Best Chatterbait Trailers of 2019: Complete Reviews with Comparisons
If you are looking to catch some big fish and don’t want to waste any time, you need the right baits. Well, chatterbaits are often regarded as some of the best baits out there, whether for bass or otherwise.
However, to improve your chances of success, you might want to add a chatterbait trailer to the mix. Now, finding the right one is easier said than done, but that’s what we are here for right now, to help you find the best chatterbait trailers of 2019, so let’s get to it!
Best Chatterbait Trailers Comparison Chart
Best Chatterbait Trailers: Reviews
Gary Yamamoto Zako Swimbait
If you are looking for a really inexpensive chatterbait trailer, and you need a few of them, then this Gary Yamamoto Zako Swimbait makes for a good option to keep in mind.
Product Highlights
The Gary Yamamoto Zako Swimbait is a 4 inch long swimbait, one that can easily be used as a trailer for a chatterbait. One of the biggest benefits that you get with the Gary Yamamoto Zako Swimbait is that it has really realistic movement. It is made with several body and tail segments which can move back and forth to resemble a real fish.
What’s nice here is that the Gary Yamamoto Zako Swimbait does not affect the natural motion of the crankbait, which it is trailing.
Keep in mind that this is a 4 inch swimbait, so it is fairly large, and therefore also ideal for fishing for fairly large prey. Moreover, here, for a low price, you do get a total of 6 of these things, making it quite a cost-effective option to go with.
In terms of color, the Gary Yamamoto Zako Swimbait is a green pumpkin color with black and white lows and accents. It does a good job at catching the eye of fish because it’s quite a high contrast swimbait, one that also reflects light quite well.
The Good
The good part about the Gary Yamamoto Zako Swimbait is that you get 6 of them for a very low price, so in case one breaks or goes missing, you still have plenty more to work with. It’s just a good all-around crankbait trailer that doesn’t affect the movement of the crankbait, and it creates good contrast too.
The Bad
The bad part about the Gary Yamamoto Zako Swimbait is that it’s just not very durable. These things aren’t very long-lasting and probably won’t survive being bitten by a large predator fish.
Pros
- Good contrast and light reflection
- Get 6 of them for a low price
- Realistic movement
- Does not alter the movement of the crankbait
Cons
- Very limited durability
NetBait Fishing Paca Chunk Bait
If you are fishing for any kind of fish that loves to eat crawfish, then this NetBait Fishing Paca Chunk Bait makes for a pretty decent crankbait trailer as well.
Product Highlights
Something that stands out about the NetBait Fishing Paca Chunk Bait is that it comes in many different colors and sizes. In other words, if you are going for smaller prey, use a smaller crawfish bait, and if you are going for larger prey, there are plenty of big NetBait Fishing Paca Chunk Baits to go with.
Moreover, in terms of colors, pretty much every single color under the rainbow is available here, so you can choose the one that works best for the specific time of day, weather, and the specific fish you are aiming to catch. Most of these NetBait Fishing Paca Chunk Baits are made to be highly contrasting so fish can easily see them, but still look natural, like the real thing, so they won’t scare fish away.
What is also really beneficial about this NetBait Fishing Paca Chunk Bait is that they all come with large claws, and yes, these claws create a lot of action and water movement to entice fish to come take a look. Even better is the fact that these baits are made with salt and pork fat to create a strong scent in the water, thus luring in even more fish.
The Good
The good part about these NetBait Fishing Paca Chunk Bait is that they are not very expensive, they create a heck of a lot of action, they are fairly easy to use, and they come in a variety of colors, plus of course, they have a strong scent too.
The Bad
What is not great about the NetBait Fishing Paca Chunk Bait, is that if you want the claws to move freely, you will have to trim or even cut off the skirt from your chatterbait, which is of course not great.
