When fishing jerkbait when is the best time to throw one with rattle vs one that is silent? From what I heard is when it's windy and the water is not calm you throw the rattle one vs when the water is calm you throw the silent one. Can anybody confirm this?

I would throw them both. Figure out which one works for you each day and on different bodies of water. Don't get too caught up in the best "ways or rules" you could end up chasing fish and end up frustrated that they aren't biting the rattle on the windy day or vise versa. Just my opinion

The logic behind the rattle in the wind is because the added weight increases casting distance. I wouldnt want to cast a weightless bait into the wind. The way I learn new baits is busting my hump trying to catch fish on them. 

I'm not sure the wind is a factor when it comes to using a rattle but the rattle version may weigh more making it easier to cast. I hate the wind when it gets going but some of my best days with a jerkbait was during windy trips with a good chop on the water. In the warmer months the wind circulates and oxygenates the water and moves algae which gets the whole food chain moving so sometimes wind is a good thing.

If you want to fish a silent jerkbait that's easy to cast; the LC silent pointer may be your answer. I only wish they made it in a bigger size.

I'm not sure I even have a silent jerkbait.  One thing is for sure, on windy days, the hardest cast to make, in the hardest spot to maintain boat control, is usually the best place to be fishing.

Rattles in baits have always been a controversial topic. There are many fisheries biologists who believe that the rattles are not within the frequency range of sounds heard by bass.

 

Regardless of whether bass can hear the rattles or not, they can feel the vibration of rattles with their lateral line. One issue with rattles (for skeptics) is that the bait contains small bb's that knock around inside of it and send vibrations in all different directions, making it more difficult for the bass to zero in on the bait compared to a silent bait that only displaces water (especially in murky water, a time when many will reach for loud baits.) 

 

In the real world bait fish don't make rattling sounds. With that said, in my experience there are times when the rattle seems to draw the attention of the fish to my baits (last night, for instance.) On the other hand I have had tremendous success fishing silent crankbaits and other baits that just displace water and emit vibrations. jherm87 makes a good point that experimentation is the only way to find what the fish want. 

I'm not sure I even have a silent jerkbait.  One thing is for sure, on windy days, the hardest cast to make, in the hardest spot to maintain boat control, is usually the best place to be fishing.

 

This is soooo true!!!

I don't own any silent baits. Like J said, the place the wind is hitting the hardest is sure to be the most productive area. 

I don't own any silent baits. Like J said, the place the wind is hitting the hardest is sure to be the most productive area.

I hate how true this is lol