Hi guys,
I’m looking to build a casting rod for throwing 3/8 to 1/2 ounce Z-man Jackhammer Chatterbaits for Largemouth Bass in the 1-3 pound range. It would be used around some wood structure (deadfalls or submerged timber). I plan on working the bait as you would with a swim jig and pairing it with a 6.6:1 reel. I’m okay with any length, power, or action you would recommend and price isn’t an issue. I have done some homework and seen a great variety of different actions used and am looking for a blank that others have had success with. Thank you in advance for your help!

Anglers have varying opinions when fishing chatterbaits. Some like a softer tip, mid blank flex of a mod-fast rod - [www.mudhole.com] Others like a rod with fast tip with a med to med-hvy power - [www.mudhole.com] or [www.mudhole.com] -- Thank You

Bob McKamey
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
bobm@mudhole.com

We’d recommend our top-of-the-line Made in USA RainShadow ETERNITY ETEC72M - [www.rainshadowrodblanks.com]

Our next best option would be the IMMORTAL Series IMMC72M, truly high-end blanks at a great price - [www.rainshadowrodblanks.com]

ETERNITY model would be a little lighter in the tip when compared to the IMMORTAL, but you can’t go wrong with either.

If you wanted shorter for an underhand style casing go with the 68M in either the ETERNITY or IMMORTAL series.

James Taylor
Batson Enterprises
BatsonEnterprises.com | RainShadowRodBlanks.com | ALPSForeCast.com | Build2Fish.com

I think blank selection is relevant to the "structure" you will be fishing. I fish 1/2 OZ chatterbaits in the grasses of the potomac. I almost always throw a 6'9 to 7'0 mh with braid. Anything lighter just does not have the backbone to rip the bait through the grass. Open water you could certainly get away with less.
Rick

I don't know what it is about chatterbaits .... when I initially started fishing them I thought of them the same way as I think about spinnerbaits. Big heavy hook, I need a medium heavy power, fast action rod. Something that could really drive the hook home. But unlike a spinnerbait, I lost a lot of fish on them. Then one day I didn't feel like digging my spinnerbait rod out of the bottom of my rod box, so I tied one on a crankbait rod I built that I use for throwing squarebills around and into wood cover. It is a medium heavy power, moderate fast action rod. I stopped losing fish immediately.

If I were building a dedicated chatterbait rod, I would build it on a blank with a moderate fast action, but heavy power, instead of medium heavy power. The only reason I would bump up the power to heavy, is if I were also making long casts with a chatterbait. That longer casts needs more power when it comes time to set a big heavy hook.

Tough call because we're getting in the realm of powers and actions that have no universal definitions. A MH crankbait rod isn't the same power as a MH mag bass inthe same company let alone between companies. I much perfer recommendations like James made. I have found truly similar power rods of different actions still get the job done, so I don't fuss over it near as much as I used to. My MF MH power Loomis popping rod catches the same fish with the same presentations as my XF MH Rogue popping rod does, they are 2 pennies off from each other when CC'd.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2019 02:34AM by Spencer Phipps.

I just built a Rainshadow Mh 7' crankbait rod for them.

Pros are using glass rods.

So I just got a Mhx 906 today.

I cut 1inch off the tip and 2inch of the butt

Handle is drying from the glue will be a few days until the guides go on

But I’m impressed

I’ve been fishing a cb845 but wanted something a touch longer and heavier

It still has a soft tip. Parabolic action and more backbone than my 845

I feel for 1/2 oz chatterbait it should be pretty dang good.

It’s very much a dedicated chatterbait rod. But I like them and do have lots of grass.

Reel is 6.2 curado k.

[www.mudhole.com]


Will report back later but I’m excited about this build.