I finally broke down and purchased a chatterbait, I know I am the last person to get one.

I havent had a problem attracting fish, but boating fish is a diffrent story. Havent been able to set the hook, also noticed the skirt nearly comes off on every hit. What am I doing wrong?

I don't know. I use the z-man chatter which everyone seems to say is trash but Ive never lost a fish and have caught some toads on it. Usually when I catch them on the chatter they always get it deep so I don't have to worry about not getting a good hook set also the skirts that come on them will slide down a lot sometimes so I just put a different skirt on there and it stays on there really well.

try a trailer hook

I have Z-Man and Booyah chatterbaits. I like both real well. The Booyah hook is on a wire connected to the jig head and it flexes. It is supposed to help keep fish from throwing it but I haven't really noticed much difference other than the Booyah has Alot more vibration.

Put a trailer on it...live magic Shad or Slug, and use super glue to keep things from sliding.

AMEN, Also be arratic on the retrieve.

On the topic of chatterbaits, are they supposed to be used with snap swivels? I threw my first chatterbait last week using a snap swivel and it didn't chatter...wasn't sure if it was because of the swivel.

Thanks.

Booyah is the only quality chatterbait made. I strongly suggest using braided line so it won't stretch and just tie your line directly to the wire(no snap swivels needed )Then just put the plastic trailer that come with in the hook and don't use a trailer hook because most time the trailer hook will get stuck in the gills or they will swallow it and it will make them bleed. Just use a slow eratic retrieve and if you get within 10' of a bass they will most times try to destroy it and they tend to inhale them so you don't even have to hook set them. The best way to fish with a chatterbait is from the bank(as shallow as you can get) out to 10' and works the best if you are around structure.
I'm saying it again for the fish's sake, don't use a trailer hook.

I always thought the slow, spinnerbait retrieve was the right (and only) way to fish it. Just fished off the back of a guys boat last week, in about 6' of water, and he reeled that chatterbait in as fast as he could,7:1 reel, with a twitch on it about every three seconds that never slowed the bait, only made it 'hop'. He got two fish the first five minutes, then busted off a big one- blew my mind you could fish it that way. He super glued the front skirt on, and then put a fluke on, upside down, so it would cause more of a jump when twitched, and glued it on too.

Oh, to reel that fast and not have it ski across the surface you need a 1/2 oz one, if not slightly heavier.

He wins a lot of tournaments too.

OH, he did not use a trailer.

If they are aggressively feeding yes you can burn and pause but that won't last for long, especially all day. You'll consistantly get more bites with a slow eratic retrieve and you will get bites all day. Sometimes the fish tell me how fast or slow to go.
It's an awesome bait to have in the fishing arsenal.

Super glue or zip tie the skirt on. And put a lft live magic shad on it. White and chartreusse... but I didn't tell you that!

How well will they work in a weedy area, would the grass cause the bait to fail?

they might get caught in the grass. Imo there aren't very weedless.

NO

I put the smallest clear or black zip tie depending on the color bait ,jigs spinnerbaits , it works