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A trailer is a piece of soft plastic that is added to the back of a hard-bodied lure, such as a chatterbait, to give it extra action and appeal. Trailers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and can be matched to the specific lure being used.
They can be used to add extra action to the lure, change the way it falls, or to make it more visible in the water.
A custom 5/0 O’Shaughnessy hook bolsters hookup and landing percentages. For optimal snag resistance around wood and grass, an adjustable, v-shaped, coated multi-strand wire weedguard deflects cover and prevents snagging and fouling, while folding back during hooksets.
A dual trailer keeper, with molded lead and wire spikes, offers the ultimate in trailer security. Hand-tied silicone skirts are secured to the hook-shank with stainless wire for maximum longevity.
The Crosseye has become my go to Chatterbait here in Florida’s weedy lakes. Since January 7th 2022 it’s helped me catch an 8-10, 7-6, 6-9, 6-7 and numerous 4’s & 5’s…bottomline is it has the instant start up of a Jack Hammer, vibrates at the slowest speeds, is shockingly weedless, comes through brush, wood and rip rap very well and flat out catches fish.
The only negative is the line tie snap can and will bend out and eventually fail which will require replacing the snap. Otherwise it’s a great addition to the Chatterbait family.
This bait is one of my favorite when fishing grass, lily pads and wood cover due it’s fine wire guard. The design allows you to bend the wire to fit the situation and doesn’t interfere with hookups. The quality skirt is hand tied to stay put.
Great weedless feature. Would get hung up on lay downs on old chatterbaits and this seems to solve that issue of being “weedless”. So far have not had any issues with hook up but will sure test it next year some more.
Z-Man is an industry leader in plastics technology, which explains why Z-Man ElaZtech TrailerZ are at the forefront of a revolution in soft bait performance. The defining characteristics that separate ElaZtech TrailerZ from other soft plastics are the life-like action, natural buoyancy (they float) and their unmatched durability.
ElaZtech baits not only look great but they are also up to 10X Tougher than other plastics. They resist nicks, cuts and tears, and that means you’re likely to catch a lot more fish on ElaZtech TrailerZ before having to replace them.
And when it comes to prompting strikes, Z-Man ElaZtech baits have proven themselves time and again for everything from bass to monster muskies. Insist on ElaZtech TrailerZ for your ChatterBaits and use them on most other popular lures.
The Paca Chunk is a jig trailer that was created to displace a large amount of water. The claws stand up and wave when the jig reaches bottom and as soon as the jig is moved the claws start to flap. You can hang the Paca Chunk on the hook for a bulky profile or thread it on the hook for a compact profile.
In order for the Paca Chunk to be the most effective, make sure the skirt does not cover the claws. The Paca Chunk series has a large variety of colors to match any jig that you like to fish.
Add both bulk and pizzazz to your spinnerbait or bladed jig with the Zoom Split Tail Trailer. Its solid body helps slow the fall, while the supple twin tentacles add undulating movement that encourages bass to inhale with gusto.
That healthy dollop of cooked-in salt doesn’t hurt, either! Made in USA. Adds extra attraction to spinnerbaits and bladed jigs Solid body helps slow the fall Twin tentacles with undulating movement Salt-impregnated Year after year, Zoom Baits remain the hottest soft plastics in bass fishing.
Zoom softbaits are legendary for their uncanny fish-producing ability, and rare is the tournament angler who will leave the dock without a good supply in the boat. Wholly realistic, super-soft to the touch, and salt-impregnated, Zoom softbaits have the look, the action, and the flavor needed to make fish bite down hard, and fight to hang on.
Made in the USA using quality components Molded-in, custom stamped stainless trailer keeper holds ElaZtech plastics with zero slipping, even after many strikes Head, blade, and trailer colors match the most popular inshore baitfish color patterns Features a 10X Tough DieZel MinnowZ swimbait trailer – the best inshore swimbait on the market! 1/4 oz weight for inshore versatility Designed for inshore saltwater fishing, but also a deadly bass bait as well! Designed specifically for inshore saltwater fishing, the DieZel ChatterBait features a heavy-duty custom 4/0 Mustad hook, a custom stamped stainless bait keeper, and a super strong Fastach clip to make it the most bulletproof bladed jig available.
Paired with a matching 10X Tough 4-inch DieZel MinnowZ body, it can withstand strike after strike from the crushing jaws of inshore species like redfish, snook, trout, flounder, stripers, and more!.
This is the lure that has taught us to use a leader. Thank God for discount tackle prices, this is our third time buying the Redbone color because we have lost two lures to our biggest Pike yet. First cast out and this guy has them hooked immediately, I’m not joking.
We just suck at landing the fish before they bite the line. We’ve bought a net since, and look forward to trying this tantalizing color out again. Clearly it’s a winner amongst the Pike. We also have other colors, even stocked up on the different colored bodies but Redbone seems to do the trick.
These are my favorite chatterbaits! They’ll stand up to more abuse than any others that I’ve used. Pair the chartreuse up with a Slam Shady, and you can put a hurtin on just about anything.
My son-in-law and I went fishing yesterday. I tried all different types of Z-man lures. The results was very poor. In one and one half hours I caught one fish on a Mini. At the same time my son-in-law caught several.
As soon as I switched to other lures I started to catch fish. I realize that there were some extenuating circumstances so I will give it another try. I wish now that I had never listened to the “experts” and only tried one or two to start.
Deadly for times when a little bit of additional movement is needed from your jig trailer. Zoom’s Swimmin’ Chunk takes the traditional body of a chunk-style jig trailer and adds two hyper curly tails to the back, giving additional bulk and extreme movement to your flipping jig, swim jig or even buzzbaits and spinnerbaits.
Whether you’re retrieving them or just letting them fall, nothing stops these tails from churning. Salt-impregnated.
Adaptive, versatile fishermen will find the Turbo Craw Z to be the ultimate swim jig or Chatter Bait trailer, as well as a deadly soft plastic companion whether Texas rigging, Carolina rigging, flipping, or buzzing the top.
Incredibly durable and lifelike, the bait’s specially designed Turbo Claw Z thump at even the slightest rod movement or reel crank. As important, Z-Man’s super buoyant Ela Ztech material allows the Claw Z to rise up off the bottom in a natural defensive posture.
Just got back from a trip to California to fish sculpin and sand bass. I bought some fire craws as they are the closet thing I found to emmulate the red crabs that we see off of the coast in recent years.
Well they worked like a champ as my son and I caught double limits of sculpin and a couple of bass. I highly recommend them for sculpin and am looking to buy more when you have them in stock. Thank you Discount Tackle.
Absolutely crazy. Caught fish all week on turbo crawz as trailer on chatter bait and Texas rig on different color. Still in great shape for next trip. Going to try it on Ned head this time to try to cut down on misses from cold water bite.
I purchased Z-Man Turbo Crawz in green pumpkin. Great all around color for any soft plastic. No matter water clarity or weather. I rigged this up Texas Style. And it works great every time. Most bass I catch are largemouths on this specific lure!! The Turbo Crawz has great action while it swims and it does stand up like a crawdad in defense mode.
Looking to purchase in a few other colors as the seasons change! I also recently rigged it up with a Chattebait in the Bayou Craw color. Haven’t had a chance to use it yet but hopefully it will work.
Deadly for times when a little bit of additional movement is needed from your jig trailer. Zoom’s Swimmin’ Chunk takes the traditional body of a chunk-style jig trailer and adds two hyper curly tails to the back, giving additional bulk and extreme movement to your flipping jig, swim jig or even buzzbaits and spinnerbaits.
Whether you’re retrieving them or just letting them fall, nothing stops these tails from churning. Salt-impregnated.
The ultimate movement? trailer combines the best of two worlds for a hard-flapping action. The addition of Zooms patented Ultra Vibe tails to the back of a traditional chunk-style trailer makes the perfect addition to any flipping jig, swim jig or vibrating jig.
Despite the appearance of a slim profile, these tails move tons of water on both the retrieve and the fall, giving the fish a sound profile they havent yet experienced in this lure class. Salt impregnated.
A tournament quality bladed jig in a bite-sized package, the ChatterBait MiniMax emits a potent yet subtle bladed jig vibration. Z-Man’s patented ChatterBait direct head-to-blade connection and downsized hex-shaped ChatterBlade assures the bait’s sound and action works on the same wavelength as the bass.
This high-grade, compact bladed jig features a premium heavy duty 2/0 black nickel hook and wire-tied silicone skirts. Dual molded conical keeper barbs snug soft plastic trailers tightly in place. Eight elite skirt color patterns correspond to a matching jig head for the ultimate in stealth, sound and visual appeal.
I’ve only used it for a few months now but so far its been a good little bait. Fun n easy to use. The blade on this one actually works, the earlier smaller blade versions did not. Wish they offered a few more clearer water colors but the only problem i have had is the smaller hook, wire diameter n barb are fine but sometimes needed it to be a little longer.
Missed a few n lost a few hard fighting fish. I admit some of those were my fault not the lures. Overall i like this lil bait alot n my issue w the hook at times I can adjust to that just fine.
Bought it and used it as soon as i received it. Line attachment point is very thin wire that doesn’t boost your confidence when you see it. First cast scored strike, set the hook and it was all over quickly.
There’s a bass out there with lip jewelry now. All I got back was the lightweight wire attached through blade of bait. Lacks strength & durability to be a favorite lure, unless line attachment can be improved.
The compact size of this chatterbait gets you more bites period. Big fish love it, medium fish love it shall fish love it! And they now make it in 1/2oz which is amazing for a chatterbait this size. I’ve caught more bass on this bait this spring than any other bait put together.
Use the baby goatz for a trailer or the small jerk shadz. Rippen Lips!!!!.
Features: The Z-Man ChatterBait Freedom CFL is a new lure that merges the patented Z-Man bladed jig and Freedom Tackle’s interchangeable, swinging hook designs. Crafted from zinc for enhanced durability and a unique underwater sonic profile.
Stays down even on the fastest retrieves and makes maximum bottom contact on slow dragging retrieves. Armed with a heavy-duty VMC flipping hook, custom trailer keeper, and spider cut skirt for enhanced fish-catching ability.
Available in 6 classic colors. The Z-Man ChatterBait Freedom CFL is a new lure that merges the patented Z-Man bladed jig and Freedom Tackle’s interchangeable, swinging hook designs to come together to create a football head bladed jig that opens a world of opportunity for anglers! Crafted from zinc for enhanced durability and a unique underwater sonic profile, this vibrating jig stays down even on the fastest retrieves and makes maximum bottom contact on slow dragging retrieves.
The CFL is armed with a heavy-duty VMC flipping hook, custom trailer keeper, and spider cut skirt for enhanced fish-catching ability. Available in 6 classic colors.
Literally awesome chatter bait. I’ve used this swim bait in all sessions. Great hook up on bass. Generally pond hop in the Houston Tx. Area they love it. Hitting grass and brush lay downs. Bass hook themselves 99%of the time.
I’m a bit of a chatterbait junky, and this new collaboration between Z-Man and Freedom Tackle is special. Unlike almost all other chatterbaits and bladed jigs on the market, this one will stay down in the water column.
I got the 3/4 ounce version in a few different colors and will use this as my go-to for hugging bottom. It’s like a swing head on steroids, and I love that. It has the same great features as the original freedom chatterbait, with the interchangeable hook design and free-swinging head.
The paint does chip off easily, but this is going to be an absolute killer for all the reasons I just mentioned.
I have all the chatter baits by z man and this freedom is the beat for the $ Caught fish on it all last fall. Got it hung up I tied it off. Just received it back today. It was tied on braid. Three months in the water I put it on caught my first fish of the day.
Baited is a little roughed up. Hooks good. Held up great 👍 I would’ve added a photo of the bait but forgot.
A custom 5/0 O’Shaughnessy hook bolsters hookup and landing percentages. For optimal snag resistance around wood and grass, an adjustable, v-shaped, coated multi-strand wire weedguard deflects cover and prevents snagging and fouling, while folding back during hooksets.
A dual trailer keeper, with molded lead and wire spikes, offers the ultimate in trailer security. Hand-tied silicone skirts are secured to the hook-shank with stainless wire for maximum longevity.
Segmented fish-shaped body and forked tail create an extremely lifelike baitfish profile Ideally suited as a bladed swim jig trailer when conditions call for a bulkier profile to mimic full-bodied forage Belly slot and dorsal pocket allow for easy weed less Rigging on a 3/0 or 4/0 ewg style hook When rigged weightless, bait dives when twitched and exhibits an erratic darting motion and slow rise on the pause that is deadly on bass and Redfish alike 4.
5″ length, 4 10x tough baits per pack The Z Man RaZor ShadZ 4. 5 Inch Soft Plastic Jerkbait features a segmented, fish-shaped body and forked tail that create an extremely lifelike baitfish profile. The Z Man RaZor ShadZ 4.
5 Inch Soft Plastic Jerkbait pulls double duty as a first-of-its-kind floating/diving soft plastic jerkbait and the perfect bladed swim jig trailer to complement the new Project Z ChatterBait. When fished unweighted on a 3/0 or 4/0 EWG style hook, the RaZor ShadZ floats on the surface at rest, yet a broad, sloped head causes the bait to dive on a twitching retrieve, creating a floating/diving action that cannot be duplicated by other soft baits.
The Z Man RaZor ShadZ 4. 5 Inch Soft Plastic Jerkbait doubles as a perfect bladed swim jig trailer when conditions call for a bulkier ChatterBait profile to mimic full-bodied forage like bream, shad and herring.
A very very good trailer. The material is very nice and different than others. Like KVD Strike King Baits these baits WILL melt and melt everything it touches. But comon, who takes baits out of the plastic and stores them with other baits? DUUUURR I think its common knowledge by now most baits melt upon mixing with others but anyway.
Building upon the Original Chatterbait brand bladed swim jigs leadership position, in tackle boxes and on bass circuits the country over, the Zman 0. 375 Ounce Chatterbait Elite model features our patented, bladed swim jig design with several key upgrades.
For starters, it sports a 5/0 Gamakatsu hook, new EZ Skirt jig skirt with low-profile hub, more detailed head paint schemes, and a beefed up stainless ChatterBlade with a super strong quick clip line tie.
Top the Elite off with a molded-in trailer keeper that prevents soft plastics from sliding and a strengthened head-to-blade connection, and the result is an upgraded lure thats even more irresistible to fish and essential to fishermen.
I have caught some real hawgs with these and Z Man is a stand-up company for I unknowingly bought one that had an improperly tempered hook (you could tie it in a not with just your fingers) and after one quick email to Z man Corporate and a reply with my address, etcetera; I was sent two of the exact same color and model as an apology.
Simply unheard of in the outdoor industry. I first used smaller plastic swimbaits as trailers, but have switched to articulated soft plastics like Yamamoto’s Zako or Z Man’s own RaZor Shadz (both available at DSG) which make it a more versatile lure as I can fish them at any speed for any kind of condition.
This has often replaced the highly effective spinnerbait for me and many others. My only two complaints are that I really wish that they made heavier versions for use in deeper water (DSG doesn’t carry many of my favorite, the 1/2 ounce size either) and the size of the hook, which I believe is unnecessarily big.
The hook is so big and being that it rides upturned at all times, that I have unfortunately pierced the brains of a few bass and pickerel, effectively killing them, so therefore I do not fish them during the catch and release season, which is a real bummer because I have caught the most and biggest limits of pre-spawn largemouth bass during the spring with these lures!.
The Chatterbait could very well be the bait of choice if you had only one bait to use. Depending on how you rig it it’s capable of catching fish from top to bottom and everything in between. Not only does it’s blade impact an enticing wiggle it’s blade also acts as an effective hook guard as it comes through grass, timber and deflecting off rocks.
This is definitely a bait you should include in your arsenal if you haven’t already and if you haven’t Discount Tackle selection and pricing makes it easy to do.
The Rage Craw is 4 and can be fished Texas rigged, Carolina rigged, weightless or as a jig trailer. Each Rage Tail lure has a unique and exclusive tail design and is engineered like no other soft plastic bait.
Each is designed with a specific purpose and uses customized hi-grade plastics for superior action. You won’t believe the splash, noise or other action that each Rage Tail has! Now with New Coffee Scent!!! Color : June bug Size : 4-Inch The Rage Craw is 4 and can be fished Texas rigged, Carolina rigged, weightless or as a jig trailer.
Each Rage Tail lure has a unique and exclusive tail design and is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Each is designed with a specific purpose and uses customized hi-grade plastics for superior action.
You won’t believe the splash, noise or other action that each Rage Tail has!.
