I've heard and read Pros state the best seasons to fish a chatterbait / bladed jig are : " Fall and Winter" ... Does this align with your experiences - or do you find Spring and Summer can also produce for the chatterbait / bladed jig ?

prespawn/Shad spawn deal for me. 

I have caught them on a CB in the spring, summer, and fall.  Can't fish winter here.

 

My experience fishing them (roughly 4 seasons) is that they are generally a better option in the spring and fall than they are in midsummer.  But that doesn't mean they are useless in the summer time either.  There's so many variables that come into play here.

 

My absolute best outings with a CB have come pre-spawn when the water temp is still somewhat chilly, and in fall when the water temp has cooled.  As a general rule, the colder the water, the slower you will want to fish it.

Early spring and again late summer straight through into late fall.

Common theme is big hungry brown bass in skinny water.

A-Jay

 

 

Most of my chatterbait bass have been caught in the fall and in the spring.  During the summer months, I take them out of the tackle bag.

The only thing that limits me throwing on all year is heavy grass in the summer. When it’s still well grown but not abusively thick I’ll work one through it. Eventually there is so much that your blade is hung as it hits the water and it’s just not efficient to throw one. 

might be my imagination, but I only seem to catch chatter bait bass in somewhat breezy to windy conditions.  glassy water, nothing.  again..just a random observation.

53 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

might be my imagination, but I only seem to catch chatter bait bass in somewhat breezy to windy conditions.  glassy water, nothing.  again..just a random observation.

definetley need at least a little wind in my experience. if its flat calm the swim jig seems to do better

Warm summer nights. The jackhammer at night is money!

15 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

might be my imagination, but I only seem to catch chatter bait bass in somewhat breezy to windy conditions.  glassy water, nothing.  again..just a random observation.

 

I second this, been throwing strictly CB the last 2 weeks and noticed that I get more activity when it's a bit windy.

 

Also, been using the Jackhammer with the "painted" blade and it's scraping off. Normal? Should I just sharpie this?

8 minutes ago, skywalkerV said:

 

I second this, been throwing strictly CB the last 2 weeks and noticed that I get more activity when it's a bit windy.

 

Also, been using the Jackhammer with the "painted" blade and it's scraping off. Normal? Should I just sharpie this?

Yeah that's normal, and I wouldn't bother painting unless you fish clear waters.

 

Jackhammers are overpriced and made in China and this is coming from a guy who loves them.   They should be $10 baits at the most imho.  

36 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Jackhammers are overpriced and made in China and this is coming from a guy who loves them.   They should be $10 baits at the most imho.  

You can usually find them somewhere for less than the $15.99 MSRP.  Last month Omnia Fishing had a 20% off all zman products I think.  I have a few and I would never pay 16 bucks for one either.

IMO its best late winter to late spring.  The grass gets so thick around here mid june they arent as efficient.  Theyre is a good bite in the fall as well, but its not as consistent as the spring.  You may only get 2 or 3 weeks in the fall where the spring you can have 6 or 7 weeks of a good bite.  It all depends on the weather and if I can find healthy grass.

11 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Yeah that's normal, and I wouldn't bother painting unless you fish clear waters.

 

Jackhammers are overpriced and made in China and this is coming from a guy who loves them.   They should be $10 baits at the most imho.

It's crazy that they simply don't plate them. All other Zman CBs with black blades are, and plating doesn't come off.

Late winter through late fall, I always have one tied on. 

Anytime there is vegetation is my favorite time.

14 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Late winter through late fall, I always have one tied on. 

That about covers all but the dead of Winter in Kansas - which means here in Georgia I can and should try a chatterbait just about year round .

I’ve caught some big fish in the summer fishing a chatterbait like a jig. Lift and pause. Like a blade bait.  Chatterbaits also work well at night to.  Spring through fall. 

On 3/29/2023 at 4:35 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

Late winter through late fall, I always have one tied on. 

I was just going to say this. I prefer fishing them around grass, but our bigger lakes tend to be pretty devoid of grass, so smaller waters, definitely!

It might be my favorite way to catch fish in the summer time when I'm burning bank and it's kind of windy. ?

15 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

That about covers all but the dead of Winter in Kansas - which means here in Georgia I can and should try a chatterbait just about year round .

I have yet to see a season they wouldn’t work. The only problem I’ve encountered is their popularity, you will never be the only guy throwing it 

On 3/28/2023 at 11:41 AM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Yeah that's normal, and I wouldn't bother painting unless you fish clear waters.

 

Jackhammers are overpriced and made in China and this is coming from a guy who loves them.   They should be $10 baits at the most imho.  

Check Digitaka 

8 hours ago, Jrob78 said:

Check Digitaka 

Yeah I had some in the cart the other night.....they were like $8-9.

 

Just have to order a reel to get that free shipping ?

They don't drop through the ice very well, but any time there's open water I've caught fish on them. I would say some of my best days with them have been in the spring and fall, but have done very well in the summer around the veggies too. 

3 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Yeah I had some in the cart the other night.....they were like $8-9.

 

Just have to order a reel to get that free shipping ?

Lol, yep. I have a handful of JH's and a 22 Bantam on the way ?‍♂️ I've been needing to try one of Shimano's newer offerings