Share your tips, technigues, tactics, presentations and strategies. Discuss considerations for selecting lures, areas to fish, when to fish and other important considerations to increase your success. Discuss your favorite gear for each technique and share recommendations and product reviews.
I've never used anything but a Z man and it is a big fish lure. Posted my experience with a Chatterbait (think Z man calls them chatterheads) but it's not here now. I've never caught anything small on it yet.
Hey great I knew that Black Mag would be a good one WTG Turtle.....
I have a few other ideas rolling around for different types of skirt colors and head colors just waiting on my powder baits to arrive before I can try some of them out.
Glad that one is working out...I'll second the trailers you can pretty much put anything on them flukes are killers too we use them pretty much all spring and summer on the Tidal Potomac with a fluke and kill the big momma's.
Works well on Lake Anna as well.
Good Fishin' Sempr Steve USMC Retired
wilderness Systems Ride 115 Wilderness Systems Commander 120
I've used them a lot for Spotted Bass in the rivers around here all year long. I like solid White and a Black/Blue like you were using. They work really well in swift water too, not just around laydowns or grass. One of my best days was anchored by throwing a White Chatterbait up into current seams below the islands and big rocks in the river. I've also had good luck swimming a Black/Blue one over the top of submerged vegetation in low light situations. I bet a Chatterbait would be a killer on river smallmouths at certain times. I've caught some nice Crappie on the smaller version too.
____________________________________ United States Air Force Veteran * Fishing out of a WS Ride 115 & Tarpon 120
DanMarino wrote:Rats, I've got a couple z-man baits.
Tom,
ZMan ones are alright. Just make sure the hook is sharp. The painting is sloppy and check to make sure the hardware is secure. They've got the rights so they are agressively trying to shut others down from making them. SK Pure Poison Blades Swim Jig is the only other one I have seen still out there. I bet Mann's wishes they could do that for the A Rig.
justintr34 wrote:i have been killing it with these the bass just love it.they love it when i swim it and just let it drop and start swiming.good luck
I've ordered parts and made my first with a heavier Draggin' Head tonight. It won't be a production lure for Confidence Baits, as the research I've done says that I might end up with a horse's head in my bed if I sell them. Good for them for successfully defending their patent in an industry that almost always allows copy cats to cash in.
I wish I could find the hooks with the big eyes to link directly into the plate. Barlows sells the jigheads, but I want to mold a draggin head onto that hook. I will likely melt down the unpainted ones and try it using that hook. I see a nice swimbait on it's side floundering along the bottom application.
"...and I followed you Big River, when you called." -Johnny Cash
One more Chatterbait tip -- Get one of those white/chartreuse Micro-chatterbaits and throw it on your finesse rod on those days when the bite is off. You may be surprised at what hits. Remember, post-spawn means a lot of small stuff to eat is swimming around in our lakes.
I practice CPR -- Catch, Photograph, and Release "Take a kid fishing; and you change the world!" Ocean Kayak Trident 13
So I've been making my own lures for about a year now. I got started in this little hobby after watching some of Jeff Little's youtube videos. Those vids really peaked my interest in the customization and production of fishing lures.
Here is one that really got me thinking, "hey you can probably do this too." Thanks to Jeff & Fred for sharing info of this nature!
I ended up getting some Do-it molds and found I really enjoyed this little hobby. After focusing on SM specific lures, I've decided to try my hand in making some of these chatterbaits. Especially since everyone seems to speak highly of them, and that I'll be returning to the Tidal Potomac at some point soon. I just placed a barlows order and thought it's probably time I share some intel, since I've mostly absorbed it up to this point. Here are the links to the accessories I'm obtaining. *Sometimes Barlows site takes awhile to load, patience is a virtue
Around $50 for everything that I picked up. I figure I can make at least 25-30 lures from this order($2 a piece, maybe a little less). Obviously time isn't factored in, but I take things slow and work at my own pace. I have a lot of other supplies laying around (hooks, lead, skirt material, powder paint, etc.) It would be much more expensive to start from scratch.
**You can always buy lures cheaper than what you will inevitably invest to make them. As I've stated, I enjoy this hobby and it's worth it too me.**
Re: Chatterbaits for Largemouths
by hawksnest » Tue May 08, 2012 1:34 pm 
