Easy Fix for Z-Man Elite EVO & Testing on Bass!

Hello, everyone! Today, we're fixing a Z-Man Elite EVO chatterbait so that it's fishable. I made a video earlier on how to fix the Z-Man Weedless Project Z & it's a similar procedure. (I'll link that video below). Basically, you tie a double-line knot (like a palomar) to the eye of the chatterbait & glue it in place which serves as a "stopper" to prevent the blade from wiggling its way off the head of the bait. Some users have also reported the snap failing. In that case, I recommend using a Decoy Egg Snap (size #2) as a replacement. I'm going to fish mine with the stock snap for now & I will replace if I see any early signs of failure. You could also crimp the snap down to make it harder to pop open. After a few quick modifications (& some drying time), the Elite EVO is ready to fish. I took it out on the water to test on some bass & it held up well. So, come along with me, as I fix a Z-Man Elite EVO & test it out on some bass, too!
Edit: After the video posted, I noticed on the thumbnail pic that the Elite EVO snap had started to open up...so I opted to replace it with a Decoy Egg Snap (Size #2)
Link to Z-Man Project Z modification video...
• Modifying a Z-Man Proj...
Today's fishing gear...
Boat Set-up
Boat: Coleman Crawdad (buy used locally)
Bed Extender: Darby Extend-A-Truck w/ roof rack pads
Motor: 55 lb Minn Kota Endura C2 (similar)
Inflatable Life Jacket: Onyx TW AM-24 All Clear (similar)
Battery: Dakota Lithium 12V, 54 Ah
Net: Tackle HD Telescopic Landing Net
Gloves: NRS Gloves (XL, they run small)
Milk Crate Set-up
Crate: Black Milk Crate + black 3-rod rack (attach w/ screws + zip-ties)
Pliers: 6.5" P-Line Adaro Jr. Aluminum
Forceps: Dr. Slick 6" curved forceps (similar)
Lanyard: Black coiled fishing lanyard (2 for tools above)
Tackleboxes: Plano Waterproof Stowaway 3440
Soft Bait Pouch: SPRO Mesh Soft Bait Pouch (Large, Gusset)
Towel: Booms Microfiber Fishing Towel
Chatterbait Combo
Rod: 7'4" Ark Tharp Glass Casting (MH, B-Hittay)
Reel: Lew's Speed Spool LFS Casting (6.8:1, Lefty)
Handle Upgrade: Lew's Custom Speed Shop Combat Grips
Line: 30 lb Berkley X9 (low-vis green)
Leader: 20 lb Daiwa J-Fluoro
Lure: 1/2 oz. Z-Man Elite EVO (Electric Shad)
Modification: 50 lb braid knot to fill gap w/ super glue
Replacement Snap: Decoy Egg Snap (#2)
Trailer: Z-Man Chatterspike (Electric Shad)

[@jasonlopez4855]

I've been hearing about biggest fish in 8 lbs and up to 12 lbs the blades come off or loose the clip's or snap clip bends so I put the bigger one then it comes with. It helps great. But that's me. Good video

[@JonP.Fishing]

Thx! Whatever works for you is the best solution. Nice job.

[@ront7089]

Jackhammers in ontario are 25 buckaroos and lose one to toothy critter sucks when bass fishing going to try the evo out

[@JonP.Fishing]

definitely give the EVO's a try - just take the time to upgrade the snap & put in some sort of blocker for the blade gap before fishing

[@WarEagleTheBest]

Does it matter what brand you use if we talking about number of bites? ( let’s say the trailer and a chatterbaits all come in identical color and weight). Will I have different number of bites using one brand vs others, or it practically will be about the same? Let’s say I had 10 bites on Picasso. Will Jackhammer or Evo be around 9,10,11 bites or they can range from 0 to 20 let’s say. What do you think?

[@JonP.Fishing]

Brand doesn't matter exactly, BUT start up speed is *very important*. Some companies have tried to go around Z-Man's patents by installing extra parts or split rings btw the blade and the head. Almost all of them suffer in start up speed w/ these additions. You want them thumping as soon as you rip out of weeds. If it takes them 3' to start chattering again or you have to pump them multiple times to get them going again, they're already past the fish & out of strike zone.

[@hardys.5763]

Just don’t buy them!! When the bottom line gets affected, they will pay attention! Why should we as a consumer fix their garbage?? Shouldn’t have to repair something that is new!

[@JonP.Fishing]

I agree, BUT...they still haven't fixed the Weedless Project Z (or other chatterbaits) & that's been many, many years. It's an easy fix to get some unique colors, so it's worth it for me to spend a few minutes before fishing. If someone wants a chatterbait that's perfect out of the package, the jackhammer is the one to get.

[@DoYouLoveTheSilverHairedGod]

Add a dab of loctite red right in that gap. It will be just fine.

[@JonP.Fishing]

That's an interesting idea that I haven't tried. I think loctite is water soluble? But maybe OK after it's fully dried. Someone else recommended UV epoxy which dries hard, too. Whatever works is a good solution. Just need some kind of solid "stopper" to keep that blade on in case eye opens up.

[@DoYouLoveTheSilverHairedGod]

@@JonP.Fishing that’s what I’ve been doing with mine and I haven’t had a blade come off yet but if anyone was worried about it wearing off, you could always just touch them up with it every now and then. I always keep a little bottle of the stuff in one of my tackle boxes anyway. You never know when you might need a good binding agent out on the water. I cracked a trolling motor propeller out on the water once. It didn’t break completely off but did have a crack on one edge and I just pulled it up, added some loctite and let it sit for 30 minutes or so while I fished that area I was in and then continued on fishing the rest of the day with that propeller and that’s just one of the many examples of where the loctite in my tacklebox came in handy.

[@williambaker1753]

For the $ Z man charges for the Evo chatter bait they should fix the problem I'm not buying none until they do.

[@JonP.Fishing]

I understand. Based on history (w/ the Z-Man Weedless Project Z), you might be waiting a long time. IF you want a chatterbait that's good to go out of the package, use a Jackhammer. They do go on sale every once in a while which makes the price easier to stomach.

[@joeavelar2222]

I lost two of them in no time due to the line being frayed by that problem

[@JonP.Fishing]

Sorry to hear that, hope the video will be helpful in the future.

[@davianglover7939]

I wonder if the bait will have the same action when you’re not tying your knot to the snap lock

[@JonP.Fishing]

I should have explained that part better. The knot in the video is a "knot to nowhere" it's just acting as a stopper to keep the blade on the eye - I cut both tag lines after knot is tied in place. When I tie my bait on to fish, I'm still tying to the snap as usual.

[@locodragon28]

Have caught ton of fish on the evo not one problem?

[@JonP.Fishing]

Whatever you're doing is working - so keep doing it! For me, I'm fishing braid to leader & ripping it hard. Snap already opened up in 1 afternoon of fishing. Braid + superglue is insurance against the eye opening up.

[@akshin4128]

Paying 10 bucks for a bait, shouldn't have gape in the first place. Just my opinion.

[@JonP.Fishing]

This is true! If you want to just take a chatterbait out of the package & fish it, that bait is the jackhammer. No mods needed.

[@glenndaugherity6187]

Just spend another 3 bucks and buy a Jackhammer ! Geez

[@JonP.Fishing]

Yup! If you don't want to do any mods, the jackhammer is the one to get.

[@BattleattheBank]

Genuine question guys. I can’t get bites on a jackhammer but the regular chatterbait elite older version I get plenty of bites. Any thoughts? Is it really just a sound preference?