Custom Baits - Forum
Jigs, Spinnerbaits and Sinkers => Spinnerbaits => Topic started by: Muskygary on 07/23/14 07:51 UTC
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I make my own chatterbaits and do not use skirts on them. I just add the plastic swimbait and they catch fish. I can't see where a skirt would help; to me it looks like some weeds on the front of the bait. What do you think?
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I must ask. How are you making them?
Are you molding the jig? What mold? What hook? Split ring or not?
I was considering making these just this AM. The jigs that are offered with the open hook eye appear to have to little room for a skirt and trailer both. I could not find just the open eye hooks to purchase.
Thanks,
-TR
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I make mine using the Do-it Arkie mold (with the double collar and the suggested hook) and I normally add a skirt...but I do fish it occasionally without a skirt an just use a Swim Shad. I make 90%+ of them in the 3/8 oz size.
I probably fish it the most with a skirt...but with no trailer because I like the way it shakes!
And yes...a split ring is necessary to attach the jig (and I think you get better action...IF... you use the right split ring. They need to be a small diameter or they bind).
If I was going to buy only one jig mold...it would be the Arkie. You can make Chatterbaits, it's a good swim jig and it's really effective crawling along the bottom with a crawfish trailer.
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Like Andrew, I use the arkie mold. I get my blades and split rings from Barlows Tackle Express
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No skirt here either. Just a swim bait.
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With a split ring do you need to use the 730 style or the 32798 flat eye style hook?
Thank you for the info.
-TR
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If you want to use one split ring, you have to use a flat eye jig. A regular jig you have to use two split rings. Go to Barlows Tackle Express and look under "Make your own tackle". Next look under how to make a Shaklee lure; explains it very well.
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I bought all my stuff from Barlow's because of that excellent explanation...and telling me exactly what to buy.
I make all of my Skakee Lures (Chatterbait is trademarked!) without weed guards. I cut a couple of the aluminum pins that come with the molds short (to just barely above the body of the bait) so that the weed guard hole fills with lead and use side cutters to trim the little nub off.
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I make mine a little different. I make them with a 5/8 oz football shaky head and a 6/0 hook. Then use a 3.5 swim bait as a trailer. I think the advantage to the weight is you can retrieve it fast and it won't roll over on you or retrieve it slow and fish it deep. I like fishing it in the fall on the flats when the bass are up smashing the shad. They see rattle traps a lot but this gives them a new look.
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Want to make one shake hard. Make the blade out of a willow leaf blade. Shake your teeth out.
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This is the latest ones I got. Made by a guy in California. That's a "real" chatterbait in the back for comparison. (http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/24/utygusu2.jpg)(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/24/ze3e3e2a.jpg)
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
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Want to make one shake hard. Make the blade out of a willow leaf blade. Shake your teeth out.
Interesting. So your just drilling the two extra holes about the same distance up ? And what size blade you using ?
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yes just drill the holes. I cut the top off the blade take the point off. Size. #3 and up.
Oh and flatten it with a hammer some. Sometimes you have to play with bends to make them not blow out of the water. But they hunt when right. My grandpa done before there was "chatter baits".
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I make my own chatterbaits and do not use skirts on them. I just add the plastic swimbait and they catch fish. I can't see where a skirt would help; to me it looks like some weeds on the front of the bait. What do you think?
This an excellent question, I thought the same thing myself and so I tried the no skirt deal on spinnerbaits and chatterbaits and here is what I found out. With the spinnerbait there was a larger difference in the amount of strikes I got with a skirt, I had to do this a bunch of different ways as I normally don't use a trailer with a spinnerbait so I tried it with nothing on the back and then a worm, a grub and a swim bait. The swim bait did ok but without the skirt I had a large number of fish hit the blades, this didn't happen with the skirt which makes me think the added bulk really attracts the fish away from the blades. The chatterbait was a different deal, I did get more strikes with the skirt when I used grubs and worms for trailers but when I went to a swim bait it seemed there wasn't any real difference with or without a skirt. Here is the real kicker and it was pretty much what I expected, in stained water the skirt was almost required, I was getting bit more often by larger fish on average than I was without the skirt however, in clear water the numbers favored the bait without a skirt but the larger fish on average went for the skirt and I'm chalking that up to the added bulk with the skirt. In summary I'd have to say that with a chatterbait, you don't need a skirt but if you are fishing tournaments and are looking for larger fish you will definitely want a skirt. I will also add that I only conducted this observation on the chatterbait for 3 seasons, the spinnerbait I did over a span of 6 seasons, like I said, when I started making spinnerbaits, I tried everything and wrote it down, I would make 100 spinnerbaits with different lengths of wires and different blade sizes and I would go to a shallow calm water spot that was super clear and for 7 to 8 hours I would reel each bait slow, medium and fast and write down the results. There was no fish in the area I was at, it was a small wash out next to the river and was about 2.5' deep and clear, it was my testing water, and when I was learning I had the same question as Muskygary, and that was the one about whether skit material makes any difference and it most certainly does in most cases.
