jmoore020965

So in your experience the chatterbait and rattle trap will both excel in grass, but the crank will excel in any cover. Any theories as to why? Also, any theories as to why the trap stops working for you after early spring but the chatterbait stays strong?

I was honestly just being silly and trying to emphasize how grateful I was that you took the time to answer the question. I didn't expect a thankful dirty joke to offend the person I was thanking.

Look- I never said they were the same bait and I never said they would work in the same situations. I just *want to know *how they are different*, and *what specific situations* one would excel over the other. I have gotten a few helpful answers, but the vast majority have answered the questions like this- Q:How are they different? A:Everything Q:When would you use one over the other? A:In different situations

So you don't get as stoked on the theory of why it works as I do. Fine. Have fun "culling into the money" while I have fun thinking and learning about lure theory. Have you noticed that a white senko fails in that situation, or do you just throw black because you usually use black senkos?

A-Jay sorry but you're wrong. I honestly expressed *my own opinion* that if you can't acknowledge the glaring similarities (that doesn't mean they're the same!!) then you're either not looking or you're confused. Either way, *personally* I find those people's contribution to the conversation pointless, and *personally* would not like them to crowd the conversation. I had only hoped that they would take that piece of information and simply stay out of the conversation at their own will, but I know I can't stop them against their will. If I had suggested they weren't *allowed* to contribute I would be nuts, and wrong.I am arguing with people who say they don't have *similarities* because clearly they do. Some people have entered the conversation acknowledging them, others have entered the conversation denying them. I get it if you would never use them in the same situation, but that doesnt mean they don't have some common important attributes. There are literally people saying they don't have common attributes at all, and those are the people who I can't help but say "you're wrong" to.

Okay, next time you throw a white popper into a school of shad on the surface, tell yourself that.

Thank you! Ive heard and read everyone suggesting to slow roll the chatterbait on the bottom, but honestly 80% of my chatterbait fish have come from me running it like a wake bait near grass edges, burning it/bulging it for that reaction strike. So maybe that's why my perspective on chatterbait fishing is different from others.

This is why I give up.

If someone asked you, what baits represent a vibrating/swimming baitfish, what answers could give them other than: Crankbait Rattle trap Chatterbait Scrounger jig Paddle tail soft plastic/other vibrating soft plastics The scrounged and soft plastics don't have nearly as much action, so that leaves the top 3. I'm *not* saying that means they're the same bait, but it doesn't get much more similar than that.

If someone asked you, what baits represent a vibrating/swimming baitfish, what answers could give them other than: Crankbait Rattle trap Chatterbait Scrounger jig Paddle tail soft plastic/other vibrating soft plastics The scrounged and soft plastics don't have nearly as much action, so that leaves the top 3. I'm *not* saying that means they're the same bait, but it doesn't get much more similar than that.

Jon G, let's start with this, they're both great search baits. Yes? You say you would use a vibration jig anywhere anytime. So does this include in grass flats in the fall and spring? If you're looking at a grass flat in the fall or spring, and you've got a vibration jig, and a rattle trap right in front of you. One rod. What goes through your mind when deciding between the two? At this point I assume it's the rattling, that would make you want to choose a rattle trap. So is there a reason you only use a rattle trap in spring and fall that you know of? Is the rattling too much noise in other seasons? I just want to get into the meat of the theory here, because I genuinely enjoy it. Guys- I'm not trying to be a ******, I'm just trying to pick your brain, starting with what I know to be true. I know that cranks, traps, and chatters are the only 3 baits *I've ever used* that have that much horizontal side to side wobbling/vibrating action. This is true. If that doesn't make them at least "similar" then we must have different definitions of the word. I know that all three are great search baits for active fish. Of course they're different. I never ever disagreed with anyone's point that they will each work better in certain situations, I only disagreed with people who blatantly overlooked the above true statements.

I take that back- I am arguing with the people who say there aren't similarities. I did not suggest that anyone wasn't allowed to express their thoughts, just that I personally, would rather they not. Clearly they have similarities. More similarities than most lures. If you cannot acknowledge that, then I probably won't listen to your opinion because they simply do have many similarities. If you disagree with that starting point I don't find your opinion to be credible.

But if you can't enter the conversation at least *acknowledging* their similarities, no, we're not going to have a productive conversation

I'm asking. Not arguing. No one has explained when or why a fish might prefer one over the other, just that they will.

If you can't see the similarities, I would personally prefer you not participate in this conversation. A chatterbait is clearly the closest jig-based alternative to a crankbait that exists (unless you can name one closer). If you can't see that you're not looking.