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!
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