Chatterbaits-- With or without skirts?

[andrewlamberson]

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!

[Muskygary]

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

[Muskygary]

Woops. Theyre in Australia.

[efishnc]

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!

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.

[Denny Welch]

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.

[Lamar]

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.

[efishnc]

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.

[andrewlamberson]

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!


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.

[Do-It Corp.]

Beautiful fish and beautiful setting.  Looks like a fake background with glass water.

[Denny Welch]

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

[Muskygary]

Is that a backwater on the Mississippi? Nice fish and super eating!

[efishnc]

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.

[andrewlamberson]

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

[efishnc]

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!   

[Lamar]

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.