Overview
Available exclusively at Tackle Warehouse, the Z-Man Chatterbait Elite Evo Mini Max features a compact profile and custom 2/0 black nickel hook in a heavier gauge wire than the standard Mini Max, allowing it to easily be fished on typical full-size Chatterbait setups. Equipped with a premium egg snap line tie, the blade at the front is directly connected to the head for quick activation, allowing the Elite Evo Mini Max to begin its vibrating, shimmying, flashing movement from the first crank of the reel handle.
Each skirt is precisely hand-tied with premium silicone to ensure plenty of action and visual appeal, while a wire bait keeper on the hook shank firmly secures your favorite soft-plastic trailer. A downsized bait priced to deliver exceptional value, the Z-Man Chatterbait Elite Evo Mini Max is perfect for anglers who are fishing pressured waters or trying to imitate smaller forage.
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Customer Reviews
update the bait keeper TW plz !!These things are almost perfect ... if only TW would do a mini version of the evo's bait keeper on it butted up to the head then eureka!!!
The best chatterbait for the midwestSmaller public waters in the kansas area chock full of under 5 pound bass, I love the idea of chasing big fish, but the reality is i'm not fishing among a bunch of true giants. Add to that that the regular chatterbait has probably been ran to death in these lakes, I caught my largest bass just under 5 pounds on the original mini max, so when they released the evo elite in a mini max variation I knew I had to get them. When buying these I bought so many colors, and I've just recently found that truly the best color for around here is the plain old green pumpkin, and i've liked using green pumpkin/chartreuse trailers on it. The other colors get bit, but this one gets bit the most and its not even close. It's unfortunate that out of the 2 i've bought, one wound up wedged in between some deep rocks and I couldnt retrieve it, the second saw so many fish and cover that the skirt is basically gone, the paint has long since been beaten off the blade, and it's missing an eye. Came to order more and they're out of stock. Guess i'll be throwing my original mini max in green pumpkin in the time being. Well done on this one, Z-man.
Awesome for the price!These things are awesome. My favorite chatterbait at the moment. Especially for the price. I understand why all the good colors and sizes are out of stock. That being said — come on Tackle Warehouse! If this is going to forever be a TW exclusive, it might be beneficial to keep them in stock. If it’s a Z-Man issue — come on Z-Man! Give TW what they need to keep these in stock.
Almost perfectLove the design, action and hardware except the painted blades. C'mon TW and put some black anodized blades on the dark colors. The paint chips quickly unfortunately but they do get bit. The hook is perfect for this size bait which gives it an advantage over the Mini Max. It's my new favorite smaller sized chatterbait.
Killer baitI'm a big fan of the mini max, and this is a nice version of it. Small size, strong hook, great action. Now I use both the Mini Max and the Evo Mini Max.
Smallmouth KillerI bought these originally for Mead, but they crushed it on every lake I hit up over a three week span in MN. They have a super tight vibration, similar to a lipless. I paired mine up with a mooch minnow. The bait keeper is the only draw back to the bait. With the mooch minnow I would push it up and pinch down on the back side to get the bait keeper to pierce through and that worked alright.
My hook up ratio was a little less than it was with the Jackhammer, but I was getting 4x more bites. Overall a great bait and highly recommend giving it a try. I know this bait will be killer this fall.
Paint on jig and BladeBlade will chip after a few fish and jig head will also start to chip without hitting any rocks or objects.
Great for pressured pondsThe downsized profile and tighter vibration give pressured fish a different look from a regular chatterbait/jackhammer that they seem to love. Super great numbers bait as it racks in bite after bite. Only knock on the bait is that it rides a bit higher in the water column than expected, but is still great for mid/shallow depths. Pair it with a 3.5 inch spunk shad and you are good to go!
LEGIT!Being this is a TW exclusive I had to get my hands on a few to give them a good testing. These smaller profile EVOs pack a pretty big punch! Was really impressed with the vibration as well the ability to come up and over stumps logs and laydowns. Just ordered myself a nice selection.
Small Profile, Big Results: The Mini Max GetsThe Z-Man ChatterBait Elite EVO Mini Max might be smaller than your standard bladed jig, but don’t let that fool you—it flat-out produces. I’ve been throwing this thing on a baitcaster with lighter line, and it’s become a permanent spot in my box. It’s that perfect “snack” size that even the big bass can’t pass up—especially when they’re being picky or the bite’s a little off.
The blade has a more subtle vibration than the full-size ChatterBaits, which I actually like in certain conditions. It’s not trying to blow their gills off—it just tracks true, looks natural, and gets eaten. The skirt flares just right, and the color selection is legit—Z-Man really brought the heat with the detail on these.
