I really like my Arashi Silent Crankbait and Arashi Wake bait (I have a Biovex Wake bait and Rapala Waking minnow that I don't like as much). The Arashi Wake bait has rattles in it while the Arashi Silent Crankbait obviously doesn't. Both have proven effective.

 

 

I know at the beginning of the day you need to grab a crankbait and you have to decide which one to grab, the silent or the one with rattles.

 

 

 

 

So what crankbait is more effective most of the time: silent or rattling?

Really depends on water clarity and the basses activity level. Most bass lakes have moderate water clarity where yo have about 5' depth of good light. Rattling lures work good in both low light and moderate water clarity. Crankbait type lures without rattles are usually better in lakes with good water clarity, depth of light over 8' and good sun light.

Keep in mind that bass use their lateral line to detect critters swimming in the water at long distance, they may hear them before seeing them. Both types of crankbaits move a lot of water and makes hook noises, they are not silent lures.

Tom

This is something I posted in a different thread on squarebills, it can apply to wake baits as well.

"From my experience rattles work better when the bass are active, the lake is more active like a day with high winds for example, or the water is alittle dirtier than normal. Many people think rattles help get bass to bite when they are inactive, from my experience its quite the opposite. Rattles can negatively impact your fishing, if it didn't then rattles would always be a better choice.

Rattles don't directly help the bass find your lure, they kinda are a heads up to the bass. When the bass hears that rattle it alerts them and they start actively searching for the bait, it doesn't really help the bass pin point the baits actual location much.

So on a day that bass and bait fish are inactive wouldn't you agree that a noisy bait would put them off more than a silent bait that sneaks right up to their nose before they know it?

EDIT: And one more thing to add is the more clear the water the less prone I am to using rattles, bass in clear water are mostly sight feeders anyways and they feel less secure. So I think rattles can negativly impact clear water fishing more than dirtier water... But they still have their place in clear water."

I have always believed rattles in murky, silent in clear. I fish murky so i normally use rattles.

If i only had one crankbait it would be a silent crankbait.

Rattles if they are feeding on crawfish or bluegills silent when they are feeding on shad

I really like my Arashi Silent Crankbait and Arashi Wake bait (I have a Biovex Wake bait and Rapala Waking minnow that I don't like as much). The Arashi Wake bait has rattles in it while the Arashi Silent Crankbait obviously doesn't. Both have proven effective.

 

 

I know at the beginning of the day you need to grab a crankbait and you have to decide which one to grab, the silent or the one with rattles.

 

 

 

 

So what crankbait is more effective most of the time: silent or rattling?

I believe you answered your own question. 

 

Both are just as effective as the other in different situations.

I would say 50-50. See, it' s not the bait, it's you.

Both are effective some of the time