- 1. Can Z-Man lures be fished in fresh and saltwater?
- 2. Which Z-Man lures work best in fresh water and which in saltwater?
- 3. Are the lures fished differently from a boat as apposed to from the shore?
- 4. At what depth do you fish the Z-Man lures and why?
- 5. How do weather conditions affect lure choice?
- 6. What is the stated lure weight really measuring?
- 7. Why should a fisherman consider different lure weights?
- 8. What is the hook size used for Z-Man lures?
- 9. What are the hooks made of?
- 10. Are the ChatterFrog™ and ElazTech™ Craw fished the same way as the ChatterBait™?
- 11. Are the EZ Skirts® interchangeable only with the ChatterBait™ and ChatterFrog™ or can they be cut down and used with the ChatterBait™ Mini?
- 12. What fish are the SilaFlash™ Teasers designed to attract? How are they used?
- 13. What is the purpose of the rattle?
- 14. The trailers come in Split Tail and Streaks. Why choose one over the other? With which lures should they be used?
- 15. Are fishermen normally trying to land the same types of fish throughout the country?
- 16. Which fish are found only in certain areas? Which lure is recommended?
- 17. What is a "jig"?
- 18. What is a "spinnerbait"?
- 19. What is a "crankbait"?
- 20. What does "straight retrieval" or "straight retrieval with a jerk" mean?
- 21. What does "jigging off the bottom" mean?
- 22. What does "fishing a lure aggressively" mean?
- 23. If a body of water is known to have stumps, weeds or other obstacles, what lure is recommended?
- 24. How are Z-Man lures intended to be attached to the fishing line?
- 25. What makes Z-Man products superior to spinnerbaits, crankbaits or other lures on the market?
- Can Z-Man lures be fished in fresh and saltwater?
- Yes. Z-Man lures can be used in fresh or saltwater interchangeably, according to the situation. The key is to always remember to wash the lures thoroughly after saltwater fishing to help ensure a long life.
- Which Z-Man lures work best in fresh water and which in saltwater?
- As a rule, the ChatterBait™ line is normally a freshwater lure, the Inshore Series can be used in either environment and the Offshore Series is primarily for saltwater action. These are just suggestions however and, in the right situation, any of the lures could work in either fresh or saltwater.
- Are the lures fished differently from a boat as apposed to from the shore?
- Whether casting from a boat or the shore, the rule is to get the lure where the fish are hiding. With this in mind, simply make sure you land it in a place where the fish feel safe like near stumps, fallen trees, rocks, breaks, grass, weed beds, lily pads or, on sunny days, just look for the shady spots.
- At what depth do you fish the Z-Man lures and why?
- The depth you want to run your lures is determined by how deep your targets are swimming. This means it is up to you to know the environment and how much you should weigh the lure down. The normal depth of a lure, "normal" being a moderate reeling speed with the rod pointing straight ahead, can be changed by altering either of those factors. Reeling faster with an upward-pointed rod will cause the lure to run shallower and, conversely, reeling slower with the rod pointing downward will allow the lure to run deeper.
- How do weather conditions affect lure choice?
- Weather patterns on fishing day and those preceding it have the biggest influence on picking the right lure to use. This is because of the great effect the weather has on water clarity and temperature.
- If the conditions are rough, sediment is stirred up in the water and a brighter lure is needed to attract attention. In calm waters, a broader array of lures can be used to attract the big ones. On such days, pay attention to what baitfish are in the water and choose a lure that most closely resembles them.
- The temperature is obviously a huge factor when fishing. Cold water tends to make most fish less active (sometimes to the point of near non-activity), so a slower retrieval and possibly a smaller profile lure may be advised. On the other hand, warmer water conditions may cause fish to be more active, thus allowing for a more aggressive presentation (larger profile, faster retrieval and/or more erratic action). Just remember that too much of a good thing, in this case heat, can cause the fish to become inactive as well so fish accordingly.
- What is the stated lure weight really measuring?
- The measurement for Z-Man lures is based on the weight of the jighead. The weight of additional lure accessories should be negligible.
- Why should a fisherman consider different lure weights?
- Lure weights allow fishing at different water depths according to how light or heavy they are. The key is in knowing the environment and the types of fish being targeted.
- What is the hook size used for Z-Man lures?
- Most Z-Man lures offer a 5/0 hook. The "Mini" line has 3/0 and the "Micro" lure hooks are even smaller. The 8/0 and 10/0 Series hooks are, as one might guess, 8/0 and 10/0 respectively. Basically, the bigger the target fish, the bigger the hook needed.
