Jackhammers...

I always seem to bend and bust up the blades before the bait goes bad. Who here replaces the blades on these? If so, what's the closest (or identitcal) blade replacement?

I've never bent any but the closest cheap blade is the one on the original for $3-$4 depending where you get em. I've ordered blades from eBay and they are close but not as thin. Just buy the cheap chatterbait and steal the blade

Go to Lure Parts Online, they have a large selection to choose from.

What the heck are you doing to bend a jackhammer blade? I've never even heard of one bending unless someone took pliers to it on purpose.

This is what I am wondering. A bait that expensive shouldn't break that easy.

Over priced for what they are. Lot of baits with same design for half the coin and more durable in my opinion.

I wish I had pictures, but I've been just throwing them away. I wouldn't argue their quality, as I usually can fish them 4-5 days a week for 3-4 months before they get so out of wack on me that I can't seem to fix them and just toss them. I thought maybe someone here had found a good replacement blade, as all that I've seen are nowhere close due to shape/design.

I love the jackhammers but I understand that they're overpriced. The Strike King chatter baits are similar and less.

Have you tried calling Z-Man to see if they sell them as a replacement part?

Never bent a blade on one but the Decoy brand Egg Snap is too weak. The first good fish I hooked on mine opened the snap like it was buttah. I love the Jackhammers but change the snap to an Owner Hyperwire 70# snap before ever throwing it now.

I really like the oval rings. You tried those from Owner Ken?

Good 411, I'll do the same from now on.

Finally bit the bullet and bought a couple Jackhammers. The first time I hung on a stump, I bent the hook getting un-snagged. Been throwing their Project Z chatterbaits for several years and never bent a hook. Can't tell a difference in the two baits and the Project Z's are half the price.

Just get you a few Thunder Crickets and you won't have to replace anything.

I haven't Randy but it would have to be easier to get on the blade than the Owner snap!

Only place to get the shame shaped blade is from Ebay... All the tackle websites will only sell the rounded blades...

Not sure if it's the blade or head or both but the jackhammer makes a Much more distinct sound in water I Believe there is a you tube video about them.

Trust me. I throw chatter baits often. I don't see a huge production level in jackhammer vs good ole chatter bait. $16.95 is steep. $5/6 is just fine.

I'll continue to use the couple I have but unless production of quantity of fish improves I won't be buying new ones.

So a bait that costs $3 to make and sells for $16 comes with cheap components? Yep, that’s ZMan!

Buda, the Decoy stuff is not cheap. I am sure Brett Hite & Evergreen spent countless hours selecting the Jackhammer components piece by piece to ensure the bait would hunt like no other bladed jig, and that it does. The issue I see is that after you catch 40-50 fish or one really big fish on one the Decoy Egg Snap gives way.

Will the other Chatterbaits catch fish right outta the package? Absolutely! Do they hunt like the Jackhammer? No sir.

Will I buy a $16 bait & change the snap on it because I feel it gives me a slight edge? In a heartbeat!

You throwing them on braid?

Depends. When I go to Camelot Bell I do. I know braid is much less forgiving on terminal equipment like snaps & hooks. That contributed to the failure of the snap in this pic but it was a big fish on a heavy action rod.

Normally I throw them on 20# flo. However even on flo after a bunch of fish the Decoy snap will fail. I was on Indian Cave Lake, part of the PWF portfolio last Oct that was full of 2-4# fish that were chomping the bait. Two of the 3 of us in my boat had the snap fail on new baits after catching 30+ fish on them around vegetation.

To be clear, I do not think it is a bad design. I am sure Zman & Evergreen spent a TON of time working with every snap possible and settled on the Decoy Egg Snap because it made the bait more erratic. I am just stating my experience.

I changed all of my chatterbait clips ( as suggested by someone on this site several months ago) to the Mustad Fastach Clips #2 (rated for 50 lbs). Mustad makes sizes from 0 to 5 for these clips. I doubt I will ever have a failure with these. A little help from a youtube video for connecting to the chatterbait was very helpful with some needle nose pliers.

Ken, do you have a part # for that replacement snap you use. I looked at the Hyperwire products, and don't see one that is 70#. I do see a size 1 79# snap, link provided. Is that it?

Hyper Crosslock Snap

Good tip

Yes that is it. I also just noticed the Hog farmer 80# snaps that look like they may be easier to install. Getting the Owner snaps on the Jackhammer is a pain!

Wait for context we are talking about fishing a bait 4-5 days a week for 3-4 months and not getting your $20 out of it? I have lost that in football jigs on Fayette in a day. It makes me mad, but it's fishing, you lose stuff.