Well, Ronnie, your lack of success may be because you weren't throwing the
new IMPROVED Ultra-flex Bozonium-alloy, Scent-impregnated, Sparkle-coated
Chatterbait-X with Super-Sonic Rattle Chamber that just appeared on store
shelves last week. Did I say store shelves? I should say cash registers.
These incredible baits are not in stock long enough to require shelf space,
because eager anglers are snatching them up in the stores as eagerly as bass
do in the lake!

Bass have, evidently, grown jaded to the old, first-generation Chatterbait
(or "Model A" as it's sometimes called), having been exposed to it for
several months now. The revolutionary Chatterbait-X, however, guarantees
that bass will never become accustomed to it because it constantly changes
shape and sound in the water. Each cast is like throwing a whole new, small,
struggling bass bon-bon into the water. Bass are powerless to refuse it! FLW
and B.A.S.S. are considering outlawing this new bait, but until they do,
expect all bass tournament weight records to be smashed! Smashed, I tell
you!!!

MSRP on the Chatterbait-X is $10.99, but usually when a store tears open a
carton, a bidding war breaks out, and dealers report selling them to the
jostling, cursing crowd of desperate anglers for upwards of $50 apiece.
Prices on eBay today ranged from $33 to $71 for lures still in original
bubble packs.

On a related note... Police raided a modest rancher near Morristown,
Tennessee this past weekend. Concealed beneath the house is an elaborate
metal shop that has been carved out of a natural cavern. Deputies are still
exploring the vast complex of storerooms, mostly filled with Chatterbait
knock-offs that had been staged for shipment to tackle shops across the U.S.
Evidently, the counterfeiters abandoned their worthless lures, which before
the great Chatterbait Drop-off, had a street value of approximately $5
million. Now that the Chatterbait-X is on the market, demand for the Model
As has completely vanished. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has arranged
with Hamblin County Sheriff's department to take the entire load of baits,
wire them together, and use them as fish-repellents around power plant
cooling water intakes.

Joe

"Ronnie" wrote in message
oups.com...
Saw an old thread about this bait. I had heard of them and figured
just another hype. Read about them in the FLW mag while practicing for
my Top Six last month and figured the same thing. Next day, five days
before the tournament went into a store at the lake and they had a big
sign but no baits. Woman said they had about five dozen and some guy
came in and bought them all, said he did not want anyone fishing
against him to have any. That is at $6.99 eacyh. Another store up the
road a few miles said they sold out over six dozen in two days.

Called a club member that was not fishing the Top Six and he said he
had some. I had to go home for a couple of days anyway so went by his
house and he gave me three to use. Went by the local bait and tackle
store the next day and ask - they had five, told them I wanted all five
but two guys in the store begged to get one each so I left there with
three.

Next day back at the lake the store that was sold out had some in so I
bought three more. Now had nine! Did not want to get on the lake and
my partner beat my brains out with a bait I did not have. Shared with
the team members in my club that were camping together, made sure we
all had one just in cast.

Night before tournament I was looking for some jig heads in my boat and
found a paper sack. It had two Chatterbaits in it - it was a sack of
samples I got last April at Georgia Outdoor Writers Assoc meeting. Been
carrying them around for a year without trying them out!

Threw one some in the tournament as did other club members. One guy
said he caught a keeper on one, I never got bit on it. No bites in my
pond, either.

I am sure they will catch bass - and bass fishermen, just like other
baits.