Chatterbait Rods Compared

Why Anglers Use Chatterbaits for Bass Fishing

Fishing with chatter baits is an excellent method to catch bass in and around shallow cover.

These bladed swim jigs can be jigged, dragged, and jump in fresh or saltwater, and have been one of the hot bass fishing lures around the US.

From largemouth bass to summer bass, this lure matched with the perfect line, rod, and reel could have you reeling in tons of bass. If you're hoping to get to know chatterbait rods a little better, check out our buyer's guide to get all your need-to-knows.

How to Choose a Quality Chatterbait Fishing Rod

Rod Composition

Most chatter bait- specific rods come in either graphite or a glass material - like fiberglass. In terms of durability, both materials can withhold the right sized chatter bait and shouldn’t snap under pressure. But with new technology being released by reputable brands, fiberglass blanks seem to be the preferred choice by many anglers, and we can see why.

Fiberglass becomes incredibly strong when combined with the right epoxy resins, so brands are using this to improve their rods performance. You'll see some of our reviewed rods featuring these blends, alongside some of the best chatterbait graphite rods, as well.

Rod Length & Weight

Chatterbaits are best suited to rods that are at least 7 feet in length. This is because these lure types like to be worked over a long distance, and in return, helps you cast further and accurately. Longer rods are also great at steering bass out of hard to reach areas. This length may seem a little long for novice anglers, but with some practice, you’ll cast perfectly on your new chatter bait rod.

Another thing you may not think about is the weight of your new rod. New technology and materials are created to reduce the rods' weight and increase the rod's performance. If you know you'll carry your equipment for a long time, before you get to the water, consider a lightweight, 2-piece model.

Rod Action

Many lures require a specific action rating so the angler can feel every bite, and the blank can bend effectively. Chatterbaits are a perfect match for a fast action rod as they only bend in the top third or less of the blank. This gives the rest of your rod a lot of backbone to pull in a catch. One of the most significant problems anglers run into is buying the wrong action for their lures, and this can cause the rod to simply snap into two.

Rod Power

Fishing Environment

Chatterbaits can be used with both freshwater and saltwater rods, but your rod and reel will need to have corrosion-resistant properties. This is when those added features come into play. If your guides, reel seat, hooks, and reel aren't anti-corrosion, you'll run into some serious wear and tear problems. Materials like aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel are great materials for saltwater and freshwater waterways.

Price & Warranty

Whether your budget is $60 or over $600, you can find a chatterbait rod to suit your needs. If you're going to be investing a lot of money into your new piece of equipment, then checking for a warranty is essential. Warranties will cover any issues against defects that arise during a specific timeframe. Your new chatterbait rod could be under warranty for a year or a lifetime, so be sure to check before you buy. 

1. St Croix Mojo Bass MJC76MHMF

Chatterbaits need a rod with a lot of sensitivity to pick up every movement from the bait and line. Our top pick, the Mojo Bass Casting Rod in 7’1” will be up for that task and more. St. Croix has used their decades of research and experience in making technique-specific rods in a variety of sizes to suit every angler, and it sure got us ready to fish.

This stunning, traditionally designed rod is constructed of SCII graphite that is high-modulus, and also high-strain fibers. It allows the blank to feel sensitive yet durable.  St. Croix has used its Integrated Poly Curve (IPC) technology to eliminate any transitional points in the rod blank. This gives you smoother casts, greater sensitivity, and a perfectly matched action rod.

You’ll guide your line down some beautifully crafted Kigan Master Hand 3D guides with strong aluminum-oxide rings. Expect a top-of-the-line Fuji ECS reel seat to accompany this rod, and finish it with a Split-grip, premium-grade cork handle. You'll feel like a professional bass angler once you're by the water.

We found that the medium-heavy power and fast action to be a perfect match for our range of chatter baits, and we felt every bite through the blank. This 2-piece casting rod is the best fishing rod for chatterbaits, making it our top pick.

2. Dobyns Rods 736CB

Casting chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, or crankbaits into waterways won't be a problem with this Champion Series Heavy Fast Crankbait Rod. Gary Dobyns, the creator of Dobyns, has put his knowledge and expertise into creating technique-specific rods, and year after year, they never disappoint.

This rod is constructed of fiberglass, which may seem silly for a bass rod, but the lower section has a graphite blend, giving you the power you need to drive a large chatter bait into a bass. If you’re using a glass rod like the 736CB model, then be sure to use a fluorocarbon line, and you’ll have a perfectly matched line, rod, and bait.

The size we’ve picked for launching chatterbaits is the 7'3 inch heavy-fast action, crankbait rod. It's suitable for baits in 3/8-1 1/2 oz. lure weight, and can catch up to 25 lbs. We felt that this rod and its capabilities in shallow or deep water was incredible. When fishing in shallow water, expect bites even in the dirtiest or hard to see areas. And throwing long casts into deeper waterways won’t become a bother either.

Finish this rod with a cork handle, and you'll have power and control at your fingertips, even in cold environments. This has to be one of the best rods Dobyns has created a perfect rod for bass fishing, or for catching game fish with chatter baits, in general.

3. St Croix Mojo Bass MGC72HM

Our next St. Croix rod on our list, is from the same series of rods, but with some different features and length. This 6'10" rod is slightly shorter than your average chatterbait rod, but it casts like a dream and is extremely versatile for its length. Even though this model is in the same series as our top pick, its construction, and specs are further from the same.