Pros
- Create lots of action
- Many different colors
- Different size options
- Have a scent
Cons
- Doesn’t work well with skirts
Strike King Rage Swimmer
When it comes to convenient, effective, and easy to use chatterbait trailers, this Strike King Rage Swimmer is another fine choice to go with. Yeah, it’s a bit pricey, but it’s also a super-effective fish lure.
Product Highlights
The Strike King Rage Swimmer is a great option to go with if you are looking to create a heck of a lot of action, realistic movement, and vibration in the water, all of which go a long way in luring fish. This particular option has a very flexible body which is designed to move back and forth in the water to resemble a real worm. Yes, it looks like a worm, and worms are often used for fishing because they are indeed one of the best types of bait out there for more or less all fish.
Moreover, the Strike King Rage Swimmer comes with many little ridges and grooves along its body, designed to create a lot of vibration and water agitation to lure fish in. The same can be said for the blade at the front of the Strike King Rage Swimmer, which also pushes a lot of water around to create good action. In terms of action and vibration, this has to be one of the best options out there.
What’s also beneficial about this particular chatterbait trailer is that it comes in a variety of high contrast colors. Whatever the time of day, season, or fish you are going after, you will find a highly reflective and contrasting Strike King Rage Swimmer to match. We do also want to note that this thing is quite durable and should last for quite some time to come.
The Good
The good part about the Strike King Rage Swimmer is that it comes in so many color combinations that you should always be able to find one for whatever fishing goal you want to achieve. Moreover, it’s also a very durable trailer, one that produces a heck of a lot of action and vibration.
The Bad
One of the only downsides to the Strike King Rage Swimmer is that it can be hard to hook onto the chatterbait, and hard to get a hook into. It’s not a particularly easy chatterbait trailer to work with.
Pros
- Very durable
- Lots of vibration
- Realistic action
- High contrast color options
Cons
- A bit expensive
- Hard to hook
Strike King Rage Tail Craw
If you are looking for a package of multiple baits, chatterbait trailers, then this Strike King Rage Tail Craw is a fine option to go with. Each package comes with 7 baits included in it, they produce a heck of a lot of action, and there are lots of varieties to go with too.
Product Highlights
The Strike King Rage Tail Craw comes in well over a dozen different colors, making it an ideal choice for many different types of fish, seasons, and water and weather conditions too.
All of these baits are designed to be highly reflective, so they easily catch the light, even when there is not too much ambient light around, plus they are also all highly contrasting, making them very easy for fish to spot in most light and water conditions. Do keep in mind that the Strike King Rage Tail Craw is a 4 inch bait, so it is fairly large, and therefore ideal for larger predator fish, but not really for small fish.
Something else that stands out about the Strike King Rage Tail Craw is that it has very large claws, and yes, they move in the water, they flop about, and they produce a lot of action and water displacement, plus a bit of vibration too, all of which help to lure in fish.
The tails of these crawfish baits are also made to look very realistic and to produce quite a bit of action too. So, in terms of action, the Strike King Rage Tail Craw is definitely one of the better chatterbait trailers out there right now. The tail is actually one of the best features here.
What we can also say about the Strike King Rage Tail Craw is that it is made with super high-grade soft plastic. This makes this particular option a durable one to go with, and it should last for quite some time, but if it does not, at least you get a bunch of them in each package. It’s a pretty easy bait to hook up to your chatterbait in terms of hooking it.
The Good
The good part here is that you get 7 Strike King Rage Tail Craws per package, and they aren’t all that expensive either, not to mention that they are long-lasting and durable, plus they create a lot of realistic movement and action too.
The Bad
The bad part about the Strike King Rage Tail Craw is that if you want the claws to work to their fullest potential, you will have to trim or totally cut off the skirt of any chatterbait you are using.
Pros
- Multiple per pack
- Various high contrasting colors
- Realistic tail and body
- Lots of action and movement
Cons
- Doesn’t work too well with skirted baits
Berkley Havoc Subwoofer Bait
Here we have one of the more expensive chatterbait trailers to go with, and yes, although it is a bit pricey, it does seem to get the job done quite well when hooked up to the right chatterbait.
