Here is my stupid question of the day...

Are these $15.99 - $17.99 chatterbaits really worth it? What do these do that a $5.99 - $8.99 Chatterbait will not do? I hear all these great things about Chatterbaits, mind you, I have less than no confidence in them. I have watched Mr. Chatterbait Bret Hite videos until I am blue in the face. I would like to start using them and gaining confidence in them because I know they work and I have seen them work. Maybe I am just a skeptic?

I mean obviously they have their time and place like most baits, Ideally what is what most guys call Chatterbait conditions?

I'm one of those guys that fishes the JackHammers. High quality components. I really like the skirts. They are really easy to skip under docks and cover and you don't lose strands of skirt material like I have on other brands. The heads are very resilient to chipping too. I tend to hit quite a few objects. To each his own, though. The Finch Nasty seems like a good alternative. I like the weedless design concept.

If they cost more, then they must be better.

The jackhammers are expensive but for me they have produced better. Not that others can't but my confidence is higher when I fish a jackhammer, 2 things that stand out to me:

1. I can fish it at the depth I want without it rising. If I want to fish it above the grass at 8-10 ft, I can keep it there without the bait rising too much.
2. Kind of relates to #1, I can retrieve at various speeds and not lose the chatter or vibration. If I need to slow roll it deeper I can and the vibration stays consistent just the same if I was fishing it faster.

I fish it all year round but most favored times are pre spawn and fall. If I know I can get at least 5 bites during a tournament, I won't put it down.

If you shop around you can get those for under $10.00ea

Chatterbait project z in 3/4 is a dang solid bait. Bigger profile in my opinion and if I want a smaller slimmer profile I use chatterbait elite, which I think is close to profile of the jackhammer

There has already been a 13+ lber caught on a Finch Nasty Glade Blade and an 11+ lber caught on the classic Finch Nasty thumper this year..... I would say right now is the best time to glue a bladed jig to your hand and go fish.

I started hearing about the Jackhammers from a good friend friend last year that is a guide. He said he doesn't know what the difference is but they just catch more fish. Had this exact conversation with my cousin yesterday and he said the exact same thing.

I bring out the Jackhammers for tournament day only. If I'm getting bit on standard chatterbaits in practice, I know I'll get more bites on the Jackhammer when it counts. Definitely easier to skip. The blade starts vibrating immediately Other than that, I'm not sure the difference, but they get bites.

Does zman just facilitate getting these Japanese baits here or do they have a hand in making them?

Short answer yes. Are they worth the money ?.. thats up to you.

I'm a huge fan of the jackhammers

Or they catch more fish so they are worth more.

I�m like you. Usually try to keep myself off the �if it cost more it must be better bandwagon� but occasionally the higher priced product simply catches more fish. Senko�s, Yellow Magic�s and Jackhammer Chatterbait�s are examples. Wish I could buy the cheapest of everything but sometimes I just have to pay a few bucks more to increase my success....especially after the $1000�s I�ve already invested in this fishing game!

ZMan has a patent on connecting the blade directly to the hook. That allows the blade to hit the lead head easier. Others use a split ring to connect them.Finch Nasty Glade bait is the second best for this, that I've found. I've lost a lot of bladed baits, due to hanging up in wood. The Glade is weedless and I've thrown it into things just to see if I could hang it up. Haven't so far. It's a $9 bait, so it isn't cheap, but it isn't $15 to $19 like Jackhammers are at most dealers.

Bass Assets, Bounty Hunter Turbo Buzz, and Donald Harper also make great baits. Mgfan58