As always, the components are top shelf. Sharp hook, tight wire, quality keeper—it’s all there. And being exclusive to Tackle Warehouse just makes it feel like a secret weapon most folks aren’t even throwing yet.
Bottom line: the Mini Max punches above its weight. If you’re after a finesse-style ChatterBait that still lands big fish, this is the one.
Very happy with this lureI usually use the full size original chatterbait or the evo full size. However, tonight, they were wanting something smaller and I’m glad I had these in the locker. Used a 4” Yum sonar minnow as a trailer and slayed them tonight. Combo skips decent as well. Very happy to have this as an option. Keep an eye on the snap though. After 10 fish or so mine started to come undone and needed to be re-clipped
Blade ChipBlade paint chipped within 5 casts. I would not recommend.
Hot snakes colorThis color caught my PB of 12.3 on lake fork. The color gets crushed.
Great for pond Bass!Great way to catch more fish by downsizing. I use the 3” Zako trailer and go to catching. Easy to rig, throw, and catch with. A must have in my tacklebox!
Nice addition to the tackle boxGreat bait as the rest I got it pair with a 3 inch rage swimmer and got a 3.5 pounder after just a few cast.
Too soon to tellI’ve been crushing them on the OG mini max past couple weeks and was excited to get these after having so much success on the EVO this past year. There’s a shad spawn going off and the shad are tiny.
I haven’t had a chance to test it other than in my backyard but they run super high in the water. The OG mini I had to sets ups. Both have 15 lb flouro. I use a 6.3:1 for the 3/8’s and it runs about the same depth as a full size chatterbait. The 1/2’s I use a 7.5:1 and fish it like a trap. I tied both on and what I can see is the 1/2 mini Evo runs like a 3/8s OG mini. The 3/8’s runs damn near like a wake bait even on a 6.3:1.
I’m sure each will have its conditions that they will shine. I know for sure the 1/2 OG is going to remain a staple. The 1/2 Evo might replace my OG 3/8s as they wear out or get lost. I got baby jack hammers coming and will need to do some real world testing before I order more.
Upgraded MinimaxThe components are much much better than the original minimax. The blade starts up faster and has a harder thump. Upgraded snap, bait keeper, blade, head. I’ve had minimaxes in the past go flying off and I reel in just the blade so i’m assuming that problem is fixed. The painted blades might scratch off quick. I used the TW Black and the paint is chipping off the blade after one day, but that was expected anyway. Gold, silver, copper, and those glittered/painted blades should last a while. They definitely sit higher in the water column than an original minimax so you might have to go up in weight depending on what you are fishing. The 3/8oz with a 4.5 spunkshad sat around a foot or 2 under the surface. They also have the weight shown on the jig head unlike the old minimax which is a big plus. Has plenty of vibration and hunts just like an elite evo, just smaller.
Stay with the original!Aesthetically, these may look better; they aren’t as good as the original Minimax! I normally get the 1/4 oz, but I just moved, and the waters here have a little more grass, so I got the 3/8 oz! They cast fantastically, but other than that, they don’t compare!
Color ClarificationBeautiful Chatterbait, as one person commented below, it appears to have resolved any (minor) issues with the original Mini-Max.
One thing to note -- the Electric Shad color in person is not a warm, translucent grey as it appears to be in the photo above. In person, and both indoors and in sunlight, it's more of a smoky "cool" grey with more opacity and a very fine green/purple flake, and the bottom is crisp white with some blue iridescence and pepper. Not bad, just... different.
I've paired this with the Hog Farmer Stroll Shad in 4" size (also in Electric Shad) which is a PERFECT pairing, and it offers the same action you're used to with a Jackhammer/4.5 Spunk Shad, just scaled down.
If you pair the Evo Mini Max with a 4.5 Spunk Shad, you'll get the "whippy" hunting action a Jackhammer gets with the 5.5 Spunk Shad.
A great addition to the arsenal
ExcellentStarts really fast, excellent colors, spectacular hook, great size obviously, and fishes about as well as you’d expect. I used a 3.5 and a 4.5 inch Hog Farmer Spunk Shad with them. They were a marvelous pairing.
Got mine today!Early review as I have just unboxed them. I gotta say it appears everything wrong with the Minimax is fixed on this bad boy! (Btw I love the OG mini maxes and slay with them, j/s)
Better clasp, better hook, better trimmed skirt, better keepers. I haven’t even tied one on but I’m ready to order more.