staying power
Kevin VanDam likes to impart an erratic action on his Strike King Thunder Cricket .
Z-Man , too , has protected the ChatterBait patent vigorously . Over time , however , several other vibrating jigs have arrived on the market , thanks either to designs that differ enough to avoid patent violation or formal agreements negotiated with Z-Man . The Berkley PowerBait Slobberknocker ( 3 / 8- & 1 / 2-ounce ; 12 colors ) and Strike King ’ s Thunder Cricket ( 3 / 8- , 1 / 2- , 5 / 8- & 3 / 4-ounce ; 13 colors ) are two of the more prominent competitors in a category likely to grow even more crowded when the initial 20-year patent runs out .
Z-Man itself is responsible for a hearty percentage of category expansion . The company has produced a steady stream of ChatterBaits featuring different sizes and head shapes ; baits designed to run shallow or deep ; baits with big blades , small blades , metal blades and polycarbonate blades ; baits with varied hook styles and sizes and keepers .
The Cadillac of its line is the Z-Man Evergreen Jack Hammer ChatterBait , a joint venture between Z-Man and Japanese lure maker Evergreen International . Designed by Hite and Morizo Shimizo of Japan , the bait boasts premium components to match its $ 15.99 price tag . Z-Man ’ s latest iteration is the Z-Man ChatterBait Elite EVO . The lure ( which won Best New Freshwater Hard Lure at ICAST 2023 ) sports a longer hook shank and dual-element bait keeper to hold plastic trailers securely .
“ Z-Man looked at every element of ChatterBait design for ways to make it better ,” says the company ’ s marketing director , Cory Schmidt .
trailer talk
The plethora of soft-plastic trailers on the market has added yet another dimension to the bladed jig category .
Hite rarely strays from his personal preference , the 4-inch Yamamoto Zako for the Jack Hammer and the 3-inch Zako for his downsized Stealthblade .
“ It has the swimbait profile and belly of bluegill or gizzard shad ,” says Hite .
Evers similarly sticks with a favored minnow-style trailer , the Berkley PowerBait PowerStinger ( available in 16 colors ).
“ It fits the Slobberknocker perfectly ,” he says .
PHOTO BY GARRICK DIXON
Kevin VanDam favors a 3.25-inch Strike King Rage Swimmer , a paddletail swimbait , on his Thunder Cricket .
Others tailor trailer and jig to resemble the size and shape of a specific forage , or to maximize or diminish the lure ’ s oscillation and running depth . When plying water in the 4-to- 5-foot range , Bass Pro Tour angler Stephen Browning opts for a paddletail swimbait on a light bladed jig . The thump of the tail , and in some cases the added bulk of the body , enables him to work the bait higher in the water column at a slower sustained speed . The slimmer profile of a fork-tailed trailer , meanwhile , allows him to fish the combination more quickly .
“ I seldom slow roll with the ( Z-Man ) Razor ShadZ trailer ,” says the Arkansas pro . “ I burn it . I get a reaction strike like when I ’ m burning a lipless crankbait .”
For downsized finesse applications , Browning adds a fluke-style trailer to a ChatterBait MiniMax . With a Big Blade ChatterBait from Z-Man , he adds either a minnow-style trailer or Z-Man GOAT , the latter well-suited to a slower retrieve or working the bait high in the water column .
For deep-running offerings , a slim , do-nothing trailer will reduce drag , help to keep the bait at desired depth , and even improve hunting action by offering less resistance . The new Z-Man Chatterspike was designed with that specific intent .
PHOTO BY BRANDON ROWAN
54 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023