Ok so I was at the local pool room today eating and I happened to hear someone talk about there new secret lure they have obtained.  After trying to make out a few of there mumbles I finally figured that they were talking about the Chattter bait.  Now this isn't the first time I've heard about the Chatterbait, its seems to be the new lure the bait monkey is handing out lately.  Does anyone have any experience with this bait?  I was thinking about getting a few and making a trip to Eufala and try them out.  Just wanting to know how its worked out for anyone.

Its a pretty good bait and was last years hype.  I do better with other baits but will catch some bass with the Chatterbait.

I caught a pile of fish with the Chatterbait last year....too bad none were over 4#. I found that it's an excellent springtime bait (along with everything else in your tackle box) and also works well at night. Seems to lack the big fish appeal,but thats probably just where I fish.

In a tournament last year I caught probably 15 keepers with the chatterbait but the biggest 4 of those was 15"......switched to alternating a spinnerbait and a jig and immediately started catching bigger fish. Eventually culled every fish I had caught with the chatterbait.

Where was your success?  I bet a brown one makes a great craw mimick.

Use braided line with the chatterbaits.  It throws off more vibrations because the line doesn't stretch to compensate for the pull on the line.  You can also jig the chatterbait, ripping it off the bottom, yo-yoing.

I used them from the beginning.  My best luck with them has been to yo yo them off the bottom.  I have caught bass up to 5 lbs. on them.  

Ive caught several bass last year on a chatter, they are really good for night fishing too with the black/black blade

I enjoy fishing the Chatterbait.

I have caught bass on the colors of yellow, white and chartruse and blue and black using mono.

I lost a beauty in a tournament on the Pamunkey River last year as I was using mono and threw the bait just to see what would happen.  Well, she hit it, jumped clean out of the water, took one look at me, and was gone.

I will start to use braid when I throw them.  Thanks a million for the tip.

I bought one last year and caught a nice 2lb bass in the first day of use.  These are not the best thing since sliced bread but, they are effective.  I do think these are good lures to keep in your tackle box.  You can fish them like a spinner, like a crank, like a jerk bait.  Try 'em, you'll like 'em, but you won't fall in love with them.  And I believe the bait monkey is almost forcing them on people right now as you can get the kits with 4 chatters and a bunch of skirts & trailers for $20 at Dick's and BPS (and many more stores I'm sure).  That's a great deal considering the one I bought last year was $6 or $7 by itself.  I don't swear by them;  they're just something different to add to the arsenal.

I caught a ton on the chatterbait last year and my biggest was a 7.5 pounder on a black and blue one.

Catfish love them!  I caught three channel cats last year on it.  The "smallest" one was just over 6 lbs. ;D

If ever there was a bait that doesn't live up to the hype, this is it. You can catch some fish on it but it is not THE WIRE SENKO is was claimed to be. It is funny how in this day and age, anything that gets a mention on ESPN is a cash cow. Where is the Sweet Beaver now?

I have to disagree with you earthworm77 - these baits do produce -- don't know about the "wire senko" comment but they are a great lure and I had luck with them all the way from early spring through late fall.  There are ton's of knockoffs on the market now and some are better than others, but overall should be a part of your arsenal.  As for where the SweetBeavers are - in my tackle bag or on my line during the spawn and in the hot part of the summer when I am working brush piles in shallow coves.  These are another great bait but does have a more specific application.

I think Chatterbaits are really as good as every one says. Sends off tone of vibration I feel it the second i start to reel in.  And if that vibration ever stops SET THE HOOK. Id rather fish a chatterbait over a spinner bait in most situations.

These are another great bait but does have a more specific application.

You summed it up right there. The chatterbait catches fish, no doubt, but it is more of a situational lure. When this bait broke on the scene, it was allegedly idiot proof. I found out quickly that I wasn't an idiot because I couldn't catch fish with it. I switched to the Swim Blade and started catching fish but in truth, it is just a different presentation, nothing Earthshattering and I do not think it has lived up to what the hype claimed. I would hate to be those guys who shelled out 100+ for it on eBay. Nothing special there.

