13 replies to this topic

[Arv]

How many of you buy jigs with rattles on them? Any specific conditions/situations you would use a rattle or not use a rattle? Thanks.

[Jake P]

I really couldnt care less about rattles. I dont buy jigs based on rattles. If it has some, thats fine. If not then thats fine too. I will however NOT buy a jig because of rattles if they look worthless or dont really work. I dislike a couple of brands for this reason.

[cadman]

I make my own jigs and have put rattles on. I don't see a difference with the rattles. Now I don't use rattles at all and I still catch plenty of fish.

[M-D]

I prefer rattles on mine. If I lose one I never worry about replacing it, just keep on chunking it out there and catching fish.

[merc1997]

you just have to let the fish tell you if you need a rattle or not. i have times that you needed at rattle to get a bite, and just the opposite.

bo

[Bankbeater]

Never use them. If I buy a jig with rattles I usually remove them.

[Bluebasser86]

I've seen instances when rattles make a HUGE difference, usually in stained to muddy conditions. Still I don't fish them very often unless I really feel like they should be eating my jig better than they are and I just try it to see if it helps. Sometimes I'll add the rattle to the jig or if I'm using a big enough trailer I put a worm rattle in my trailer.

[backwater4]

I don't care for jigs with rattles on them. What I do if I want a rattle in a jig, is add a glass worm rattle to the trailer. This allows me the best of both worlds, plus the rattle in the trailer has a more subtle sound.

[backwater4]

Sorry blue, was typing at same time you were.

[Arv]

Thanks for the feedback yall

[WRB]

It looks like you got mixes replies, the only reply that makes sense to me was; let the bass decide, which means you need to have both types of jigs; with and without rattles.
I usually fish in more open water areas with deep clear water and rocky structure. I start off without a ratle during day light periods and with a rattle during very low light or at night. I never add a rattle to a jig trailer and prefer the rattle be attached to the hook shank or skirt collar. The reason is rattles can change the balance of the jig and I don't like to add weight to the trailer. Glass rattle in a plastic worm is OK, just not the jig trailer.
Tom

[Arv]

you just have to let the fish tell you if you need a rattle or not. i have times that you needed at rattle to get a bite, and just the opposite.

bo

It looks like you got mixes replies, the only reply that makes sense to me was; let the bass decide, which means you need to have both types of jigs; with and without rattles.
I usually fish in more open water areas with deep clear water and rocky structure. I start off without a ratle during day light periods and with a rattle during very low light or at night. I never add a rattle to a jig trailer and prefer the rattle be attached to the hook shank or skirt collar. The reason is rattles can change the balance of the jig and I don't like to add weight to the trailer. Glass rattle in a plastic worm is OK, just not the jig trailer.
Tom

While it seems rather obvious this definitely makes the most sense. I've never really payed attention to this detail for whatever reason, but looking back, whenever I've had better days, I've usually had a rattle. Not that I haven't caught some decent fish w/o a rattle. I think there is a deal of merit to what Bluebasser said about stained/muddy water, since the majority of my fishing is in fairly muddy water. My guess is the noise makes the jig more of a noticeable target in low visibility conditions. Thanks again for everyone's feedback!

[WRB]

There is big difference between stained and muddy water. Stained water can be fairly clear like a cup of tea, add milk and you have muddy water. Muddy water, to me, is water with a lot of suspended soil particles, like run off water from heavy rain. Stained is water stained from vegetation like tea leaves stain the water color.
Green water from suspended vegetation particles mixed with wind and wave soil errosion could be called off color water. If the light is defused and depth of light is reduced, then adding a rattle would be like fishing in very low light conditions, it may help the bass locate the jig. I would also suggest darker colors with some highlight colors in those low light conditions.
Tom

[Arv]

There is big difference between stained and muddy water. Stained water can be fairly clear like a cup of tea, add milk and you have muddy water. Muddy water, to me, is water with a lot of suspended soil particles, like run off water from heavy rain. Stained is water stained from vegetation like tea leaves stain the water color.
Green water from suspended vegetation particles mixed with wind and wave soil errosion could be called off color water. If the light is defused and depth of light is reduced, then adding a rattle would be like fishing in very low light conditions, it may help the bass locate the jig. I would also suggest darker colors with some highlight colors in those low light conditions.
Tom

Thanks Tom. The majority of the jigs I fish on my main lake are black/blue and occasionally a watermelon/orange-red since it is muddy like you described. I've caught some nice'ns around a drain at the end of the lake where it seems the muddiest. I'm assuming it creates somewhat of a current and pulls a lot of the floating particles towards itself. It also seems to make a nice refuge for baitfish since there's a grated metal covering on each side.