There is a small but growing segment of anglers out there bringing something new to the table—namely, chatterbaits. Or, skirtless chatterbaits we should say. But wait a minute. Why skirtless? What use are chatterbaits without skirts? Doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose behind the bait design?
Maybe. The truth is, the skirt is all about providing more size and movement in the water, which is supposed to attract more fish. We know this works because its been demonstrated time and time again.
Chatterbaits didn’t become popular, go-to baits because they don’t work. Removing the skirt is an interesting option, however, and there has been enough demonstrated success to make it a viable option, at the very least.
How to Fish Chatterbaits without Skirts
Who knows how the first angler came across the idea of fishing chatterbaits without skirts? It’s easy to imagine the material was damaged somehow, so this angler (in our ever-creative imagination) simply cut the remaining material off with a “who knows?” shrug and cast the skirtless chatterbait anyway.
Well, apparently it worked. But how do you use a skirtless chatterbait? The Z-Man Original Chatterbait is the best chatterbait to use without a skirt unless you purchase a chatterbait that’s skirtless (they are available now). The reason it’s the best is that you can remove and replace the skirt at will.
Simply work the skirtless chatterbait in any direction and give your rod a quick, light snap as the chatter bait passes out of cover and back into cover. Without the skirt, it will make its way through heavy vegetation without getting caught up.
Advantages to using skirts
Chatterbaits vibrate in the water exceptionally well, thanks to a hexagonal blade affixed to the front of the bait. Chatterbaits grab a fish’s attention like nothing else in the water, especially when they are laid back and largely sedentary for the day.
Chatterbaits are excellent go-to baits when nothing else is working. It also helps in murky water, thanks to the light flash of the hexagonal blade. The skirt just gives the bait some more heft and action in the water, further enticing the fish to come in and strike.
Can you remove the skirt?
Chatterbaits typically come with skirts, except for some of the newer chatterbait releases, such as the Z-Man DieZel Chatterbait and the Eye Strike Chatterbait. Some chatterbaits are designed so the skirt is removable, and some are not.
If you want to remove the skirt from a chatterbait that isn’t designed for removal, you’ll need a sharp knife and careful cutting skills. It won’t change the hexagonal blade, but it will change the action of the chatterbait in the water.
Size Options
Chatterbaits became enormously popular in 2004 and 2005 and retained that popularity for about ten years. They’re still very popular but nowhere near as much as they were at their peak. It’s been nearly 20 years since the first release, so the market is saturated with them.
That kind of market saturation means there are a ton of designs, colors, and sizes to choose from. It’s a good thing too since certain size options work better at different depths. For relatively shallow waters, 1’ to 8’, ½ oz chatterbaits are the best.
When you go a little deeper, beyond 10’, you should make the jump to ¾ oz or 1 oz chatterbaits. Depth is your first factor in choosing a size. Your second factor is effectiveness. If it’s getting hung up in the grass, drop one size. If it gets hung up consistently again, drop one size. So forth and so on.
When to fish a chatterbait without a skirt
You can fish a chatterbait in a wide variety of situations. For instance, during the spawning season and throughout the early summer weeks use pearl-colored chatterbaits and red crawfish earlier in the spring, while the air still holds a chill.
Anytime you encounter grass, cast it into shallow grass and snap your rod plenty as you bring it in. Bass love it. Docks are great as well, especially when it’s really hot out. Underwater structures are another good place to fish, with or without a skirt.
Without a skirt, the chatterbait is far more fluid and responsive in the water, making up for erratic or even a beginner angler’s lack of familiarity with the methods.
Bottom Line
Skirtless chatterbaits may never gain the popularity of the original chatterbaits early in the turn of the millennium. But, they are steadily growing, and many anglers have already embraced the idea.
At the very least, it’s something you can add to your tacklebox for that rainy day when nothing else seems to be working. It makes sense on a certain level. Removing the bulky skirt does streamline the bait and makes it more forgiving, even if you make a mistake in your movements.
It’s not quite as erratic as its skirt-wearing cousins. Smallmouth and largemouth bass love them, especially in deep structures and under docks. They make sense in thick vegetation as well, especially if your standard chatterbait is getting caught up in the grass.
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