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Wow! Thanks for all the information guys. Smalljaw, I mainly fish clear water lakes here in Indiana; so that's probably why I came up with my conclusion. I never paid much attention to the size of fish as the lake I fish is ,loaded with sub 14 inch bass.
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This a been a great series of posts...with lots of great information! I love Chatterbaits/Shakee baits...I found the comments on needing a skirt...or not... very interesting.
Has anyone ever seen a small blade so I can make some smallmouth sized baits?
I'm going to try to do the Willow leaf blade and see how it works....sounds like a great idea.
I read somewhere that you can open the eye on your hook by using side cutters. I'm going to have to try that also. I've ruined a good pair of split ring pliers opening hook eyes for the Swing Jig (I like to add my hooks after I powder paint them). I sure would like to attach my Arkie directly to the blade on my Shakee's...those darn split rings give me fits!
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Andrew, just found this web page. I've never ordered off of them and don't know anything about them, but they have all different sizes of chatterbait blades. www.u-make-emsoftplastics.com
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Woops. Theyre in Australia.
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Has anyone ever seen a small blade so I can make some smallmouth sized baits?
I read somewhere that you can open the eye on your hook by using side cutters. I'm going to have to try that also. I've ruined a good pair of split ring pliers opening hook eyes for the Swing Jig (I like to add my hooks after I powder paint them). I sure would like to attach my Arkie directly to the blade on my Shakee's...those darn split rings give me fits!
(http://custombaits.com/gallery/906-240714171345.jpeg)
Andy, I can make them down to 1/8oz with the casting jig head. Just squeeze your dykes in the hook's eye groove to open it slightly and mold as normal. Slide the blade in the groove after molding and pinch it down... POOF... a smaller version of whatever you want to call it... (I call it the Jabber Jig.)... and NO O-rings required.
If you want, you can use a poison tail hook in that mold which, with a smaller wire diameter, gets more vibration.
Also, the lighter the head, the more important a full skirt is to create a proper drag; otherwise it can be all over the place.
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What a great thread you guys. All the knowledge and experience you guys are sharing exemplifies what this forum is all about. Without trying to sound too corny, I'm proud to be associated with you all. Keep it up.
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(http://custombaits.com/gallery/906-240714171345.jpeg)
Andy, I can make them down to 1/8oz with the casting jig head. Just squeeze your dykes in the hook's eye groove to open it slightly and mold as normal. Slide the blade in the groove after molding and pinch it down... POOF... a smaller version of whatever you want to call it... (I call it the Jabber Jig.)... and NO O-rings required.
If you want, you can use a poison tail hook in that mold which, with a smaller wire diameter, gets more vibration.
Also, the lighter the head, the more important a full skirt is to create a proper drag; otherwise it can be all over the place.
I noticed yours had the extra holes in the blade. I have some of them but so far not to sure what I think of them. I have used the poison tail before and left the weed guard in. It will go through wood a little better then the open hook. It's a good bait in the fall when the fish are on the ends of trees over deeper water.
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I have solid, two, three, and four holed blades... (and then musky sized ones as well)... I basically go for more holes with lighter weights; the holes let varying amounts of water through which helps keep the optimum angle of the blade balanced with smaller bodies.
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I tried efishnc's method of making shakee baits using the Do-it Swim jig (grass jig) and attaching it directly to the blade. It works!
(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z100/andrewlamberson/DSC00005_zps735543c8.jpg)
That's a 12 lb Northern Pike caught on a 3/8 oz swim jig with shakee blade, black and blue skirt and the Do-it Split Tail (grub) in black and blue flake.
