How to fish with a chatterbait in deep water?

Chatterbait is a popular perch fishing bait known as vibrating or bladed swimming bait. In the early 2000s, this versatile bait was used in several world bass competitions and caught giant fish that quickly caught the attention of other anglers. Since this time, the use of chatterbaits for catching fish has become much more popular with both professional and recreational anglers. These baits have proven to be a suitable fixture for any angler.

Best techniques to fish a chatterbait in deep water

Roll the jig slowly

Rotate the bladed jig slowly to keep the bait low so the fish can react to it. Do not rewind the handle quickly, but instead rotate the handle while keeping the blade drifting slowly towards the surface. This steady movement in the line encourages the fish to chase your bait and attack more aggressively.

Use Burn-Through Technique

Suppose slow-rolling doesn’t elicit as much response from the bladed jig regardless of the fishing conditions. In that case, a method called burn-through is a better option. This method is the opposite of a steady search with a slow-rolling motion, moving the bait quickly through the water. Its fast movement takes the lure just below the water’s surface to simulate an escape attempt. This quick action allows a large perch to spring out of the depths of lush vegetation, turning the bait with incredible speed and aggression.

Give a gap

A gap can be an action-inducing movement if the slow-rolling and burning don’t get the attention of nearby fish. If you want to break the bait so that more fish will notice when you throw it, first slowly and gently reel it along with the weeds and let the grass grow at medium depth. After a few seconds, quickly pull your wrist and let the bait move soon within a few inches for the fish to notice.

Shake the bait gently

To animate the chatterbait in early spring, shake the rod’s tip to achieve the desired erratic movement. This remarkable technique causes the bait’s skirt and hooks to pulsate and wobble in shallow water to grab the attention of nearby fish, allowing them to get quick hooks.

Tips for selecting the right chatterbait in deep water

Here are some valuable techniques that you can consider to fish a chatterbait in deep water. Let’s take a look at them.

1. Choose your bait color wisely

Choose the color that best suits the place where you plan to fish. Blue and black chatterbaits work well in dark water because fish see silhouettes better. The greenish-yellow color resembles the bait commonly eaten by larger fish, such as herring in clear water. Keep different colors in your tackle box, as you can change baits depending on where you are fishing.

2. Use stainless steel blade for your chatterbait

Use a chatterbox with a stainless steel blade. A stainless steel blade on top of the bait sends vibrations to the water as it winds up. A hexagon-shaped stainless steel blade shakes the water. Choose a blade that weighs 0.3-0.6 ounces (8.5-17.0 g). Chatterbait blades are available in a variety of colors. Choose an edge of a dark color that resembles the shade of an underwater plant.

3. Put the trailer on the line to mimic the bait

Trailers can look like small fish or crayfish. Look for ones with ridges near their tails that mimic swimming as they move through the water. Furthermore, pass the speaker’s hook through the trailer head. A smaller trailer allows the speaker to hide. Use a pair of scissors to shorter the skirt bags.

4. Keep the rod tip close to the water while winding the line

After casting, hold the rod tip at the height of 7.6 to 10.2 cm above the water surface. It will help keep the bait low so it doesn’t break the surface and attract more fish.

5. Move the chatterbait at a constant speed

Do not move the chatterbait fast; fish will not catch the hook. Let the bait move through the water at a constant speed. If you roll it up, it will look like a small fish. Change the speed of the line winding with each cast. Fish react differently.

6. Pause while the wind blows to make the blade move unpredictably

In some cases, stop reeling and let the bait sink for a few seconds. When you start rewinding the bait, the blade begins to pulse and move differently, causing the fish to go crazy with the bait. Most importantly, move the bait across the water next to the boat to bring the fish closer to you.

7. Let the bait sink to the bottom and raise the rod to catch the fish

When you feel the lure touching the floor, lift the rod end and wind the line for a few seconds. Pause again and let it sink back to the floor. Repeat this process until the sequence returns.

Are chatterbaits useful in deep water?

Most anglers prefer to use 1/2 ounce baits. This small size helps keep the chatterbait low in the water and provides quick movement when burning or digging through weeds or grass. Its weight works very well up to 10 feet. If you want to catch deeper perch, choose a heavier 3/4 to 1-ounce bait so that the bait can pass through weeks without getting caught in vegetation. Moreover, when selecting a rod for chatterbait, select a rod about 7 feet long. You want a medium-action rod with enough flexibility in the rod tip to provide quick transitions when ripping through weeds and a length that helps with long casts.

Summary

Chatterbaits are a common bait used for bass fishing because they are versatile and can be used any time of the year. The bait generates vibrations and clicks to lure the fish into the water, no matter how muddy. You can catch the fish successfully by choosing the right color, changing the way you line up, and your tactics depending on the season.