• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Wild Hydro

Know exactly what fish want

  • Rods
  • Reels
  • Lures
  • Hooks
  • About
    • Contact

Home » Fishing » Lures » Buzzbait vs Chatterbait: When Does Each Lure Shine?

Buzzbait vs Chatterbait: When Does Each Lure Shine?

November 2, 2021 by Wild Hydro
We review when you should fish a Buzzbait vs Chatterbait lure

It’s one thing to have a bunch of pretty looking lures in your tackle box, but it’s a whole other game to know when you should fish each lure. That’s what separates the men from the boys!

So when is the right time to throw a Buzzbait vs Chatterbait?

And what weather conditions dictate whether you should use the Chatterbait or Buzzbait?

Let me break it down for you:

  • Both Buzzbait and Chatterbait are bladed lures
  • A buzzbait is a topwater lure whereas a Chatterbait is fished in shallow water
  • If the water is murky you should use a Chatterbait whereas a Buzzbait is better suited to clear conditions
  • Chatterbait should be used if the water is grassy and Buzzbait should be used on a sunny hot day
  • In windy conditions Chatterbait excel, but on calm days you should pull out the Buzzbait

Now let’s take a bit more of a deep dive look at these different type of lures so you are better placed to decide when to fish a Buzzbait or Chatterbait.

Because if you want to go home to a nice meal and a belly full of fish at the end of the day’s fishing, you really need to know the difference here!

Differences Between Buzzbait and Chatterbait

Buzzbaits differ from your average floating topwater lures in that they sink!

Buzzbaits have a propeller type blade up front that creates lift when you reel the lure in. As you reel the propeller spins and makes a “buzzing” sound – hence the name Buzzbait!

The spinning action releases a trail of bubbles behind the lure at the surface and it is the combination of the buzzing sound and the bubbles that gets the fish interested in your lure.

Chatterbaits have a blade up front too but it’s not a propeller, it’s more of a hexagonal shape that looks kind of like a shovel. When you reel this your Chatterbait in this blade vibrates from side to side creating lots of vibrations and lots of movement in the water.

How to fish a Buzzbait vs Chatterbait

Another difference is that Chatterbaits are fished where you think the fish are sitting in grassy beds, whereas Buzzbaits draw the fish in through their action along the surface.

When throwing Chatterbaits you want to cast it into the grass bed and let it sink. Then you want to pop it so it jumps through the grass.

Pop!

Let it sink again.

Then reel in the slack.

You want to be right in those grassy areas where the fish are waiting, and if you pop it just right you’ll get some action.

When using a Buzzbait you can be a little less precise. Just cast to the area where you think the fish are and reel it back in. The action along the surface will get any fish in the area interested and they will come chasing your jig for a bite.

The Last Cast

There are some not so subtle differences in conditions that determine when you should use a Buzzbait vs Chatterbait.

If you find yourself in a shallow grassy area, or fishing a lake that is quite murky after some recent rainfall then you are going to want to go with a Chatterbait. And if the wind is strong too, a Chatterbait should be your pick.

However if it’s a nice sunny day and the water is clear and calm then a Buzzbait is going to be your best bet.

You should keep a couple of each type of lure in your tackle box so that you are ready for any conditions the weather throws at you!

Have you got a tip on how to best fish a Chatterbait or Buzzbait?

Go on and share it with us below!

Editor’s Picks

Buyer's Guide to the Best Jerkbait Rod

Best Jerkbait Rod: 2023 Buyer’s Guide

We review TSA advice to answer can you bring fishing hooks on a plane

Can You Bring Fishing Hooks on a Plane?

We reveal Who Makes Browning Fishing Rods these days

Who Makes Browning Fishing Rods?

Category: Lures

About Wild Hydro

Wild Hydro is the passion project of keen fisherman Cody Jackson. Cody has lived (and fished!) all over the world and has gone from chasing Catfish in the Mississippi to landing Trout in New England to trolling for Barrimundi at the Great Barrier Reef. More recently Cody has been trying his hand at catching Red Snapper off the coast of West Africa where he currently works for a Houston based company.

Sign up for the Wild Hydro Fishing Newsletter

Know Exactly What Fish Want

Get our best fishing tips in your social media feeds as soon as they’re posted!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Social

Reach out to us on social media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Navigation

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Contact

Popular Articles

  • Best Jerkbait Rod: 2023 Buying Guide
  • 10 Best Fishing Brands Every Serious Angler Should Own
  • Treble Hook Sizes: The Definitive Guide

Copyright © 2023 · Wild Hydro · All Rights Reserved

DMCA.com Protection Status

Return to top