The Zoom Big Salty Chunks will add bulk and movement to your jig a pork chunk. Plastic chunk trailers for jigs have been an easy, inexpensive and effective substitute for pork trailers for years. The tough plastic of the Zoom Big Salty Chunks stay on the hook well and the great Zoom colours will match most popular jig colours.
Try different colours on your jig for new appearances and contrasts. Adding a Big Salty Chunk to a spinnerbait will add bulk and enable you to slow down the retrieve speed. No matter how you use these baits, make sure you have a good selection for changing weather and water conditions.
Zoom Big Salty Chunks, Black: 7. 6cm – 0. 6cm bait Packed 5 per bag Model number 028-038.
The Paca Chunk is a jig trailer that was created to displace a large amount of water. The claws stand up and wave when the jig reaches bottom and as soon as the jig is moved the claws start to flap. You can hang the Paca Chunk on the hook for a bulky profile or thread it on the hook for a compact profile.
In order for the Paca Chunk to be the most effective, make sure the skirt does not cover the claws. The Paca Chunk series has a large variety of colors to match any jig that you like to fish.
Flaunting flattened, monster-sized flapper claws, the Hella CrawZ is a versatile crawfish profile jig trailer and flipping bait with a real attitude. The bait’s appeal lies in its 10X Tough ElaZtech structure, so buoyant the claws float up and wave like a crayfish’s natural defensive posture.
Put one onto a hook and it’s there to stay, outlasting comparable soft plastic trailers by impressive margins. The compact Hella CrawZ sports a lifelike segmented crayfish torso and carapace, plus lively eyes, antennae and twin flapper claws.
Ten tournament proven color patterns have been hand selected by Z-Man pro Mark Daniels. FEATURES Versatile crawfish profile featuring claws that flap wildly on the fall and retrieve 10X Tough ElaZtech material outlasts other comparable softbaits by a wide margin Buoyant material allows claws to float up at rest in a natural defensive posture Excels as a swim jig trailer and flipping bait, as well as for a wide variety of additional applications Available in 10 color patterns selected by Z-Man pro Mark Daniels, Jr.
As with all the Z-man soft plastics you absolutely cant beat the quality of these baits. They simply outlast any other brand that i have used so far. They are great used alone as a Texas Rig bounced on bottom and the profile is perfect for flipping into cover.
These also make a great jig trailer and with the colors available you can match to practically any jig. I like to change colors with the same jig to highlight the different skirt colors. If you are fishing pressured water you can cut off a little of the bait to offer a smaller profile and trigger bites.
Love these. the Elasticity and durability is incredible. used them weedless for some great action. If you live in hot temp areas, don’t make the mistake on leaving them in the ride for they will melt together in one piece if the temp gets hot enough.
Rookie mistake. Although great action and durability.
Very durable and claws float straight up for a real life like presentation. Largemouth were smacking this all morning when the wouldn’t hit anything else. I immediately bought four more packs in differ t colors when I got home.
Built tough to outlast standard trailers, the Z-Man Split Tail Trailerz are constructed using a durable ElaZtech plastic. This material also allows this soft bait to float naturally at rest. These Split Tail Trailerz are flexible, with a lifelike action that is sure to grab the attention of bass and other fish in your area.
Chompers’s Super Jig Trailers are better than pork when flipping in heavy cover, due to their big, meaty profile and tremendous tail action. Super Jig Trailers are loaded with heavy salt and garlic flavoring to give those hawgs a taste of heaven before all heck breaks loose!.
Chatterbaits are a versatile and effective lure for a variety of fish, and can be used in both fresh and salt water. They are especially effective for bass, and can be used to target both largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Chatterbaits are also effective for other species of fish such as pike, muskie, and walleye. When fishing with a chatterbait, it is important to use the proper technique in order to be successful. The following are some tips for fishing with a chatterbait:
-Choose the right size and color of chatterbait for the conditions and for the fish you are targeting.
-Cast the chatterbait out and allow it to sink to the bottom.
-Slowly reel the bait in, using a stop-and-go retrieve.
-When the bait is near the bottom, lift the rod tip and reel the bait in quickly to create a “chatter” sound.
-Stop the bait periodically to allow it to fall back to the bottom.
-When a fish hits the bait, set the hook immediately.
By following these tips, you will be able to successfully fish with a chatterbait and catch a variety of different fish.