Product Highlights
The Berkley Havoc Subwoofer Bait is certainly a very realistic looking bait, one that is designed to mimic an injured and fleeing fish, which is of course a great thing when you are fishing for a predator looking for an easy meal.
The tail on the Berkley Havoc Subwoofer Bait is designed to move back and forth in a way that matches the profile, movement, and action of a fleeing fish. Yes, this thing does produce a heck of a lot of action and movement.
Something else which is beneficial about the Berkley Havoc Subwoofer Bait is that it has a very short body, which is nice because it helps to reduce or eliminate short strikes. There are 3 color options to go with here, which is not that much, but that said, at least all of them are highly contrasting so fish can easily see them, plus they also do a pretty darn good job at reflecting light, so they can be seen in most water and weather conditions.
The Good
The good part about the Berkley Havoc Subwoofer Bait is that it does look very real, just like a fleeing fish, and they are all very high contrasting and reflective too. They definitely look realistic.
The Bad
The bad part about the Berkley Havoc Subwoofer Bait is that it is quite expensive, and you only get a single one, plus durability is a bit limited too. In other words, if you lose this thing, you just threw well over $10 into a body of water, never to be found again.
Pros
- Very realistic
- High contrast and reflective
- Great action and water movement
Cons
- Expensive
- Only get 1 of them
- Limited durability
Z-MAN Chatterbait Elite
Alright, so we figured we would change things up a bit here, because we have been looking exclusively at chatterbait trailers, whereas the Z-MAN Chatterbait Elite is an actual chatterbait, a really good one actually, plus it’s not even that expensive for what it is.
Product Highlights
The Z-MAN Chatterbait Elite is a very nice skirted chatterbait indeed. To start off, the Z-MAN Chatterbait Elite does come in a variety of color options, including blues, whites, blacks, browns, greens, yellows, and more. All of these come with multiple colors and shades to create a high contrast chatterbait that fish can easily see from a distance.
There is also the fact that these things are all designed to be highly reflective, so fish can easily see them in more or less any weather and water conditions. Another benefit you get with the Z-MAN Chatterbait Elite is that it comes with a heavy duty hook that should have no problems snagging large prey, plus it’s easy to attach a trailer to as well.
Of course, this is a chatterbait, so it does come with that patented metal chatter disk at the front of it, specifically designed to move back and forth, to create action and water movement, and to produce a lot of vibration too. Keep in mind that the head to blade connection here is quite beefy, and therefore designed for durability.
The blade is not going to break off or detach anytime soon. It’s definitely something that will attract fish. Moreover, all of these Z-MAN Chatterbait Elites also come with a high contrast skirt, which moves freely in the water and should also attract the attention of nearby fish.
The Good
We do really like how the Z-MAN Chatterbait Elite is very durable and long lasting, with heavy duty hooks and head to blade connections. Everything here from the blade, to the body, and the color too, is designed to lure in fish with ease. With reflectivity, contrast, movement, and vibration, fish are sure to come to this lure.
The Bad
The bad part about the Z-MAN Chatterbait Elite is that in some cases, actually in many cases, the wrong product has been delivered, the original Z-MAN Chatterbait instead of the Elite version, so beware of this when placing an order.
Pros
- Contrasting and reflective
- Many color options
- Very durable
- Tons of movement and action
- Great vibration
Cons
- May not receive the Elite
Z-MAN Chatterbait Jack Hammer
Here we have what is a fairly expensive chatterbait, one of the more expensive ones out there right now, but it does come with a lot of variety, it is durable, and yes, it has various features designed to lure in fish of all kinds.
Product Highlights
The Z-MAN Chatterbait Jack Hammer, for one, something you really need to know, is that it is a topwater bait. Therefore, this bait is used for topwater fishing, and no, it does not sink down, not even a little bit.