This heavy power, moderate action casting rod is composed of a super premium 100% Linear S-Glass, making it incredibly lightweight and more dynamic. The Glass series by St. Croix includes five moderate action rods, four new casting models, and one new spinning rod. But, the model we’ve picked can have you jigging, dropping, or shooting crankbaits, swimbaits, and of course, chatter baits, making it extremely multi-purposeful.

It has some of the same features as our top pick, like the new IPC Technology to help smoothen your casts, and features the same aluminum-oxide rings, and Fuji DPS reel seat. The black finishing on the hood and frame gives a very professional feel. You may have even seen this rod swung in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, Tennessee. It’s new to 2020 and is sure to grab a lot of angler’s attention, especially for its versatility.

4. Lew’s Speed Stick TP-1 IM8

If you're looking for a great all-rounder rod with a lot of added features, at a reasonable price, then why not consider Lew's Speed Stik TP-1. Lew’s chatter bait rod works shallow waterways well, and vegetation will be no match with this rod, along with a chatterbait. The exclusive skeletal graphite reel seat sits at the bottom of a premium IM8 graphite blank. It looks three times the actual price.

What makes this rod very special for its price point is its American tackle microwave guide System. Lew’s new technology and research help eliminate wind knots for anglers and help your casting accuracy and distance. Essentially, the first guide acts as a funnel, so the line can shoot directly through the rest of the tiny diameter guides. Then, the Winn Grips handle with patented Dri-Tac technology split grips to give you the best rod control in all kinds of weather conditions.

It's rare to find a rod with a tournament-quality feel, but at a reasonable price point. Lew's Speed Stick TP-1 proved its excellence when we took it to the water. It casts and reels perfectly, and it is a great match for chatterbait lures.

5. Piscifun Serpent

No matter how much money is in your bank account, there's a rod in every price point. Cheap rods come in all shapes and sizes, but the chatterbait rod we recommend is the Piscifun Serpent. Piscifun is veterans at creating good looking rods at affordable prices. They use quality materials and focus on performance and workmanship. These are evident in the Serpent casting rod.

The Serpent Series fishing rods have a high-level IM7, zero coating, carbon fiber blank. You’ll also get to see your line racing up and down high quality deep pressed Fuji guides. The high-quality Fuji “O” Style Insert provides incredible casting ability.

Power and control will be right at your fingertips once you grab hold of the Serpents’ anti-slip handle and fighting butt. The comfortable golf-style grips are excellent in wet weather conditions. Higher priced rods may have full or split grip, cork handles, but we didn't find this handle to jeopardize our performance, even in torrential rain.

Overall, if you're a novice or intermediate angler, then the 7'0" medium-heavy rod will be a perfect match, especially for the price. For more experienced anglers, there are 7'3", and 7' 4" medium-heavy rods that might be a little more adventurous.

Types of Chatterbait Lures

Comparing Chatterbait to Other Lures

Chatterbaits vs. Crankbaits

Chatterbaits vs Spinnerbaits

Cold and muddy waterways are no match for chatterbaits, whereas spinnerbaits work best in Spring or Summer seasons, in or near spawning season. Both baits will give you plenty of vibration, but if it's cold, dark, or heavily vegetated, stick with a chatterbait.

Chatterbaits vs. Swimbaits

Both chatter baits and swimbaits are great choices for shallow water fishing and can catch a ton of gamefish. Vegetation isn’t an issue for either lure, as they can be dragged, or streamed across plants and leaves without issues. Chatterbaits barely take the win, simply because we found them better in dirtier, dingier water.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What line should I use for chatterbait?

What is the best rod type for chatter baits?

As mentioned above, a medium/heavy power rating, with fast action is a great combo for chatter baits. Your rod will have to be at least 7 feet long, and it’ll need a lot of backbone when working around thick cover.

How do I rig a chatterbait?

Once you have your chatterbait ready, and your line picked out, it's time to rig your chatterbait rod. First, choose a line that works well with your bait, lure, and rod. Then, tie the line onto the chatter bait with a Palomar fishing knot. Leave some line if you intend to add a leader onto your line. If you need a visual representation, then check out this video on rigging a chatter bait.

How to fish with a chatterbait effectively?

There are a dozen techniques you could learn to fish with chatterbait effectively. But the most common ones are slow-rolling, burning, ripping, and shaking techniques.  Slow-rolling a chatter bait will keep it low in the water where the fish can react. Burning, ripping, and shaking are all fast-action techniques. They keep the bait either on top of the water or just under the surface.

Where can I find the best chatter bait rods?

All of our reviewed rods for chatterbaits and more are available on Amazon. The customer reviews are extremely helpful and give you a good insight into each rod from other like-minded anglers. Checking out your local fish tackle store is another good bet, and it allows you to have a feel of it before you buy. 

Conclusion

Chatterbaits are beloved by anglers all across the States. They’re a fun lure that proves to be great swimming jigs to grab a ton of gamefishes’ attention.

Join the buzz, and pick up your new chatter bait rod. Our top pick, St Croix Mojo Bass, was the perfect blend of strength and sensitivity. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did when you're out by the water.