A split-tail or single-tail grub is a great trailer option when bass want something compact. These trailers are also generally less likely to tangle around thick cover. (Photo courtesy of Z-Man Fishing)
September 18, 2024
By Glenn Walker
Occasionally, a lure generates such buzz in the bass fishing community that anglers go to great lengths to keep it quiet while simultaneously looking high and low and doling out lots of money to acquire it. In the early 2000s, the ChatterBait was this lure. It won several tournaments in Florida and suddenly became the “it” bait of the day. Although the initial madness associated with it has since passed, the vibrating jig remains an incredibly popular lure, common in the tackle boxes of pro and recreational anglers alike.
The popularity of the bait has persisted in large part due to its versatility. Bass anglers can tie on—and rely on—a vibrating jig all year long. However, they seem to be especially effective at certain times, and one of those is during the early fall.
SWIM THE SHALLOWS Vibrating jigs are primarily designed to be fished up shallow around cover, so they naturally shine in these areas. In fall, depending on where you’re fishing, shallow cover might mean lily pads, weed lines, laydowns or in between boat docks. Of course, a vibrating jig can also be used to effectively cover and fish open-water flats in the fall, too. For either scenario, I’ll fish a 1/4- or 3/8-ounce bait.
With any type of shallow-water cover in the fall, you’re looking for one key thing: bait. Bass are feeding up ahead of winter, so they’ll follow and push baitfish up into these areas for easy feeding. Find bait near cover, and you’ll find the bass, too.
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The nice thing about fishing a vibrating jig up shallow is that you can simply move from one piece of shallow cover to another and never need to change baits. You can fish a bladed jig in vegetation and wood and not get hung up, then cast it around boat docks farther along the same shoreline. And, when visible cover disappears but bass are roaming a flat along a barren shoreline, you can keep fishing a vibrating jig and still get results.
I feel that a constant, steady retrieve is often all that’s needed to trigger a strike. The bait’s vibration and action, along with the action of the plastic trailer, is usually sufficient enticement for aggressive fall bass. However, varying your retrieve to impart an erratic action can sometimes tempt stubborn bass into biting. These other retrieves might be as simple as a reel-and-pause, in which the vibrating jig free-falls when stopped. Or it might be a slight twitch of the rod tip, which will cause the bladed jig to quickly dart to one side, mimicking a fleeing baitfish.
While designed for shallow cover, vibrating jigs also work well when fished on shallow flats. Heavier versions shine on deep structure. (Photo courtesy of Z-Man Fishing) PROBE THE DEPTHS As more anglers target offshore structure, bass are growing accustomed to the traditional crankbaits and jigs they repeatedly see. A vibrating jig in a larger size, however, is a novel offering that can generate significant interest. I’ll use a 1/2-ounce size when fishing mid-depth structure such as weed lines or flats in the 6- to 8-foot depth range. When bass hold on deeper structure, or off the edge of a main-river ledge, a 3/4-, 1- or even 1 1/4-ounce bladed jig is an effective presentation that these fish likely haven’t seen.
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When fishing a vibrating jig in deeper water, several strategies work well. Casting the bait out, letting it sink to the bottom and slowly rolling it back is one of the more productive techniques. Another method includes reeling it in, then letting it free-fall down the face of vegetation or off the drop of a ledge.
DRESS THE PART Another great thing about fishing vibrating jigs is that virtually any plastic bait will work as a trailer. However, you don’t want to select a plastic trailer with an action that overpowers or counteracts the action of the jig’s blade.
Certain styles of soft plastics, when rigged on the back end of a bladed jig, have their own unique action, which can affect how the jig performs. This may subsequently force you to alter your retrieve to achieve the best possible presentation. In general, when choosing a soft-plastic trailer for a vibrating jig, consider water depth and the form and density of the cover you’re fishing—as well as the type of forage you’re trying to mimic.
