Snagless Chatterbait_Gaston Stren Series?

[Mags]

I just read the results for the Stren Series on Gaston and Joel Richardson (the winner) said he is modifying a Chatterbait type bait to make it snagless. He said he could throw down alongside a log a never get snagged. I am wondering what he is doing as these baits are terrible about snagging around wood. They snag everything. The hook doesn't snag; it's the blade itself that jams in the wood. Chatterbait makes a model with a weedguard, but as I said the hook isn't the issue. Anyway Richardson said he makes these modified baits for a company called Edge Lures and the name of the bait is a Hell Raiser. I couldn't find anything on this lure or the company on the net. The picture they show on FLW Outdoors is him holding a generic, brand new Chatterbait. Guarding his secret maybe? Anyone have any insight they might want to share? I love fishing these things in grass and open water, but I hardly dare to throw it around wood as I end up having to retrieve it 90% of the time.

Edited September 28, 2009 by Mags

[Mags]

Just an update. What was posted on BassFan is that he was using a shorter shank hook to reduce snags. I have always used a short shank hook on the bait we produce. The regular Chatterbait does have a long hook. It still snags a lot around wood:mad: , although I usually add a trailer hook. Maybe I could get by without it around wood. Anyone have any experience throwing this without a trailer hook? I does seem like when I catch one on this bait it is a good one and it is completely down the fishes mouth.

Steve

[cadman]

Steve,

I looked up the pic on Joel Richardson's chatter bait, and the pic I saw did not show the bait modified. The hook probably was shorter didn't check. I personally like the longer hook myself, but there is not a lot of wood by us around here, mostly weed edges and lily pads. I also do not use a trailer hook, but I do use a plastic trailer.

[Mags]

He may be doing somthing else. I'm sure it's top secret until they release it for sale. The bait in the picture hadn't been fished. In any case I'd like to see a chatterbait that doesn't snag so much. Wishful thinking on my part.

[smalljaw]

I made my first few with a flat eye arkie jig and what I noticed is that the blade rides close to the head and fishing it in cover pins the blade against the head leading it to get hung up and not having any action but I began to use a regular eye snootie jig and attaching the blade with 2 split rings and it has made a world of difference. The first thing it does is it makes the bait rerally move side to side when burning it and the second thing I like is that the blade has more travel, it doesn't get pinned to the head and comes through cover alot better, now its the only one I use.

[Mags]

I'll give that a try. Ours has one split ring and I have heard some guys say that the sound of the blade hitting the head is what triggers the strike. I'd say that bait makes plenty of noise and vibration using a split ring. It does have a wicked action. If anything the bait has to much action at some times versus a spinnerbait.

[HAWGHUNNA]

Mags,

Edge Lures down here in Georgia does indeed have a chatter type bait either out or coming out soon.

The Hell Razor

Here is a link to their site,some of the pages are under construction but you can get contact info ..... talk to Billy,and tell him that Terry Lee sent you his way.

P.S......Don't let the hang ups discourage you from throwing these type swim jigs around wood cover....they really shine there,and getting hung up is part of the game.

The VooDoo Bladed Swim Jig that I build has a free swinging 4/0 double frog hook on it,(you can see pics on this upload forum) and I have yet to lose one on a piece of wood.

Edge lures is a fishing lure manufacture specializing in soft plastics,

[Mags]

Thanks for the info.

Steve