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Beautiful fish and beautiful setting. Looks like a fake background with glass water.
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Beautiful fish and beautiful setting. Looks like a fake background with glass water.
I'm pretty sure it is fake. Andy looks 30 pounds lighter since I last saw him. He probably photoshopped it. Lol
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Is that a backwater on the Mississippi? Nice fish and super eating!
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Right on, Andy!
I've caught pike over 40" (and a number of muskies too) on various sizes of the Jabber Jig. The key is adjusting the skirt and/or trailer size to have the blade ride completely vertical on the retrieve... this maximizes the disturbance in the water and it's where my greatest confidence is when fishing it. I choose this bait because if its disturbance (even when I'm bass fishing), either to seek out bigger fish or to combat rougher water conditions.
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Yes... Pool 5A
I'm still working on a Northern Pike over 40" from the Mississippi. Landed 3 last year that where 38" long. One on an ultra light rod while fishing for crappie!
Andy
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I'm still working on a Northern Pike over 40" from the Mississippi.
They're out there... a dude got one that made the paper a few years back from Big Marsh that crossed 50". If you are really looking for the BIG ones, I would encourage you to work weedy areas adjacent to deeper water... usually, the best big fish spots are along the main channel for me (and some of the sloughs of Blacksmith). I got a 41 last year from Critzman's dredge hole at the lower end of 6, but most of my other spots are likely farther than you want to go from your home launch.
Landed 3 last year that where 38" long. One on an ultra light rod while fishing for crappie!
That ultra-light fight had to be nuts! :o
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Is that a backwater on the Mississippi? Nice fish and super eating!
A fish that big is better off let go. Keep the smaller ones and let the big ones live to fight another day. Big blood is the future for your kids to enjoy.
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A fish that big is better off let go. Keep the smaller ones and let the big ones live to fight another day. Big blood is the future for your kids to enjoy.
Good call, Lamar.
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It breaks my heart we I see someone keep a big Pike like that. Those fish are over 15 years old. I can't imagine they are worth eating. I'll take a 16" walleye!
And yes Denny... I'm a mere shadow of my former self...80+ lbs over the last year.
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Man, you're really looking good.
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Andy, thought is looked like your belt was cinched up a bit. Congrats, great accomplishment.
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Good for you Andrew. Your body will thank you for many years to come.
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A fish that big is better off let go. Keep the smaller ones and let the big ones live to fight another day. Big blood is the future for your kids to enjoy.
I'm not trying to pick a fight, but over the years I have heard too many people push their ideals on another person about what they should or shouldn't keep... it gets to be a similar argument of what size of deer to shoot. I agree it is nice to see big fish returned to the water, but how many of us want to be told what we should or shouldn't do, even when the words are spoken with grace.
I think the best way to involve novices and perpetuate the love of fishing is not to impose our opinions on their actions, unless it is affirming. I say if it is legal, then nobody should feel guilty about what they want to keep/take. (Again, I'm not trying to pick a fight; I'm just hoping to raise awareness for the mind of those in the earlier stages of our pursuit.)
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Andy congrats on the 80lbs
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80 pounds!! Do you ever get to eat a regular meal, or are you living on rice cakes? I lost 20 and my doctor told me he wants me to loose another 30, so much for fish fries.
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The secret is .....go on a low sodium diet. Then you can never (almost never) eat out. Saves $$ and lbs!!
Walking 3 miles/day on most days helps too!
Andy
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I'm not trying to pick a fight, but over the years I have heard too many people push their ideals on another person about what they should or shouldn't keep... it gets to be a similar argument of what size of deer to shoot. I agree it is nice to see big fish returned to the water, but how many of us want to be told what we should or shouldn't do, even when the words are spoken with grace.
I think the best way to involve novices and perpetuate the love of fishing is not to impose our opinions on their actions, unless it is affirming. I say if it is legal, then nobody should feel guilty about what they want to keep/take. (Again, I'm not trying to pick a fight; I'm just hoping to raise awareness for the mind of those in the earlier stages of our pursuit.)