Swimbaits : A plastic swimbait excels when targeting bass feeding on shad. However, as suggested, don’t use a swimbait that overpowers the bladed jig’s vibration, as that vibration is key to getting bites. Match swimbait size to the weight of your jig and to the size of the baitfish in the area. And ensure the swimbait is rigged straight so that the bait runs true in the water. In my opinion, nothing will put a fish off from your presentation more than a vibrating jig running wonky.Grubs : I like using either a split-tail spinnerbait trailer or a single-tail grub when bass want a compact lure offering. These are also my preferred choices if I’m throwing the bait around thick cover, as it will be less likely to get fouled up.Craws : A vibrating jig with a craw-imitating soft-plastic bait will absolutely attract bass feeding on crayfish. However, many craws have a compact profile that can also reliably mimic the action of a baitfish in the correct color pattern. Slow-rolling a heavier vibrating jig with a soft-plastic craw along a riprap bank or mud cut bank is a great way to imitate crayfish scurrying along bottom.RIG UP RIGHT When fishing a vibrating jig, having the right rod, reel and line setup matters. You want a rod that facilitates long casts. However, it must be sensitive enough that you can easily feel the bait’s vibration, and it should offer a bit of give when a bass strikes. Many rods on the market are designed for this technique, and most are built using a blend of materials that check most, if not all, of the aforementioned boxes.
My personal vibrating jig setup features Witch Doctor Tackle’s 7-foot-4-inch Kahuna heavy casting rod and a reel with a 7.2:1 gear ratio spooled with 15- or 17-pound-test Seaguar InvizX Fluorocarbon . The heavy casting rod loads up great when bass hit a vibrating jig, allowing for solid hooksets. Similarly, a 7.2:1 gear ratio reel lets you quickly pick up slack when bass bite. The 15- or 17-pound fluoro, meanwhile, allows for longer casts and lets you bring baits through heavy cover without worrying about damaging the line.
This fall, when you want to cover water quickly and efficiently, try a vibrating jig. Find shallow cover with ample baitfish or target deeper fish-holding structure. Either way, be ready for an aggressive bass to hammer your bladed jig.
Bladed Build-Out Vibrating jigs and trailers to set you up for success this fall. Good vibrations: (top row) Z-Man Chatterbait Jackhammer and Z-Man Chatterbait Elite Evo; (middle) Zoom Bait Company Shimmer Shad; (bottom) Northland Fishing Tackle Eye-Candy Paddle Shad and Gary Yamamoto Zako Swimbait. Despite the bladed jig’s heyday occurring nearly 20 years ago, anglers continue to rely on them today. This is reflected in the many different manufacturers currently producing various bladed jigs and trailers. Below are some of the newer options to hit the market that can benefit any bass angler.
The result of a collaboration between Z-Man, Japanese lure maker Evergreen International and pro anglers Brett Hite and Morizo Shimizo, the ChatterBait JackHammer has become what many feel is the industry standard for vibrating jigs. The combination of its unique action and strong vibration makes the JackHammer a top choice for many bass anglers.
The newest addition to Z-Man’s ChatterBait family, the Elite EVO has a unique hunting action, which allows the bait to be crawled and bounced off fish-holding cover. Couple this with the unmatched vibration and unique, durable blade finishes, and the EVO is a vibrating jig you’ll definitely want in your tackle box this fall.
With its 3 1/2-inch length and a boot tail featuring a subtle swimming action, the Paddle Shad is perfect for threading onto your favorite vibrating jig. Because it’s made from a Super TPE material, you’ll also be able to spend less time re-rigging while fishing.
The Shimmer Shad is a super-thin, 4 1/4-inch shad-profile bait that enhances the action of your vibrating jig while adding bulk to your setup for increased casting distance and accuracy. The segmented body and fluid tail complement the natural and uninhibited action from a vibrating jig.
Also designed by pro angler Brett Hite, the Zako is a perfect complement to Z-Man’s ChatterBait JackHammer. The bait’s segmented body and forked tail offer an enticing action for bass when paired with a bladed jig. The big belly of this bait mimics a larger shad or bluegill perfectly, making it a great option when either forage species is present.
This article was featured int he September 2024 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe .
