Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer: Sizes, Colors & How to Fish It

The ChatterBait JackHammer is a bladed jig that Z-Man produces in conjunction with the Japanese luremaker EverGreen International. When Bassmaster announced it in 2017, it reported that the lure is built in Evergreen's factory and that Z-Man distributes it exclusively in the United States. Brett Hite, the tournament pro who co-designed it with Evergreen's Morizo Shimizu, told Anglers Channel that the JackHammer was born in 2016.

For general vibrating-jig technique, start with our Chatterbait guide. This spotlight covers the JackHammer models themselves, what Z-Man says about them and how named pros rig and fish them.

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The JackHammer Line: Three Versions

Z-Man's product page lists the original ChatterBait JackHammer in 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 and 1.25 oz weights. Colors are offered per weight, so check the current options for the size you want on the product page.

The JackHammer StealthBlade comes in 3/8 and 1/2 oz and replaces the stainless steel blade with a clear polycarbonate blade. Z-Man aims it at finicky fish, clear water, heavier fishing pressure and bluebird skies, describing more subdued vibrating action and less flash. It also uses a lighter-wire Decoy hook, which Z-Man says lets you cast it on slightly lighter line.

The JackHammer Baby Jack is the downsized member of the family, offered in 1/4-, 3/8- and 1/2-ounce sizes. It carries a medium-wire 3/0 DECOY hook and a downsized stainless steel blade on a DECOY Egg Snap. Z-Man says its compact head and rear weighting give longer, wind-resistant casts and let it stay deep without planing toward the surface.

What Z-Man Says Sets It Apart

According to Z-Man, the JackHammer's flat-bottom, low-center-of-gravity head and thin stainless steel blade let it start vibrating quickly and hunt in an erratic, side-to-side motion. Z-Man says a channeled groove under the head positions the blade so it strikes the head, which produces the lure's chattering sound and keeps the blade from detaching over time.

The company lists a Gamakatsu heavy-wire flipping hook, a double wire trailer keeper and hand-tied silicone skirts with color-matched head and blade paint. Z-Man also says the head and blade combination deflects off cover and skips easily beneath docks and overhanging trees. Those are the manufacturer's descriptions, so judge them against the cover, depth and fish you are dealing with.

Rods, Reels and Line

In its own bladed-jig tips, Z-Man says pro anglers often favor a 7'1" to 7'4" casting rod for traditional horizontal retrieves, and some anglers prefer a glass crankbait rod. Z-Man suggests a casting reel with a 7:1 or even an 8:1 gear ratio and 30- to 50-pound fluorocarbon for abrasion resistance, sensitivity and slight stretch.

Hite told Anglers Channel that the half-ounce JackHammer is his favorite size and that he fishes it on a 6.3:1 reel spooled with 20-pound fluorocarbon. For the finesse StealthBlade, Wired2Fish reports that Hite uses a 7'3" heavy glass rod, a 6.3:1 reel and 12- to 16-pound fluorocarbon for castability and low visibility.

How to Fish the ChatterBait JackHammer

Hite's main retrieve advice is to speed up rather than fish it slowly, making contact with rocks, the tops of vegetation or whatever habitat you are fishing, much like a crankbait. With the StealthBlade, Wired2Fish describes him adding strategic pauses and erratic retrieves near bushes and other cover to draw strikes from tentative bass.

When the lure hangs on a grass stalk, Z-Man advises a fast, forceful rip of the rod, which clears the bait, and says the sudden burst of speed often draws a strike. Z-Man also suggests burning a heavier, streamlined bladed jig with a low-action trailer alongside grass lines and parallel to boat docks.

In cold water just under 50°F, Wired2Fish shows Stephen Browning fishing a 3/4-ounce JackHammer over main-lake points with submerged grass beds 11 to 15 feet deep. He lets the bait sink just above the grass, then uses a slow and steady retrieve so it ticks the tops of the grass, with occasional subtle rod twitches. He pairs it with a straight-tail soft plastic, which helps keep the bait from rising above the grass.

For deep river channels, bluff banks and boulders, Z-Man recommends a 3/4- or 1-1/4-ounce JackHammer with a craw or creature trailer, ground along bottom just fast enough to keep the blade pulsing.

Choosing a ChatterBait JackHammer Trailer

Z-Man's advice is to color-match the soft plastic trailer to the bladed jig, such as green pumpkin on green pumpkin to imitate crayfish. For slightly deeper water and medium retrieve speeds, the company pairs the JackHammer with a slim paddletail such as its 4" DieZel MinnowZ or Scented PaddlerZ. Behind the StealthBlade, Wired2Fish reports that Hite's go-to is a downsized 3-inch Yamamoto Zako for its blend of profile and subtle action.

Picking a Color by Water Clarity

In announcing four new JackHammer colors, Z-Man quoted Hite matching each to conditions.

• Secret White: Z-Man quotes Hite calling it the super-stained-water bait he keeps tied on, with Dirty White and Fire Craw, for really muddy conditions.
• Pumpkin Gold: Z-Man says the color was created for tannic water like Florida's, with a patina copper blade.
• Cold Shad: Hite would fish it in medium-clarity water to a little stain, according to Z-Man.
• Morizo Pink: Z-Man quotes Hite calling it a strong clear-water smallmouth color when they get aggressive.

Z-Man also added Clearwater Shad, Bruised Green Pumpkin, Hite's Hot Craw and Brett's Bluegill to the 3/4-ounce JackHammer for anglers fishing deeper water.

Species and Where It Fits

The ChatterBait JackHammer is a bass lure first, and the advice above comes from anglers fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Z-Man also suggests retiring worn, skirtless JackHammers to walleye or pike duty with a paddletail swimbait around cabbage weed.

For clear-water reservoirs where the StealthBlade's subtler look fits, see our Lake Lanier guide and Lake Hartwell guide.

Before You Buy

Specifications and color options vary by weight, so check Z-Man's JackHammer (opens in a new tab), StealthBlade (opens in a new tab) and Baby Jack (opens in a new tab) pages for the current lineup. Pick the original for all-round power fishing, the StealthBlade when clear water and pressured fish call for subtlety, and the Baby Jack when you want the same design in a smaller profile.