Other- Do you load the boat with it? Do you catch larger fish with it consistently? These are the factors that make me doubt the hype.

Gotta agree with earthworm77, a good bait, but not the best thing since sliced bread. For me they are not a replacement for a spinnerbait. I did not catch a fish on a chatterbait, retrieved like a spinnerbait. All my fish came hopping it off the bottom, like a jig.

Lot's of hype for rather ordinary results. I'm seriously glad I did not buy any at the inflated prices these things were selling for, early last year.

Cheers,

GK

These are another great bait but does have a more specific application.

Other- Do you load the boat with it? Do you catch larger fish with it consistently? These are the factors that make me doubt the hype.

I do own ALOT of them. I will admit that it does not catch large fish the biggest was probally 3lbs but i sure do catch ALOT of em. Also the chatterbait is really fun to fish Catching countless bass with none stop action during a fishing trip is worth every cent I payed for em.

Earthworm,

 I too respectfully have to disagree with you. I was VERY doubtful of the bait when it came out, in fact I about swore I'd never throw one. One day I was in a friend's boat who was smoking the tourneys and he quietely showed me the key to his success... wouldn't you know it?!?! I almost couldn't stop laughing, the bait I'd sworn off was smoking them on my water! I picked some up and started putting them to work. At first all I could do with them is catch dinks. I'd catch more fish than than I would with a spinnerbait but they were smaller. I started experimenting with retrieves, colors, etc... and that is where the success began. Since then I can honestly say "yes" with the exception of icy winter water I do in fact load the boat with it AND catch top end fish with it (one double digit). To each is own but for me, this bite was better than the hype and has been a a little cash cow. I too don't use the "chatterbait" brand bait, I quickly found out that it couldn't withstand my abuse. I broke snaps, blades, and even hooks! I use one made locally that has steel blades and a 5/0 hook but other than that its the same bait.

Matt

One of the reasons my fishing season last year sucked so bad was spending way too much time throwing this bait, among other things.

It seems to have a time and a place but I haven't figured out exactly when I'll be using that bait again.  I'll probably throw it again this spring, maybe, for now though I think a spinnerbait would do the job equally well in many situations.

My partner and I watched a guy catch close to 30 pounds off one point on Ky Lake last spring.  Doubt if it took him 20-25 minutes.  You couldn't find one anywhere at that time.  Partner got hold of a couple few weeks later.  Went back to Ky, he threw it for about an hour while I threw a swim jig.  I caught fish, he hadn't a bite.  Gave me his rod to try it, three casts caught a 20" and a 22".  Last ones I got on it.

Went to a private lake, three trips not one strike with it.  I know those fish had never seen the hottest bait in N.A.  I'm not bashing it because I still have guys telling me that it produces for them.  I couldn't make it work if it had dynamite tied to it.

Based on the responses here, it would seem that most of the lures we throw are no good, 'caues somebody can't catch fish with 'em.  Chatterbaits are good, but they are not the secret weapon for bass.  Senko's are good, but there have been days when they don't work either.  A lot of it has to do with how the bait is worked and where and when.  The other ingredient is confidence.  If you like 'em you'll use 'em - if not you won't.  Doesn't mean that the lures don't work.  I have only caught one fish on a hard jerk bait in my life and I snagged him.  Does that mean I should talk negatively about them?  Didn't think so.  I keep some in my box and get them out when I think the time is right and try 'em again - If I ever get on the band wagon, I may become an avid jerker - who knows?  I have been fishing for more than 50 years and caught my first fish on a jig two years ago.  Now they are a regular part of my arsenal and I won Big Bass at a tournament last year because I was throwing one.

It seems like chatterbaits are like Ike - love 'em or hate 'em but they will still be around.