sodajerk]

I just ordered one the other day but haven't received it yet, so this is a good question.

How is the action on these lures? Do they glide around like an ice Rap or a Flyer, or are they less active than that?

[Team Otter]

It's almost like a real quick back and forth action with erratic movement mixed in. You can experiment with the action too by sweeping your rod, just twitching or making quick, solid pulls with your rod.

Great lure!

[sodajerk]

Can't wait to get it and give it a shot.

The Chubby Darters are apparently designed for ice fishing, but has anyone ever used on in open water? Do they have any action on the retrieve or are they strictly a vertical lure?

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

never caught anything more than my rodbag and my hand a few times with mine.. very disappointed.. i try it on just about every trip but just havent had any luck.. i can always catch fish on the Sweedish pimple and other spoons as well as jiggin raps but still nothin on the chubby "ripoff"

Maybe next time.

Just My 2 Cents

Ryan

[jigging-matt]

I would hardly call it a ripoff, I know quite a few people that use them sucessfully. Just like any other lure, they take time to get used to and they have to be used in the right setting, I have my favorite jigs in the box, but sometimes they don't work either.

[sodajerk]

It's made in Poland isn't it? Maybe only fish with names ending in "ski" will bite on it.

[iffwalleyes]

They are an over rated lure. Sure they can catch fish but they are no where near my go to lure. I would much rather run a JB varmit, Rattlen Varmit Or Scenic Tackle Angel Eye Jr. or Glow Devil. Those put way more fish on the ice for me. On days the darter work so is everything else. They aren't the miracle lure we have been lead to believe and at $6 a crack. I know I wished I hadn't fallen into the hype now I have probably $250 worth of darters that have yet to hit the lake this year.

When I used them I alway tip them I have never had luck without some bait on them.

[eyefever]

At first I didn't like them. Now I use them all the time. I was using too much jigging action like I had a spoon on. I just use quick twitches of the rod and have had great success for all species. Last sunday I had a deadstick and a No. 3 chubby darter and caught nothing on the deadstick. The darter caught me 2 walleyes, a northern, a good sized sunny, and a perch. I also missed many others . Never tip it with anything, it restricts the wobble on the way down.

[USMC130FE]

I caught a very nice size Gill on one while fishing for Perch. Kind of a pain getting the rear treble out of a Gill's mouth!

[zamboni]

Personally I tip the #3s with waxies and the the bigger #6? (I think) with a minnow head. I am very impressed with the Gander Mntn exclusive blue dace color someone mentioned on here about a month ago. The blue stands out very good, even in murky water

[NyQuiLlama]

I've caught fish with them. I haven't got one with my new #3 size yet, but I've only given it a few minutes.

When Ive put meat on it is ruins the action. It's strength appears to be it's downward wiggle motion. Any meat and it's ruined.

[wishing for walleyes]

I use the chubby darters alot.They really attract the panfish.Here`s a video when i was using a #5 darter.Tie a piece of vanish on the bottom eyelet with a rat finkie & maggot 8 inches below the darter and watch the panfish bite then.In this video it was just a #5 darter as i was fishing for eyes. sisseton lake Also notice where the crappies come from and where they go back to.I have 12 weedez on the left hand side.You can see one of the weedez in the video.

[JigginIsLife]

i would deffinatly not say that my little chubby is not a waste of money, the real hard part about them is starting. its hard to choke down 5-8 bucks a peice depending on where you get them, especially in sizes and colors. but if you have some to choose from, not just basing your opinion off of a selection of a #3 silver darter. I mean there are times and places for each kind of darter and it sometimes dont work, but when it does work and the fish are active--Boy the action is hot.

Like the video above the real action is not on the jig, but on the fall. and it doesent swoop like the rapala does, but instead it does a shake and jiggle on the way down, flashing its sides as it falls, just as a fish would look like if it was falling and struggling.

Just remember that if you are going to try them, bite the bullet or go in with a friend and buy a few in different sizes and colors.

my .02

[zamboni]

Dan- was out on Hall the other night and seen your Jeep and Eskimo, was gonna stop and say hey- but was wanting to hurry up and get all set up before dark. It was sunday night- did you get anything?

[wishing for walleyes]

Not even a bite.I did have to pack up and leave just before dark though.

[Team Otter]

Definitely not over-rated. They really excel in shallow, stained water or for suspended fish in clear water.

[JigginIsLife]

i second that TO and in rivers, except we tipped ours with minnow heads, the river current already threw off the action so a little scent never hurt nobody.

[2iceman]

I have had great luck with the chubby darter bringing the fish in this year, then my deadstick has been attacked by walleyes. Have caught a few on the chubby darter.

[rundrave]

if you do a search on you tube for chubby darter there is a good length video that shows how to fish these, I found it very helpful