I recently caught several fish on a chatterbait and realized just how sorry the hooks are on these baits. I was forced to bend the hook back into shape after each fish and I was doing this easily with my fingers. No pliers necessary.

What brand of bladed jig do you guys fish that have the really good action that the chatterbaits have, but also have sturdy construction with good hooks? How about the Strike King Pure Poison?

I've decided I won't buy more z-man baits until they have a good quality hook.

Z Mans sorry hooks is the reason i started building my own..

quote: I've decided I won't buy more z-man baits until they have a good quality hook.


That will be a long long time

If you want a good hook, no... the best hook, go with one that has a split ring. You get the strongest hook and a different action. Don't judge all bladed jigs with split rings the same. Some of them have been tested and tuned to run correctly.

My whole life I've heard people complain about the hooks on the original chatterbait. . .I've fished them since I was a kid and have NEVER had a hook fail me or cost me a fish. I have seen one or two baits that had a hook that I had to bend back into shape, especially after it was hung on a stump or something. But to me that's no different than any other hook.

I was in the same camp as you until last week. I was literally bending the hook on my 3/8 ounce chatterbait with my fingers. I started wondering if these hooks were made out of aluminum.

I never got hung on anything with the chatterbait. The hook was twisted and bent by 3 and 4 pound fish.

I like the action and vibration on the chatterbait for sure. I looked at the finchnasty thumpers and they look good. I may order one to give it a try.

Does anyone use trailer hooks on your chatterbaits?

Thank you! If my hook bends out on a fish, send it back to me so we can both get our money back! I only use Gamakatsu hooks with a heavy wire diameter.

Only if there isn't a limb of timber within 5 miles of where I'm casting it.

The Chatterbait Elite series hooks are better (the blade attachment is better also)

I have encountered that problem with the chatterbaits (z-man) with the gold hooks. Some of the z-mans have a black nikel hook that is better.

I straightened out an original chatterbait hook caught in grass, no fish attached, and realized how weak they were. But the chatterbait "Elite" has a stouter 5/0 gama and the newer ones have a better line tie as well.

I picked up some Finch Nasty Rayburn Red thumpers over at Pope's Landing a couple weeks ago. After throwing his and the Z-man, I will never buy another Z-man again! You will have a hard time bending Finch's hooks.

I have some Finch Nasty Thumpers. I feel comfortable using them anywhere bigguns are.

I bought a few strike king pure poison chatterbaits. Only used one of them so far but caught two bass in the 2 lb range with it. Its doing good so far I guess, maybe I'll hook into a big one this weekend

I have four Chatterbaits that are in time out because of the cheap, dull hooks. My wife used to love 'em till she lost a nice fish then...time out.