The miniMAX absolutely destroys on the Mohawk River for river smallies in upstate ny. It’s been my little secret for a few years now, they hit that thing like they’re mad at it. Goes great during the craw hatch o bottom and they really start destroying it during the blueback herring run that come up from the Hudson to spawn. My favorite subsurface smallmouth bait- and a jerkbait
I throw it exclusively on a 6’10medium, and with a 6.4.1 or sometimes I’ll throw it on a 7.9.1 if I’m fishing a heavier size. I don’t deviate from that reel speed , I use 8lb floro for the 1/4oz and 10-12 for the 3/8ths it allows me to keep it up easier. Any faster of a reel and your forcing yourself to slow down n not getting the complete action of the bait, a fast reel will make the bait kick out and overpower the blade to not even vibrate, as will heavy line.I also exclusively fish the 1/4oz size for big upstateNY river smallmouth and let me tell ya I catch some monsters, and bags of them everyday on that little lure. Slow roll it on bottom during the craw hatch and you’ll be catching the true hogs that are glued to the bottom. Wether they’re on baitfish or crawfish, the miniMAX stays low, so keeping it in the strike zone is easy but also important, the lighter weights don’t dig into the rocks and hang up so easily, so I stick to exclusively 1/4oz and I’ve caught 100s and 100s of giants on that single lure this year. And the last 3 years . @ADKyakman , check out my catches on fishbrain, I also have some videos on here about that lure.
Pond bait?!? Greatly mistaken. It’s an incredible rock bait. It dominates bumping over rock in river or current situations for smallmouth bass. I catch 3,4,5 pounders every outing on my river on a Green Pumokin miniMAX with a GP\ chartreuse spunk shad or a “sour pickle “ baby z-too. Trim the skirt to the hook shank , rip out some, cut some down around the collar- you want little skirt material. I can show 100s of logged GIANTS online that came on that single setup. I like 2:4oz and 3/8oz, they sink like a missle, a 1/4 falls faster than a 3/8oz jackhammer after u add a trailer. The start up speed is effortless and immediate, very tight, always runs true, can burn em, slow roll it, superior vibrating jig . Very well kept secret of the pros
Love the random walleye bites you get with a chatterbait! Always a funny surprise
The miniMAX absolutely destroys on the Mohawk River for river smallies in upstate ny. It’s been my little secret for a few years now, they hit that thing like they’re mad at it. Goes great during the craw hatch o bottom and they really start destroying it during the blueback herring run that come up from the Hudson to spawn. My favorite subsurface smallmouth bait- and a jerkbait
another weapon in the bass arsenal
need to use the chatterbait more in 2023
👍Thanks Luke and TW!
Thank you for watching!
I fish out of an Old Town PDL 106 on skinny water. The smaller ChatterBait is perfect for targeting small and largemouth in the creek.
The Spunk Shad or the smaller Zako make a great trailer on these too!
Awesome, need to try this jig.
I throw it exclusively on a 6’10medium, and with a 6.4.1 or sometimes I’ll throw it on a 7.9.1 if I’m fishing a heavier size. I don’t deviate from that reel speed , I use 8lb floro for the 1/4oz and 10-12 for the 3/8ths it allows me to keep it up easier. Any faster of a reel and your forcing yourself to slow down n not getting the complete action of the bait, a fast reel will make the bait kick out and overpower the blade to not even vibrate, as will heavy line.I also exclusively fish the 1/4oz size for big upstateNY river smallmouth and let me tell ya I catch some monsters, and bags of them everyday on that little lure. Slow roll it on bottom during the craw hatch and you’ll be catching the true hogs that are glued to the bottom. Wether they’re on baitfish or crawfish, the miniMAX stays low, so keeping it in the strike zone is easy but also important, the lighter weights don’t dig into the rocks and hang up so easily, so I stick to exclusively 1/4oz and I’ve caught 100s and 100s of giants on that single lure this year. And the last 3 years . @ADKyakman , check out my catches on fishbrain, I also have some videos on here about that lure.
Mine are on the way... look like a great pond bait... here's hoping.
Pond bait?!? Greatly mistaken. It’s an incredible rock bait. It dominates bumping over rock in river or current situations for smallmouth bass. I catch 3,4,5 pounders every outing on my river on a Green Pumokin miniMAX with a GP\ chartreuse spunk shad or a “sour pickle “ baby z-too. Trim the skirt to the hook shank , rip out some, cut some down around the collar- you want little skirt material. I can show 100s of logged GIANTS online that came on that single setup. I like 2:4oz and 3/8oz, they sink like a missle, a 1/4 falls faster than a 3/8oz jackhammer after u add a trailer. The start up speed is effortless and immediate, very tight, always runs true, can burn em, slow roll it, superior vibrating jig . Very well kept secret of the pros
Perfect size for smallies
Great bait, just check the snap once in a while because as good as it looks it will open up after a few decent fish.
Little Trooper trailer
For whatever reason I just can't catch anything on any of my chatterbaits.
Pizzazz