CHATTERBAITS !?

So what’s the deal? I’m sure by now every has had the opportunity to get some or a close knock off. Do you think with the higher, cloudy water these thing are going to be big producers in the next few weeks on the river? Or is this the most over-rated lure in dang near bass fishing history?

As most know, I have had these things for a while but have yet to weigh in a fish in a tournament with one. I guess that’s probably because I don’t throw them in tournaments. However, I won’t hesitate if someone can prove to me these are the real deal.

I know you guys are using them, are they that good that everyone’s lips are sealed?

On a personal experience note, I can tell you during practice that northerns LOVE these things…

Personally, I think they are one of the most overrated “lures” on the market. I’ve heard of guys buying them in huge amounts. All I have to say about that is, “It must be nice to have money…” I would have to be thoroughly outfished more than once to consider buying one or two.

Agreed Blue. I mean, how can a nobody like me win a tournament using tubes, jigs, and creature baits when everyone else is throwing Chatterbaits?

You’d think according to early season reports, if you weren’t throwing a Chatterbait you might as well just hand your money to the guy who chucks them all day.

Now that I said that, I’ll get beat by Chatterbaits all year… .

I feel 6.99 and 3 months were both excessive. I bought Eaker Shaker blades that are manufactured by Eagle Claw, for $1.99 a 2 pack with duolocks and I can tell you that they do make a HUGE difference in certain situations. The funny thing is they were voted best in show at ICAST in 1998 – chatterblades have been around for a while. I have over 60 – 2 packs of these blades because I liked them that much. Size number 201 (nickel blade) or 202 (copper blade).

Bladedancers are where it’s at!!!!

If I wanna feed toothy critters expensive lures, I’ll buy Lucky Craft…. Go big, or go home…

I think Reel Guy loves using those chatterbaits Just ask him

i have come across some gambler swim blades, and they have actually caught quite a few fish for me already

Kris- Have you decided to throw the blade-jigs more than a spinnerbait and/ or swim jig now that you are catching fish on them?

I have used the gambler swim blade and have had sucess with them in a lake. My partner was throwing a spinner bait and couldn’t get bit. I was throwing a swim blade and they in haled it. on 2 seperate trips. This lake is very negitive towards spinnerbaits in my experience.

I also fished a tourney on pool 13 and couldnt catch a cold the next boat down the bank behind us caught 5 fish including 3 keepers on a black chatter bait of some sort. So they do produce fish.

Do I think its the greatest bait ever made? No do I think its a bait that will produce fish following 40 boats through an area quite possibly. The reason its something different they will become immune to it like they do alot of other baits.

I will tell you in a few weeks when my bass season opens.

As is it the best ever, NO. Every bait has it’s place and time that will produce better then others, you just need to be throwing it at the right time.
I did get a few of them and will give them a chance in place of a spinnerbait.

Ron

I want to try some but ReelGuy won’t give me his.

nort, i just have been throwing them alot lately because i want to get to know them a bit better. i still have a swim jig on and a spinnerbiat tied on and about 10 other baits tied on but it is just fun to learn a new techinique. they are by no means weedless i have found that out, and the wide wobbleing actions makes alot of stumps and limps an easy snag which means a spinner bait or a swim jig would be my choice for fishing somewhat weedy areas. all of my fish have been in 4 or 5 fow or less when i have caught them

I’m hooked on them…they’ve been outfishing swim jigs and spinner baits for me anyway. Caught 3, 4 1/2 lbers from a local cranberry marsh on the bait and lost another over 5 right at the bank. All fish completly inhaled the bait. River fish have been eaten them too, both largies and smallies…great northern bait as predicted, luckly I haven’t lost one yet. Heard a tourney was won on pool 7 with them but not sure if it was a club or bigger tourney. Haven’t had much problem hanging them in the weeds yet, you can usual rip them free like a rattle trap. I’m sure as the weeds get thicker though a swim jig or other presentation would be a better choice.

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i still have a swim jig on and a spinnerbiat tied on and about 10 other baits tied on but it is just fun to learn a new techinique. they are by no means weedless i have found that out, and the wide wobbleing actions makes alot of stumps and limps an easy snag which means a spinner bait or a swim jig would be my choice for fishing somewhat weedy areas.

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Couldn’t say it better. They certianly are not weedless, and I believe have a high affinity for grabbing a hold of small branches… and they don’t let go!

