32 minutes ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

Yup, lots of shallow cedar water millponds in this area that are overpopulated with chains.  

 

slide a squid skirt (like a salmon hoochie) ahead of the trailer, I can usually fish one or 2 baits all day catching several big pickerel, and the plastic holds up well, did I say electric chicken yet?...

54 minutes ago, Big Swimbait said:

Hog Farmer Spunk Tail Shad for me. They also work great on a Scrounger.

 

Basically a Keitech fat impact with the paddle tail removed. Somewhere around here I have some of the original Keitech baits that Hog Farmer copied.

 

Allen

This is my initial modification and will make changes based on performance. So all the diehard chatterbait guys on here once I get the mold I will send out prototypes to get feedback.

 

Allen

5 minutes ago, Munkin said:

This is my initial modification and will make changes based on performance. So all the diehard chatterbait guys on here once I get the mold I will send out prototypes to get feedback.

 

Allen

Is that gonna be a joint like a Razor Shad or Live Magic Shad where the two white lines are?

 

What color/s are you molding it in?   What length as well?

 

 

33 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Is that gonna be a joint like a Razor Shad or Live Magic Shad where the two white lines are?

 

What color/s are you molding it in?   What length as well?

 

 

 

100mm which is close to 4" as for the joints I ask the mold maker what are my options? Colors I will make myself initially but I am going to have someone better at making plastics pour them for me. What you see is a first draft not a final product? I will refine it over the next year based on feedback.

 

Allen

10 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Our local reservoirs were built for flood control, and are drawn down 5-8 feet each fall. I do well pitching jigs and trigs to any wood I can find still in the water on the main lake basins. If there's some wind, rolling a chatterbait or spinnerbait along laydowns can be good.

 

Thanks,  I've been catching them pretty good on lipless, flatside and square bill cranks, as well as T-rigs.  The bait monkey said I needed some bladed jig/chatterbaits.  The bass say I didn't.   They drew all of the lakes on the Catawba river chain down before Hurricane Ian.   It didn't rain as much as predicted, and has been pretty dry since.  The bigger lakes are still low, and going down a little bit more.  They usually keep the nuke lakes close to full so 5 feet down in unusual.   Lake Wylie is over 13,000 acres. Lake Norman is over 32,000.  5 feet low is a BUNCH of water.  

 

 

FWIW the inlets for the Nuke plants have been dredged.  There's still plenty of cooling water.   

16 hours ago, Deleted account said:

No, like a Bass Assassin single tail. But a regular fluke or fluke jr work really well, but the cutout pocket thing in the body makes them less durable.

got it, thanks.

 

also found some new plastics on their site I haven’t explored before. 

16 hours ago, Munkin said:

This is my initial modification and will make changes based on performance. So all the diehard chatterbait guys on here once I get the mold I will send out prototypes to get feedback.

 

Allen

 

Could be interesting. Profile wise in this pic it looks a lot like the new Berkley Stinger. I was ready to order some since they look great and the honeycomb structure seems like it will lend more durability than the Zako, but decided against it after how Pure Fishing handled my TrophyCatch prizes.

3 hours ago, Aaron_H said:

 

Could be interesting. Profile wise in this pic it looks a lot like the new Berkley Stinger. I was ready to order some since they look great and the honeycomb structure seems like it will lend more durability than the Zako, but decided against it after how Pure Fishing handled my TrophyCatch prizes.

 

When I saw that new Berkley bait I was like crap. I have been trying to get a bait like that made for 2 years.

 

Allen

*I like this new Berkley Power Stinger bladed Jig Trailer - until I saw the price ; $7.99 per pack is too expensive for trailers : Berkley Powerstinger, the ideal bladed jig trailer - Bassmaster .  However - the shape and length of the Power Stingers offered are more ideal for bladed jigs than Zako , SK Blade Minnow and ZMan Razor Shadz .

Those Stingers look like they would be effective on a naked bladed jig too.

 

As far as price, TW has them at $8.99-$9.99.

 

If they are durable, I wouldn’t mind trying some.

On 10/28/2022 at 6:20 PM, Munkin said:

 

Functionality is definitely more important than appearance. That said the design work for the gills,scales,etc is already done so I am going to use it. 

 

As for other trailers mentioned I design things based on my experience. So a 5" trailer on a chatterbait is a little big for most of my fishing conditions.  Now the Lower Potomac has hugh shad but closer to home there are no 6" Gizzard shad for bass to feed on. 