So, it’s a fine option for topwater fishing, and moreover, it’s also designed to be able to move in and out of, and through cover with ease, and it shouldn’t get tangled in grasses or weeds. It’s also designed to skip under docks and beneath trees. It’s the kind of bait that works perfectly when fishing in cover or in tight conditions.
The Z-MAN Chatterbait Jack Hammer is designed to produce a signature chattering or rattling sound, which is thanks to the high quality blade attached to the head of it. The blade is pretty secure with a durable head connection, so that’s a bonus.
Speaking of durability, this thing is made with high quality components all around, and it should last for a long time, even with multiple fish strikes. It does come with a very large hook, one that is ideal for snagging large prey, and if necessary, for attaching a chatterbait trailer to.
When it comes to colors, the Z-MAN Chatterbait Jack Hammer comes in about a dozen different color options, all of which are highly reflective and highly contrasting too, so you should be able to find one for all types of fish and weather conditions too.
The head of the Z-MAN Chatterbait Jack Hammer even has an eye painted onto it to make it look very realistic. The skirt on the Z-MAN Chatterbait Jack Hammer is also quite nice, as it will produce a heck of a lot of water movement to attract nearby fish.
The Good
The good part about the Z-MAN Chatterbait Jack Hammer is that it is a heavy duty option, one designed for big fighting fish, and moreover it’s quite durable too, plus highly reflective and contrasting, and water movement is not a problem either.
The Bad
The only real problem we have with this Z-MAN Chatterbait Jack Hammer, besides the really high price, is that the skirt may be a bit too long for some chatterbait trailers, especially crawfish baits with large claws.
Pros
- Very durable with heavy duty connections
- Reflective and contrasting
- Many color options
- Really good hook
- Skirt ideal for attracting attention
- Eye painted onto the head
Cons
- Very expensive
- May be an issue attaching crawfish trailers
Zman Split Tail Grub 10X ElazTech Spinnerbait Chatterbait Trailer
This is definitely a quite a unique option to go with, and yes, here we are back to chatterbait trailers, with this one intended to look like a long grub or worm. It’s actually one of the more popular options for this kind of thing, and it’s not even all that expensive either.
Product Highlights
Something that definitely needs to be said here is that this Zman Split Tail Grub Chatterbait Trailer is built very tough and durable. This thing is made out of super high quality soft plastic that can withstand being punctured, bitten, and dragged around.
It is indeed one of the more durable chatterbait trailers out there, especially when it comes to grubs/worms. Even if a fish bites it, it should still stay in one piece, at least for a few strikes, which is quite impressive as far as we are concerned.
Moreover, the Zman Split Tail Grub Chatterbait Trailer is ideal for all kinds of baits including chatterbaits, spinners, and more. What we also appreciate here is that this thing comes in a few different colors, although not that many, but they are all highly reflective and contrasting, so nearby fish can see them with ease.
Moreover, this Zman Split Tail Grub Chatterbait Trailer does look very realistic, it’s long, and it produces movement that replicates that of a worm or grub, which really does make it quite the perfect trailer. What’s also cool here is that the Zman Split Tail Grub Chatterbait Trailer features a split tail design to double action and water movement, plus this also makes it very easy to attach a hook to as well.
The Good
The good part about the Zman Split Tail Grub Chatterbait Trailer is that it is proven to work really well, and it’s a tournament favorite. It’s easy to use, long-lasting, and not too expensive either, plus you get 10 per pack, which is great.
The Bad
The bad part about the Zman Split Tail Grub Chatterbait Trailer is that the tails, the split ends, often stick together, which means that the realistic-looking action of it, is well, rendered not so realistic.
Pros
- Durable
- Inexpensive
- Easy to use
- effective
Cons
- Tails may stick together
Strike King Rage Tail Bug Lure
Here we have a really cool bait, one that can be used as a chatterbait trailer, and here you get a huge selection of colors, these things are durable, and they look super realistic too, plus they are fairly affordable as well. Let’s take a closer look.
