Z-Man® ChatterBait® Elite EVO™ HD Voted Best Wired & Skirted Lure at ICAST 2026

Award-Winning Innovation Is Here: The Heavy-Duty EVO Is in Stock and Ready to Ship to Retailers Nationwide

Ladson, S.C. (July 22, 2026) -- The ChatterBait® bladed jig has earned a permanent spot in bass fishing as the winningest lure in recent history, but the anglers who fish it hardest, in the heaviest cover and against the biggest fish, kept pushing for more. Z-Man listened and built the new ChatterBait Elite EVO™ HD to give those anglers total confidence in exactly the moments that matter most.

At ICAST 2026, the sportfishing industry's largest trade show, that confidence earned recognition of its own. The Elite EVO HD was voted winner of the Best Wired & Skirted Lure category, and the award-winning bladed jig is in stock now and shipping to retailers nationwide.

Built to Take a Beating

The ChatterBait Elite EVO HD takes one of the most trusted bladed jigs and supercharges it for the moments when durability isn't optional. Built on the popular Elite EVO platform, the Heavy Duty (HD) version is engineered to be at least 40% stronger than the original EVO, giving anglers the confidence to lean hard on their gear when big fish, heavy cover, braided line, and high-stakes situations demand it.

A solid teardrop-shaped welded ring creates a bulletproof line-tie connection, while a reinforced head-to-blade interface and a custom 5/0 super heavy-duty nano-coated hook deliver the brute strength and clean penetration needed to horse giants from grass and boat flip kicker fish. The HD also upgrades the trailer keeper system with a hybrid molded split-grip keeper backed by a double-wire retainer, gripping soft-plastic trailers more securely than the single-wire design on the standard EVO, a critical advantage when skipping docks or ripping through vegetation.

Offered in plated, painted, and glitter finishes, the stainless hex-shaped ChatterBlade® connects directly to the head, firing up instantly and driving the aggressive, hunting action anglers expect from a premium ChatterBait bladed jig. Finished with wire-tied silicone skirting, detailed paint schemes, and oversized 3D eyes, the Elite EVO HD is built for the biggest bites and the highest stakes.

Proven Under Pressure

“Winning Best in Category at ICAST is always meaningful, but it means even more with a lure like the Elite EVO HD, because it’s a reflection of our commitment to continue pushing the ChatterBait category forward,” said Jose Chavez, Z-Man Director of Product Development. “Our goal was to strengthen every critical component without compromising the action anglers expect from an Elite EVO.  Whether you’re throwing it on heavier rods and braided line, boat flipping kicker fish, or wrenching one out of heavy cover, we wanted anglers to have complete confidence that the bait is built to handle it”

“As an Elite Series pro, I need gear I can trust when everything is on the line,” said Bassmaster Elite Series angler Patrick Walters. “The Elite EVO HD gives me the confidence to winch big fish out of heavy cover and put them straight in the boat. Seeing it recognized at ICAST just confirms what I already knew from fishing it.”

Stocked and Loaded

The ChatterBait Elite EVO HD is in stock now and ready to ship to retailers nationwide, loaded with enhancements like its welded line tie, reinforced blade connection, and heavy-duty hook that earned it Best in Category honors. The EVO HD is offered in 3/8- and 1/2-ounce sizes and 20 pro-selected color patterns, including new Tickled Pink, Copper Gill, and GP Melon, at an MSRP of $12.99.

Z-Man's latest ICAST honor is more than industry recognition. It reflects the brand's ongoing focus on performance on the water, and the Elite EVO HD shows that commitment: tackle that holds up to the hardest-fighting fish and gives anglers one less thing to worry about when it matters the most.