I originally posted this item buried deep within another topic but haven't seen any responses so I'm reposting it as a topic in hopes of hearing from some of you more-experienced (or less-experienced if you've tried it) fishermen. I've not fished chatterbaits to any great extent, but did have an interesting experience with a chatterbait (trimmed skirt) and chigger craw trailer. I was having no luck with the chatterbait and craw rigged in the normal fashion so I cut off about 3/8" from the craw, rotated it 90 degrees so the claws were vertical, and remounted it. A half a dozen casts later I caught a small (1 1/2 pound) bass and shortly after had a second strike (I'm guessing pickerel) that "liberated" my chatterbait. I've acquired a couple more chatterbaits and intend to try this again.  I wonder if the vertically-mounted craw claws more closely resemble the caudal fin of a baitfish or was this just a coincidence?  Any of you experienced guys have any thoughts on this? It does have me wondering.  Was an easy "mod" with the small-bodied chigger craw but at home trying it with a craw fatty and a pit boss I discovered I couldn't rig down the center of the creature body, rather, I had to thread it more to one side to provide more hook exposure. Anyway, I don't know if the two bites were coincidence or a result of the rotated craw. Would really appreciate any thoughts. (Snickers and slams will also be grudgingly accepted.). Thanks, folks!

u made a smaller profile & made it look like a bait fish  & figured out how to get a bitext good job 

next time if u are using the bait fish  profile & r not getting bites go back to the craw fish profile!

they can b xtremely quirky!

Vertically is how I always rig my trailers like the Havoc Pitboss, Devil's Spear, or Rage Menace. It looks more like a fish swimming, and it fights against the natural action of the bait less.

I have also used this rigging method as an option when fishing a scrounger type jig as the profile matches baitfish better

6 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Vertically is how I always rig my trailers like the Havoc Pitboss, Devil's Spear, or Rage Menace. It looks more like a fish swimming, and it fights against the natural action of the bait less.

 Very Nice hook on that one Blue - It's like a Gaff  . . . 

A-Jay

I Think those fish would have bit regardless.

I really like putting a fluke on my chatterbaits. It makes them look perfect in the water but you need to put superglue on them to keep them on the bait.

Very interesting and I love how you said 'liberated.'  Gives a new perspective to loosing a lure