Product Highlights
The Strike King Rage Tail Bug Lure comes in about a dozen different color combinations, so you should be able to find one for every type of fish and weather condition too. When it comes to being bright, reflective, and highly contrasting, the Strike King Rage Tail Bug Lure is definitely up there with the best of them, as they are some of the easiest to see chatterbait trailers from far and wide. They are absolutely high vis lures, and they work great for dark days.
More than that, these Strike King Rage Tail Bug Lure also do really look like real bugs, with trailing wings and all, so fish should be greatly enticed by them. There is also the fact that there are many components on these Strike King Rage Tail Bug Lure, which are designed to create a lot of water movement and displacement.
Moreover, the bodies of these lures are covered in little ridges designed to create a ton of vibration, something else that is going to lure in a lot of different fish. Something else beneficial here is that the Strike King Rage Tail Bug Lure is designed, so it doesn’t get stuck in grass or weeds, a big deal when you are fishing close to the shore. All in all, we would say that this is one of the best choices around.
The Good
There are lots of good things about the Strike King Rage Tail Bug Lure, such as the fact that it’s made out of top quality soft plastic and should be able to keep going for quite some time. It shouldn’t get stuck in weeds, it’s very easy to see, and it creates a lot of water movement and vibration too.
The Bad
The bad part about the Strike King Rage Tail Bug Lure is that it can be a bit difficult to get a hook into it, and these things have been known to come off the hook.
Pros
- Very durable
- Highly visible
- Realistic movement
- Lots of action and vibration
- Many color options
Cons
- Not the easiest to secure to a hook
Z-Man Turbo CrawZ Bait
This is the final chatterbait trailer we want to talk about today, quite a good one actually, a crawfish bait with various color options, and a heck of a lot of realistic movement.
Product Highlights
The Z-Man Turbo CrawZ Bait is designed to look very realistic for one. This thing does indeed look like a real crawfish, body, legs, head, claws, and all. It actually comes with really massive claws which are designed to produce some super heavy splashing, noise, vibrations, and water movement too.
The claws are huge, they can move freely, and you better believe that they are going to attract the attention of all nearby fish. What is also nice is that the Z-Man Turbo CrawZ Bait is designed to produce this kind of violent action and movement no matter the retrieval speed, which is a big bonus.
The Z-Man Turbo CrawZ Bait is 4 inches long, so it’s best for larger fish, not really small ones, but it is quite versatile. Now, this thing does come in several colors and patterns, most of which are highly reflective and contrasting to catch the eyes of any nearby fish, but there are some which have limited contrast and reflectivity.
All of that being said, you should be able to find a Z-Man Turbo CrawZ Bait, which is ideal for every occasion. What is also important to note is that the Z-Man Turbo CrawZ Bait is made with super tough soft plastic and is said to be about 10 times stronger than your average soft plastic bait.
The Good
The good part about the Z-Man Turbo CrawZ Bait is that it is relatively inexpensive and you get 6 per pack, plus it produces amazing movement and action, it looks real, it’s tough, and comes in a few different high vis color options as well.
The Bad
What we don’t like about the Z-Man Turbo CrawZ Bait, is that just like with most other crawfish trailers, you may have to cut or trim the skirt of your chatterbait to use this thing.
Pros
- Very durable
- Realistic
- Many color options
- Great movement and action
Cons
- Doesn’t work too well with skirts
Buyer’s Guide
Alright, so before you go out and buy any chatterbait, or any chatterbait trailer, there are some important things that you should know about. Let’s go over a little chatterbait trailer buyer’s guide, so you are a little better informed about this kind of thing.
Types Of Chatterbait Trailers
The first thing you should be aware of there is that there are a variety of chatterbait trailers to go with. To be fair, technically speaking, a chatterbait trailer can be anything that you hook onto or trail behind an actual chatterbait.