My guest last week boated the first fish on a chatterbait in my boat… he wanted to feel the intense vibration of this lure (and it is intense). He loved it… although, you have to know this guy…I thought I had passion…his passion has to be 2nd to none!

All in all, not a real producer for me… but consider the source!

I’ve had to fish slow to get my bigger bites… here’s my best for 2006… right at the 20″ mark.

Don’t know… still haven’t recieved my order from the first week in march

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Don’t know… still haven’t recieved my order from the first week in march

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If you ordered straight from Rad Lures…good luck (I’ve been waitng since March also). I believe they’re filling their sporting good store orders first. I got some from usacproshop.net, they only sell them if they’re in stock…no back ordering. They also have the Gamblers that work just as well for $1.00 cheaper. Another thing to think about and was suggested earlier in this post would be to order the blades…there are several companies out there that sell there own version….Venom would be one them.

JUST BOUGHT TWO FROM GANDER MOUNTIAN IN APPLETON LAST NITE THEY HAVE OVER 200 ON THE SHELF

Yes, I ordered them directly from RAD lures. Just the lack of Customer Service from them has made the decision for me…. I won’t be buying anymore (cause they’ve already charged me for the ones I ordered) of their products.

I waited months for mine, then I e-mailed them and told them I was hoping to get them in time for a tourney.
Three days latter the baits were at my house.

Ron

Looked at Gander Onalaska-nothing.

I finally caught a legal fish on one last night on pool 4. Although that was the first time I really threw one. However, As soon as I caught a bass, I turned around and had 3 northerns in 4 casts on the thing.

(p.s. to the guys parked in the rock shoot at the entrance to Indian Slough, thanks for showing me your middle finger, but I already knew I was number one.)

I had some on order from a supplier in KY, for a few months,
and called yesterday, and cancelled that part of the order.
I fished an after work T, last week, and remembered late
last year a musky ate my last secret color Bandit 100 series
crankbait, so since I needed some replacements, and this
place had them, I subbed out the Chatterbaits, with the
Gambler knockoffs, and added those replacement Bandits to
the order, to kill two birds with one stone. I should have
the Bandits,this weekend, for searching for bedded smallies,
and I should have something that looks like a Chatterbait,
to see what all the buzz is about. I expect it will end up
in the rummage sale pile sooner or later, but I just had
to try one

Big Bass Bane

I have actually done pretty well with them. I fished in the 18 acre pond near my house back and forth with spinnerbait, swim jig, chatterbait and it certainly held its own. 18 acre lake, water was cloudy and in the high 50s, prespawn conditions. Hooking % on the chatter was lower than the others, fish seem to strike at the blade as many were hooked outside the mouth or missed it. I controlled my “experiment” for color (same for all 3 baits) and weight 1/4 oz for all. This was all on the same day, same conditions. I would use 1 bait in a cove then #2 then #3 and in the next cove used a different order. I felt like the chatterbait fish that i landed were of a slightly bigger average but did not specifically weigh any fish. Of note, they are not weedless and suffer in the comparison with the jig in weeds/muck but i found it to be fairly snag resistant on dock and thick limbs, but it does catch on small twigs. I should note also, traditionally for me new lures seem to work well in this lake indicating to me they might be used to my spinnerbait technique (??)at least with the bigger fish. I have used it on the river and it has seemingly out-performed a spinnerbait under identical times, days and locations (JC- bet your surprised lol).

Anyway, chatterbaits are not the end all bait, just another tool, but i like them for the muddy water down here as a reaction type bait or a swim jig alternative for stump fields or sparse cover. We also dont have to deal with as many northerns so the risk of loss is less.
Also, a buddy of mine got some knock offs online and his chatterbait lacked the thump and chatter of the “real ones”. His was not a big name bait (not gambler or anything) but it basically just came straight back at him.

Anyway, i keep a few in my “special box” just in case, along with my flying lures, banjo minnow and walking worms

Just saw some at Gander today in Onalaska. They are pretty similar, they are made by musky innovations I think. The package says the original chatterbait. They look pretty darn close. They have lots of them by the sonar gps display for 7.99. I’m still on the fence about them so I’ll wait for now.

Those at Gander are the original…not sure why the sign says Musky Innovations, maybe they’re the middle man (supplier) but if you check the back of the package it shows the Chatterbait company and address.

Finally tried one of these baits this weekend and was suprised…The bait caught a bass, was rarely snagged, only time it was, was when it got a stick. I think that this bait has a time and it’s place. The vibration it put off was nice too.