+1 on the LFT magic shad trailer. I usually put a trailer hook on the chatterbait and hook the LFT shad onto the trailer hook so it gets more action. Works like a charm!

Great idea! Thanks, I'll have to try that.

+2



...and I'm gonna give that trailer hook set-up a go, sounds like it would be money..

+1 Z-man should be ashamed....Too bad Rad lures sold out...

ok that would require a 2x4 to throw but... Heck I'd try it that sucker would shake you to death but who knows!!!

+1 and try the ones made by TNT Baits. Very well made with a great hook.

+1 for the claymore(tnt baits). it has thump like no other

I was in the same boat as you until recently. I bought one last year and fished it occasionally and never got the first bite on it. Took it to Falcon in March and started whacking them on it, up to 6.5#, from 3ft of water to 25ft. That got my confidence up; I've had one tied on every trip since then. At Falcon I was letting it sink to the bottom, then popping it, letting it sink, dragging it, popping it, etc. Crawfish trailer. Last couple of trips I've been beating the banks, just casting it shallow and either slow-rolling or waking, just like a spinnerbait, sometimes with a trailer, sometimes not.

I've never lost as many fish as I have on a chatterbait, though. I'm not sure why, yet; I can usually count the number of fish I lose after hook-up in a year on one hand, but I lose multiple fish PER TRIP on the chatterbait. Part of me thinks it is the poor hook quality; I've started sharpening the hooks before I go out. I think it may be the design, too; maybe they can leverage it out of their mouth better than other baits, I don't know. I started bending the hook up a little to try to increase my hook-up ratio. I also have hooked a few in the side of the face, making me think they are attacking the blade instead of the body.

The quality of the "original chatterbait" sucks, though, in my opinion. The skirt comes off easily, the part where you connect your line bends easily, the hook isn't that sharp, and the only size I've found that really runs like I like it is the 3/8 oz. I have a 1/2 oz that does barrel rolls through the water, straight out of the package, and even after tweaking... not cool, and evidently the fish don't think so, either, because they haven't touched it. In preparation for an upcoming tourney I bought two more 3/8 oz chatterbaits, super-glued their skirt collars to the body to try to keep from sliding down, and will sharpen the hooks before I throw them, as well as bend them up a little. I've looked at replacing the stock clip where you tie your line on with something else more durable, but haven't found anything that fits well yet. I haven't tried another brand yet.

So, I went from only tying on a chatterbait when I was bored and fun-fishing and not catching anything last year, to putting keepers in the boat for club tournaments on it. I'd suggest using your spinnerbait or shallow squarebill to locate some fish, then throwing your chatterbait to get some hook-ups and increase your confidence in it.

I blasted them on a chart. w/ chart. Twin tail trailer this morning. Slow retrieve, just enough to feel the vibration, and letting it sink to the bottom every couple of feet...fished in 3-7ft all morning. Good Luck!

challenge accepted. Haha