That said, you do need to pick the right one, and yes, there are various lures, usually soft plastic, advertised as being ideal for this. So, for one, remember that these things are usually going to be soft plastic, they do not have hooks, and they are designed to produce a lot of movement.
The usual chatterbait trailers available will include soft plastic worms, grubs, baitfish, and crawfish, among some others.
Chatterbait Colors
The next thing to consider when you are buying your chatterbait and the trailer for it, is what color you want. What you need to know here is that different colors are ideal for different fish. This is because different fish eat differing foods, so you need to match the color of your lure and bait to what the fish in question likes to eat.
The color of the chatterbait and trailer is also important when it comes to the time of day, weather, season, and light conditions. Generally speaking, you will want something that is very reflective and highly contrasting, so that fish can easily see it from a distance.
Blade
Now, this is not actually about the chatterbait trailer itself, but about the blade on the chatterbait. The blade is that piece at the front of the chatterbait designed to move back and forth, to splash, and to cause water movement to attract fish.
This is usually always going to be silver, so it catches the light well, and the important thing to look for here is that this blade is securely attached to the head of the chatterbait. All too often the head to blade connection is weak, and of course that is not a good thing. You don’t want to lose the blade, as that is the whole purpose of the chatterbait.
Size
The next thing to keep in mind when choosing a chatterbait and the right trailer for it, is the size of it. Simply put, small fish will only go for small lures, whereas larger fish are more tempted to go for the bigger stuff, although they may also go for smaller bait as well.
Just pay attention to the size of the lure or bait in comparison to the size of the fish you are going for. Also, the size of the chatterbait trailer also needs to be right for the size of the chatterbait itself.
Season
Yet another crucial factor to keep in mind here has to do with the season in which you are fishing. Different types of baits and lures work better in varying seasons.
Fish are used to seeing certain bait animals at certain times of the year, and yes, this goes for both shape and color, so be sure to do some research in this regard, especially when it comes to the type of fish you are angling for.
Durability
You do also want to make sure that you get a fairly durable chatterbait trailer. Yes, they are all made of soft plastic, so there is only so long that these things can go for, but that being said, there are higher and lower quality options, so be sure to get one that is highly rated for durability.
Action & Movement
Finally, you do want to ensure that you get a chatterbait trailer which produces a lot of movement and vibration, as well as one that looks realistic. The realer it looks and the more it agitates the water, the better.
FAQ
What Is a Chatterbait?
Chatterbaits are also known as bladed swim jigs, and their main purpose has to do with that blade located on the head of it. The purpose of the blade is to create water movement, noise, and a splashing effect to lure in nearby fish.
How to Fish a Chatterbait?
Fishing a chatterbait is not all that hard and there are various methods for using them. You can slow roll, burn, rip, and shake chatterbaits, and depending on the one you have, you can use it at more or less anytime.
How Does A Chatterbait Work?
When you pull the chatterbait through the water, the blade attached at the front catches the water and starts to move back and forth. This creates vibration, splashing, and noise, which lures fish in. Most chatterbaits also have a skirt at the rear to increase movement.
How To Tie A Chatterbait?
These things can be a bit tricky to tie a to line, but not impossible. The easiest way to tie fishing line to a chatterbait is by using the Palomar knot.
How to use a chatterbait for bass?
Some tips for catching bass with chatterbaits include a bump and grind fishing method, the yo-yo approach, or performing a slow roll with it.
Chatterbait vs Spinnerbait what's the difference?
The difference is that chatterbaits are mainly about creating a lot of noise and splashing, whereas spinnerbaits are all about catching and reflecting light.
Related Content: How to Tie on a Chatterbait, it's easier said than done!
Conclusion
When all is said and done, we think that some of the best options here today are the crawfish chatterbait trailers. Now, we did review two actual chatterbaits, and we would recommend using these in conjunction with either the crawfish or grub trailers we reviewed today.
That being said, we included 8 awesome chatterbait trailers on our list today, and they all have some very beneficial aspects to them.