 

Allen 

Oh yeah, totally agree. There is a place and time for a smaller size and profile. I use 3 1/2-4" trailers on smaller chatters (and scroungers) sometimes, and in some places they will (or should) make up the majority of the presentations. 

On 10/28/2022 at 8:10 PM, Munkin said:

 

Basically a Keitech fat impact with the paddle tail removed. Somewhere around here I have some of the original Keitech baits that Hog Farmer copied.

 

Allen

Close but the Hog Farmer has the pin tail which is where a lot of the action comes from. Plus they are 10X more durable than a Keitech. And every soft plastic bait company has copied the Keitech.

On 10/28/2022 at 7:55 AM, Mike L said:

I commend you for taking the time and effort to come up with something unique. 
 

Good Luck

I hope you find what you’re looking for 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

Thanks! I am always experimenting trying to create better lures than I see on the market.

 

Allen

 

On 10/28/2022 at 8:14 PM, Big Swimbait said:

Hog Farmer Spunk Tail Shad for me. They also work great on a Scrounger.

 

Same, these things are awesome.

1 hour ago, Munkin said:

 

Looks good. Segmented tail at the back should let it work in tandem with the blade, but my biggest pet peeve with the Zako (similar tail design) is how easy it is for tilapia and bluegills to yoink that tail off and destroy the trailer. Is that something you are mindful of with designing this trailer?

14 hours ago, Aaron_H said:

 

Looks good. Segmented tail at the back should let it work in tandem with the blade, but my biggest pet peeve with the Zako (similar tail design) is how easy it is for tilapia and bluegills to yoink that tail off and destroy the trailer. Is that something you are mindful of with designing this trailer?

 

The way these trailers work you pour them in harder plastic.  The segments allow the bait to swim behind the bait in a natural motion. 

 

Allen 

Berkley Stingers are awesome. 3.5 and 4.25 and almost identical to what you want to make.

On 10/28/2022 at 10:46 AM, TOXIC said:

Yamamoto now has a 3 inch Zako.  I’ve not experienced it being too fragile.  The Zako doesn’t have as much salt in the formula.  I’ve had the same Zako trailer on for the last 3 trips.  Proper rigging, as with all Yamamoto baits is paramount.  Good luck on your pour! 

I tried the 3" zako on lake anna this past Saturday, and it seemed to have no action, I had it on a compact spinner bait and was very disappointed. I like the larger version on jackhammers, so I was very surprised. Have you used the 3" yet, I am curious your opinion if you have.  To the OP, I have had my best luck on a chatterbait with a Zoom super fluke. 95% of my chatterbait fish have come from the super fluke, while the rest have been on a full size zako. Good luck!

2 hours ago, Str8BraidPowa said:

I tried the 3" zako on lake anna this past Saturday, and it seemed to have no action, I had it on a compact spinner bait and was very disappointed. I like the larger version on jackhammers, so I was very surprised. Have you used the 3" yet, I am curious your opinion if you have.  To the OP, I have had my best luck on a chatterbait with a Zoom super fluke. 95% of my chatterbait fish have come from the super fluke, while the rest have been on a full size zako. Good luck!

I have not tried it yet. Did you use the paddle tail or fish tail? I have probably 200 of the original larger fish tail since I was pre sale testing them so I have not had the need to order any. I did get some of the new large paddle tails since they double as a trailer and a stand alone swimbait. 

57 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

I have not tried it yet. Did you use the paddle tail or fish tail? I have probably 200 of the original larger fish tail since I was pre sale testing them so I have not had the need to order any. I did get some of the new large paddle tails since they double as a trailer and a stand alone swimbait. 

They are the fish tail, I prefer the lighter fish tail for trailers, they tend to be more erratic and not impact the bait they are on too much. I like the paddle tail for stand alone swimbaiting. Just my .02 cents

On 11/6/2022 at 8:31 AM, Huckfinn38 said:

Berkley Stingers are awesome. 3.5 and 4.25 and almost identical to what you want to make.

Was thinking the exact same thing. I know it's been discussed in this thread. Best luck whatever you decide.

21 hours ago, JustBassinThru said:

Was thinking the exact same thing. I know it's been discussed in this thread. Best luck whatever you decide.

 

It would have been nice for them to make this bait 2.5 years ago? Would have saved me a lot of time and effort.

 

Allen

On 10/28/2022 at 1:02 PM, casts_by_fly said:

is the 3” a scaled down version in all dimensions and keeps the same overall ‘look’?

 

Here's the 3" Zako on the Mini Max. It's quite small. I haven't tried it yet but I feel like I may need to trim the skirt some.