I have used most of the chatterbaits in the zman line up, I always end up falling back to the original. Just sharpie the blade black and fish it. Be careful around wood!

Blade color matters sometimes. Skirt color matters sometimes. I have paired up what I think are the best blade to skirt combinations, but being in this business for a while I've learned it really is "to each his own". I caught a 9 pounder last year on Sun Perch one weekend, the next Saturday had one almost 8 on Rayburn Red and the following day a 13 on Gizzard Shad. Changed it up based on area of the lake, water clarity and ultimately on what I felt like throwing.

Black blade works well with Green Pumpkin, Sun Perch, Black/Blue, Bluegill.
Nickel blade is fine on the shad imitators.
Gold blades are really popular on a few of my custom colors.

Good early season colors are Rayburn Red, Bar Fish, the Perch colors, and Black/Blue.
Once water hits 60 or the spawn is good and underway, I move on to the Shad imitators.
I'll throw a few colors year around like Black/Blue, White/Chartreuse and the Bluegill patterns.

No reason to pay more than $10 for a bladed jig. I am making one of the most complex from a molding, design and component cost perspective, and I do not need to sell it in a double digit price range. My original is still in the $5-6 range and it has very good components and action.

Zman Project Z

Project z in 3/4oz

Do you make any of your thumpers with a weed guard?.

I'm looking for 3x 3/8 oz in black and blue, and 3 in shad color.

No weed guards; I'll send you a PM.

Why are you sending your business to LA, Robert? Just kidding. Those look nice and the price is fair.

I use the Zman line of chatterbaits in white or black with an NTX Custom Baits 3.8� Zip Shad color matched trailer. Caught several fish this year on that combo!

I run a bass assets pro blade, iI like the Bull Gill color and chartreuse shad, i pair them up with a zoom fluke most of the time but sometimes I go paddle tail.

I've got a few originals, phoenix, and a few jackhammers I bought when on sale. Tend to stick to baitfish colors, so shad, bluegill, or green pumpkin variants mostly. Tend to match trailer to the skirt, and use 3-4" paddle tail/swimbait style trailers mostly, or occasionally a 4" fluke. They all catch.

Have been reading about Finch's alot, I though he had a weedguard version coming out soon? Will be interested in trying a few of those as well.

Alex Finch - Are your blades connected directly to the heads. If so, how do you get around the patent? Do your blades contact the head while vibrating?

78, I have a weedless version coming out soon. Hope you will try them.

RKT, mine are connected via a heavy duty split ring. No patent issues. My blade contacts the head while vibrating, just at a less frequent and more erratic cadence than Z-Man. After throwing the same one for a while, you'll start to notice the two places on the head where the blade is making contact. I will sometimes scrape a little paint off of those two spots on a new one if I want my Thumper to make more sound. Lots of split ring versions out there that don't work correctly.

Just ordered some Jackhammers to see if the hype is real but the Nasty Thumpers are my go to.

Zman with LF Magic Shad trailer or swimming fluke. Color depends on sky and water clarity each day.