Story by Robert Wroblewski | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
In the mid 2000s, the ChatterBait shook up the bass fishing world. It’s been catching ‘em ever since. In 2014, Brett Hite won the FLW Tour event on Lake Okeechobee with the original ChatterBait. I grew up around Okeechobee, and his win changed my fishing forever. Everyone on Okeechobee was throwing a Z-Man ChatterBait after that. I remember walking into the Roland Martin Marina tackle store in Clewiston to find the shelves nearly empty. People were grabbing ChatterBaits by the handful, stocking up like it was gold. I could only afford a few, but bought all I could.
I still remember the first fish I ever caught on a ChatterBait. I was fishing the Monkey Box when it was still loaded with thick hydrilla and eelgrass. The water was crystal clear, and the bite was electric back then. I hooked into a bass over four pounds that morning, and by the end of the day, I had caught over 30 fish. It was one of those unforgettable days where everything just clicks and honestly, I’ve had a ton of those days since, all thanks to that vibrating jig.
As time went on, Z-Man kept refining the ChatterBait, and then came the game-changer: the JackHammer. It was on another level. It tracked straighter, had better vibration, and just flat-out caught more fish. The presentation was tighter, more natural, and consistent in a way the original couldn’t always match. Plenty of companies tried to imitate it, but none of them could come close. The JackHammer wasn’t just better, it has become the standard. And for me, it became the one bait I’ve likely caught more fish and won more money on than any other in my lifetime.
Over the years, I’ve tried every setup imaginable to throw the JackHammer: different gear ratios, different lines, different rods—from graphite to composite. Through all that testing, I landed on a combo that’s now my go-to: a 6:4:1 gear ratio reel paired with a 7-foot-4 medium-heavy composite rod—the Invoker Tour by Ark Rods. That setup changed the game for me. The composite rod is heavier than graphite, for sure, but the trade-off is worth it. The hookset ratio is unmatched. While lighter graphite is great for casting comfort, especially on long days, the backbone and forgiveness of a composite rod lets you keep fish pinned better. Fatigue does set in sometimes, but when you’re getting bit all day or catching giants, the adrenaline erases that tired feeling.
Some of my best tournament performances came thanks to that bait. In 2021, I won a team event on Lake Okeechobee with 27 pounds, fishing the west wall with the JackHammer. It was one of those magical days. Then there was Santee Cooper earlier this year, where I finished 19th and took home a solid paycheck. Again, 95% of my weight came from that one bait. There are more events like that, too. I’ve had a lot of success just covering water, breaking it down with a ChatterBait.
Now—with forward-facing sonar not allowed in the National Professional Fishing League—I see the ChatterBait becoming even more important. It’s hands-down one of the best tools for covering water quickly and efficiently. And the retrieve options? Endless. You can burn it, yo-yo it, bounce it along the bottom, give it a few hard jerks, or even deadstick it. It’s incredibly versatile and effective in so many scenarios.
As for trailers, I used to rely heavily on the Bruiser Baits Super Swimmer in Fool’s Gold. It has a killer action and great flash. Lately, I’ve switched it up with the Sidekick trailer, also by Bruiser Baits. It gives a different swim signature and appearance. I usually keep two rods rigged with a ChatterBait—one with each trailer. Some days, it’s the Sidekick they want; other days, it’s the Super Swimmer. You’ve got to let the fish tell you what they want.
One pattern I’ve done especially well with is skipping the ChatterBait under docks. I’ve pulled some big ones out doing that. The key is letting that bait do its thing and mixing up your retrieve until you dial in what they want that day.
At the end of the day, the ChatterBait is more than just a lure for me. It’s a part of how I fish, how I think, and how I win. It’s my favorite technique, hands down. No other bait has earned my trust or brought me more consistent success over the years. I’m hooked and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Robert Wroblewski – Angler Profile
