Fall Fishing with Chatterbaits

I remember my first Chatterbait bite like it was yesterday. I was trying out a pond for the first time and was still very new to fishing. I had a black and blue Jackhammer tied on, and I cast it as far as I could right into the middle of the pond. I had a bite within 3 seconds of the retrieve, but I didn’t realize it because it had simply stopped vibrating. By the time I felt the weight of the fish it was too late and he was gone. However this was enough to want to keep throwing it, and the next bite I knew when to set the hook. It was a nice 2 pound bass, and I caught a couple more on it that day. There was something about the vibration in my hand and the thump of a jig bite that had me hooked. The bladed-jig, or Chatterbait, is one of my all-time favorite lures to catch bass. It is effective throughout most of the year and it can attract some really good bites. Often thought of as a spring and summer-time lure, it can be equally as effective during the fall. It can be used both shallow and deep, in light cover and in open water. You can cover a lot of water really quickly so it makes an excellent fish-finder as well. If the Chatterbait isn’t a part of your regular fall lineup, I hope I’ll change your mind. Below is a simple guide to the Chatterbait. I’ve included my favorite ones to use as well as my go-to trailers.

What it is: the Chatterbait, first produced by Z-Man, was the original bladed-jig. It features a skirted jig with, you guessed it, a blade in front. The blade vibrates back and forth on retrieval, attracting bass with its unique action, sound, and water movement. There are now a wide variety to choose from in all sizes and brands. 

Why it works: it imitates baitfish, and the strong vibration attracts bass looking for a meal. Bass can feel the vibration even when they can’t see it, which makes it a great choice for muddy water when visibility is low. This also makes it an excellent choice for night fishing, which is one of my favorite fall activities. 

Rod/Reel setup: My preference is a 7 ft medium/heavy casting rod with 15 or 17 lb fluorocarbon, but I have also used straight braid for muddy water. I use a 7:3:1 ratio reel, but anything over 6:3:1 will work. Smaller Chatterbaits can even be fished on a spinning rod. 

How to fish it: A straight retrieve is great for finding fish. You can work in pauses, slow down, and speed up, to trigger bites. Casting parallel to the bank along a shallow-flat can be especially effective in the fall. It is also great for ripping through grass to get a reaction bite from hiding bass. 

In colder water when the bite gets tough, a yo-yo method can be effective. Let the lure settle on the bottom, reel up the slack and lift to create vibration, before letting it settle back down on the bottom. This action is similar to a lipless crankbait and imitates a wounded or lethargic baitfish. 

Color: Match the hatch, as they say. Figure out the forage in the body of water you fish and pick a similar color. White can be great for fall if your water has shad. Green pumpkin is great year-round in clear water. Use black/blue for low visibilty/night time. Red is excellent for late winter/early spring. 

My picks: the Z-Man Jackhammer is my favorite Chatterbait. It just gets more bites than anything else I’ve tried. It has a strong, sharp hook and I rarely lose fish on it. I consider it to be well-worth the $16 price tag. 

I like the 3/8 oz because I fish a lot of grassy ponds and it doesn’t get hung up as easily, but it comes as heavy as 1 1/4 oz.

Other popular options include the new Berkley Slobberknocker and the Strike King Thunder Cricket. I will do a future post comparing other bladed-jigs but for now I’m recommending the ones I have the most experience with. I have no affiliation with any of these companies. Use what your budget allows and add a good trailer. 

Trailer : Overall my top pick for a trailer is the Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swimon. They look amazing underwater and they are super durable to boot. I use the 4.25″ on the Jackhammer. I prefer a big profile for bigger bass, but in the fall it can help to downsize for tough days. 

Another great option is a simple paddletail swim bait. My preference on these is the Keitech Fat Swing Impact. Paddletails are good for imitating baitfish in the fall. 

In summary, the Chatterbait is still a great option to catch bass as the cooler weather settles in. Colors and size are key, based on your body of water, so pay attention to forage. With so many ways to fish this lure, try out different retrieval methods to see what works. Most importantly, spend time with it. Time on the water is the number one way to improve your game with any particular lure. Tight lines and good luck out there!