Chatterbait Weight vs Application

[DirtyD64]

Recently been fishing more and more chatterbaits, mainly the 3/8 MiniMax and 3/8 Jackhammer. I fish a clear river system, and honestly the bait doesn't do best. It slays during aggressive times and brings bigger fish, but not year round numbers for me.

So my question is about the chatterbait/bladed jig weights. I fish generally 3/8 in 4ft-14ft max waters, with a moderate retrieve and run about 3ft or less. I wonder sometimes if I am not letting the lure get deep enough or if I am letting it maybe run too deep. My last JDM order by mistake had 3 of the 1.2oz Jackhammers (supposed to be 1/2), and I wonder how they'd fish. On the other end of the spectrum, I have fished the 1/4oz Picasso bladed jig, but it is hard to present it as anything other than a wake bait.

Either way, I just want to hear from some chatterbait specialists. What weight do you use for what application? Any other details would be appreciated too, just looking to learn.

[dhottle]

You need to determine what weight will get you in contact with the bottom based on current. Then try fishing it like a blade bait. Drop to bottom & rip back up a few feet then repeat.

[Craiger12]

You need to determine what weight will get you in contact with the bottom based on current. Then try fishing it like a blade bait. Drop to bottom & rip back up a few feet then repeat.

I don't fish a river system, but this is the only way I ever fish a chatterbait. I just jig it off the bottom like a blade bait. It has been one of my most productive presentations over the past several years.

[goldrod]

Recently been fishing more and more chatterbaits, mainly the 3/8 MiniMax and 3/8 Jackhammer. I fish a clear river system, and honestly the bait doesn't do best. It slays during aggressive times and brings bigger fish, but not year round numbers for me.

So my question is about the chatterbait/bladed jig weights. I fish generally 3/8 in 4ft-14ft max waters, with a moderate retrieve and run about 3ft or less. I wonder sometimes if I am not letting the lure get deep enough or if I am letting it maybe run too deep. My last JDM order by mistake had 3 of the 1.2oz Jackhammers (supposed to be 1/2), and I wonder how they'd fish. On the other end of the spectrum, I have fished the 1/4oz Picasso bladed jig, but it is hard to present it as anything other than a wake bait.

Either way, I just want to hear from some chatterbait specialists. What weight do you use for what application? Any other details would be appreciated too, just looking to learn.

Let the fish dictate to you wha they want but don’t be afraid of switching weights to either side of the spectrum
The heavier in shallow or the lighter in deep.

I would suggest slowing down your retrieve or speeding it up.
I started casting and letting the c/b sink to the bottom before retrieving but what I found in recently was cast and retrieved near cover got me bit so. If something isn’t working try something else

[DirtyD64]

See I was fishing chatterbaits more like a reverse crank, slowing retrieve to get deeper. Never fished them at the bottom though, will for sure try some heavier ones this weekend.

[dragon1]

You need to determine what weight will get you in contact with the bottom based on current. Then try fishing it like a blade bait. Drop to bottom & rip back up a few feet then repeat.

I'm going to start doing this with paddle tails as well...basically like stroking a jig. I have found that in shallow when the bass are chasing shad or sunfish, a faster retrieve waking the chatterbait near cover or over rock structure can really get them to commit.

[dragon1]

Recently been fishing more and more chatterbaits, mainly the 3/8 MiniMax and 3/8 Jackhammer. I fish a clear river system, and honestly the bait doesn't do best. It slays during aggressive times and brings bigger fish, but not year round numbers for me.

So my question is about the chatterbait/bladed jig weights. I fish generally 3/8 in 4ft-14ft max waters, with a moderate retrieve and run about 3ft or less. I wonder sometimes if I am not letting the lure get deep enough or if I am letting it maybe run too deep. My last JDM order by mistake had 3 of the 1.2oz Jackhammers (supposed to be 1/2), and I wonder how they'd fish. On the other end of the spectrum, I have fished the 1/4oz Picasso bladed jig, but it is hard to present it as anything other than a wake bait.

Either way, I just want to hear from some chatterbait specialists. What weight do you use for what application? Any other details would be appreciated too, just looking to learn.

I still catch smallies and rock bass on smaller 1/4-3/8 chatters here in the Stones and Duck Rivers throughout the cold water period. I do trim back the skirt and thin it out, choose thinner trailers, and change it to a smaller blade to reduce lift. I also prefer a slow by today's standards, OG 5.8:1 Alphas with 8lb CXX. I'm sure you could get more depth with fluoro and also using a salt laden trailer as well.