ChatterBait®, Meet Micro Finesse
Z-Man® Unveils Premium, Micro-Sized Bladed Jig Built for Multispecies Versatility
Ladson, SC – There's a certain magic in feeling the pulse of a small bladed jig and watching it disappear in a flash of color as a panfish, trout, or pond bass darts from cover to crush it. The unique effectiveness of that unmistakable ChatterBait® vibration made Z-Man's FlashBack® Mini an ultralight staple for years, and it helped inspire the new Micro Finesse ChatterBait® lure. With upgraded components, the perfect ElaZtech® trailer, and a stainless bait keeper that locks trailers firmly in place, the micro‑sized bladed jig packs familiar ChatterBait action into a premium, multispecies‑ready design.
Several years of testing with renowned Bait Finesse System (BFS) enthusiast Jimmy Ly helped refine the bait's final form, but the focus of the design is simple: deliver reliable ChatterBait action in a smaller, more responsive package that excels with panfish, trout, bass, and other BFS and ultralight‑tackle targets.
"I began working on this project with Z-Man when I sat down with them at ICAST in 2023," said Ly. "The following fall, they sent me some new prototypes to test. We went through several iterations and changes and eventually landed on this model."
Micro Size, Major Performance
The Micro Finesse ChatterBait bladed jig is built around a custom needlepoint black‑nickel hook that delivers the strength and sharpness most micro‑sized baits lack. A stamped stainless‑steel bait keeper with two sharp keeper points makes rigging simple, even with ElaZtech superplastics, and grips trailers firmly so they stay put through repeated strikes and multiple fish catches. Its compact stainless‑steel ChatterBlade® connects directly to the head and engages the moment the retrieve begins, producing immediate vibration without the need to pop the rod or accelerate the reel.
The result is a small‑profile bladed jig that thumps hard, responds quickly, and appeals to everything from bluegill and crappie to stocked trout and pond bass.
"It doesn't foul up on the retrieve, it begins working the second you start retrieving it, and most importantly, it gets bites," said Ly. "Anything under the sun, really. Trout, all sunfish species, bass, perch. Whatever you'd like to catch, this lure will do it."
ElaZtech Enhanced
Each Micro Finesse ChatterBait lure comes pre‑rigged with a 2‑inch Baby BallerZ™ trailer molded from Z-Man's proprietary ElaZtech superplastic. The softness of the material allows the trailer to transmit blade vibration more effectively than traditional plastics, and its profile is tailor‑made to match with a micro‑sized bladed jig. A thick, ribbed body makes it easy to rig, while the tapered tail and bulbous tip sway and kick with every pulse of the blade, adding subtle vibration and movement.
The long‑lasting durability of ElaZtech makes the Baby BallerZ the ideal companion for a micro-sized bladed jig. It resists tail nips, takes hit after hit without tearing, and outlasts traditional soft plastics by a wide margin. As part of the Micro Finesse lineup, replacement Baby BallerZ trailers are readily available—if you can even wear one out.
"The Baby BallerZ enhances the action without getting in the way," said Ryan Harder, Director of Brand Strategy for Z‑Man. "It moves easily, holds up to repeated strikes, and completes the Micro Finesse ChatterBait package."
Better Build, Better Value
"The FlashBack Mini is a classic, but this new Micro Finesse ChatterBait is just built better," Harder adds. "The hook is stronger, it's got a solid keeper, and the Baby BallerZ trailer gives it more life and lasts way longer. Getting all that for less money is a win for ultralight anglers."
Available in 1/16-, 1/8-, and 3/16-ounce sizes and six proven Micro Finesse color patterns, the Micro Finesse ChatterBait bladed jig is available now at an MSRP of $3.99.
About Z-Man Fishing Products: A dynamic Charleston, South Carolina based company, Z-Man Fishing Products has melded leading edge fishing tackle with technology for over three decades. The company's roots trace back to producing silicone skirts for many of the industry's top lure makers, a foundation that set the stage for its evolution into a full-fledged lure brand. With the addition of the Original ChatterBait® bladed jig and the development of its proprietary 10X Tough ElaZtech® superplastic material driving its transformation, Z-Man broadened its offerings into a comprehensive lineup of innovative freshwater and saltwater lures. Today, Z-Man remains family owned and is among the fastest growing lure companies in the fishing industry, with its products distributed across North America and in more than 40 countries worldwide.