Well good for you but I think your wrong. First of all you can't pick a fight with me because I simple won't fight. It's a childish game and I'm not into that. So fell free to say what ever you like to me. Second I can to say what I said because I have seen in my life time many lakes go down hill because of poor management of fish. It has nothing to do what is legal. It has everything to do with what is right. It is our responsibility to see that our next generation has the chance to fish like or better then we did. Take a big fish like that ? Why kill it ? If nothing else learn to respect that. If you want some smaller fish for dinner then ok. But don't kill the big spawners. Your only hurting yourself and the future of fishing.
And just saying I'm as guilty as anyone. When I was a kid my dad and I would come home after a day of fish with the floor board of the pick up full of big bass. We thought there was no end to them. Well we were wrong. All I'm trying to do now is to teach the next generation what I have learned. And yes I have the right to do that. In fact it's my responsibility.
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So what are you saying? If Andy is down 80 pounds, keep him or through him back?
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So what are you saying? If Andy is down 80 pounds, keep him or through him back?
I'm thinking Andy has a face only his mother could love. Everybody else better toss him back. Kind of like when you catch a dog fish. You take your long nose pliers and release him next to the boat hopping you don't have to touch him.
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So what are you saying? If Andy is down 80 pounds, keep him or through him back?
Cut him in half. Keep one and throw the other one back.
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Cut him in half. Keep one and throw the other one back.
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Good idea Denny. I've seen them do that with crabs and they grow another arm.
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The truth of the matter is that the smaller fish do most of the reproduction, but we need the bigger fish to help eat the larger shad and other trash fish. I personally don't keep northern over thirty inches and then only one at a time. Most of those fish come off the lake I live on; so it's only a matter of walking out to my pier; getting into the boat; and catching a mess of fresh fish.
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Well good for you but I think your wrong. First of all you can't pick a fight with me because I simple won't fight. It's a childish game and I'm not into that. So fell free to say what ever you like to me. Second I can to say what I said because I have seen in my life time many lakes go down hill because of poor management of fish. It has nothing to do what is legal. It has everything to do with what is right. It is our responsibility to see that our next generation has the chance to fish like or better then we did. Take a big fish like that ? Why kill it ? If nothing else learn to respect that. If you want some smaller fish for dinner then ok. But don't kill the big spawners. Your only hurting yourself and the future of fishing.
And just saying I'm as guilty as anyone. When I was a kid my dad and I would come home after a day of fish with the floor board of the pick up full of big bass. We thought there was no end to them. Well we were wrong. All I'm trying to do now is to teach the next generation what I have learned. And yes I have the right to do that. In fact it's my responsibility.
I agree with everything you said... and I'm glad you have a thick skin and some conviction. I think most serious fishermen practice just what you said. However, I have a buddy that is a part-time (at best) fisherman and I've heard him rant about what others would impose on him more than once, and I agree with him also. I'm just trying to eliminate divisions in the ranks. (There is far worse strife in the hunting ranks and the antis will use any lever they can; just don't be so naïve to think that there aren't any that want to eliminate fishing as well.)
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The truth of the matter is that the smaller fish do most of the reproduction...
I'm glad you said this so I didn't have to. (I think it would have looked like I was reaching for excuses to back what I said when that wasn't the issue I was trying to focus on).
In 1993, I attended a smallmouth and walleye seminar put on by Wisconsin DNR biologists. Talking about walleyes, they said no one should feel bad about keeping a trophy fish; and that the spawning success rate for walleyes drops off markedly after 6 pounds, to where 10 pounders have (essentially) zero success in spawning. (They said it was because trophy fish are not as healthy as the younger ones and the big fish produce more eggs per body weight with substantially less quality per egg.) Granted this came from the DNR, and they are part of the government, but I believe what they said was legit... I'm not sure if this can be validated on line, but I'll forever remember some of those stats from that seminar.
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I agree with that. But I feel even though I have no proof on this that big blood will produce bigger fish. Just like humans tall people have tall kids and short people have sort kids. It's in their genes. True with a smaller fish you don't know what your removing but with a larger one you do. Your removing the large blood from the water you like to fish at. I believe we need to educate those that do not understand that to help build our lakes in to better lakes to fish in. I'm a big believer in seasons to allow the fish to spawn and in slot limits. Here in Ohio the only season they put on fish is on Lake Erie. On Erie the bass fishing has gotten better while the rest of Ohio it seems to have gotten worse.
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I think we're on the same page...