- What are the hooks made of?
- Z-Man's lures offer Mustad Ultra Point, stainless-coated hooks.
- Are the ChatterFrog™ and ElazTech™ Craw fished the same way as the ChatterBait™?
- Both lures may be fished with a straight retrieval like a ChatterBait™, providing a jerking/jigging action. The difference lies in depth. The ElazTech™ Craw is intended for jigging at the bottom while the ChatterFrog™ is meant for surface fishing.
- Are the EZ Skirts® interchangeable only with the ChatterBait™ and ChatterFrog™ or can they be cut down and used with the ChatterBait™ Mini?
- Altering the EZ Skirts® in such a way is not recommended. The standard size skirts are intended to couple with the ChatterBait™, ChatterFrog™ and ElaZtech™ Craw while the ChatterBait™ Mini has its own skirts.
- What fish are the SilaFlash™ Teasers designed to attract? How are they used?
- Though they can be fished in any water, the SilaFlash™ Teasers are made for saltwater fishing. Their stunning flash and action prove to be an irresistible visual attractant, either leading ahead of the bait for directly attached to it.
- What is the purpose of the rattle?
- Rattles, when added to the Z-Man lures, add more attention-grabbing sound when retrieved. This acts as an attractant in some fish and leads to irritant reaction strikes in others.
- The trailers come in Split Tail and Streaks. Why choose one over the other? With which lures should they be used?
- Both lures were designed for use with the Original ChatterBait™ and are interchangeable. The Split Tail is essentially the default trailer. When a fisherman has the desire to increase profile size, the Streak, used with or without a skirt, is a good bet.
- Are fishermen normally trying to land the same types of fish throughout the country?
- While some fish are found in many or most areas of the country, others are indigenous to certain habitats. Having Z-Man in a well-stocked tackle box is the best weapon against these variations.
- Which fish are found only in certain areas? Which lure is recommended?
- With all the variations, this is a nearly impossible question to answer. Different areas and conditions mean different fish and varying sizes. A fair rule of thumb would be "the larger the fish, the bigger the lure".
- What is a "jig"?
- If the skirt and the blade were removed from a lure, the profile combination of the jighead and hook would be the jig.
- What is a "spinnerbait"?
- A spinnerbait is a lure with the addition of one or more rotating blades that, when retrieved, give the profile of a baitfish.
- What is a "crankbait"?
- Crankbaits are artificial lures, normally with a diving bill, that continually dip downward during retrieval.
- What does "straight retrieval" or "straight retrieval with a jerk" mean?
- "Straight retrieval" refers to casting the lure out and smoothly reeling it in. Adding intermittent tugs or other movements to the line that cause erratic action during retrieval is called "straight retrieval with a jerk."
- What does "jigging off the bottom" mean?
- This is a time-tested method of getting the big ones to bite. To jig off the bottom, allow the lure to sink until it rests on the bottom. Then, either aggressively or smoothly, lift the rod up, reel in the slack, and then allow the lure to sink to the bottom again. Pausing for the lure to resettle on the bottom invites fish to strike at the lure. The process of retrieving and stopping is repeated until the lure or, better yet, a fish has been reeled in.
- What does "fishing a lure aggressively" mean?
- This refers to reeling a lure in fast, using a lure that has erratic action or implementing a lure with drastic flash.
- If a body of water is known to have stumps, weeds or other obstacles, what lure is recommended?
- All Z-Man products are designed to greatly reduce hang-ups but common sense should always be used. If thick weeds or other impediments are thought to be lurking under the surface, use the Z-Man lure of choice but try to run it just above the dangers.
- How are Z-Man lures intended to be attached to the fishing line?
- Z-Man lures can be attached by using a direct tie or by using a snap swivel. A snap swivel, the combination of a snap and swivel, is typically used to quickly switch between fishing lures without having to retie the line. (To use: Tie the line to the swivel, unhook the snap, attach it to the lure and then close the snap.)
- What makes Z-Man products superior to spinnerbaits, crankbaits or other lures on the market?
- By offering a family of cutting edge, scientifically-designed products, Z-Man provides fishermen (and women) with tools needed to reel in the trophy catches. Offering ChatterBait™, EZ Skirt® and ElaZtech™ technology has made Z-Man the king of the water while all the others are talking about the ones that got away.
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