Has anybody considered the sound that a ripper makes a factor in it's effectiveness? The reason I ask is while pittleing around with my jerkbaits, I noticed that the Megabass 110's bearings have a different, much lower pitch than the LC pointers. I realize they are primarily for casting ease, but they also have to make a sound when jerked around. I don't know about you guys, but the 110 gets me more fish than any other I have tried, and that's a lot of them. I've heard bass are "bassists" and tune in to lower freq. noises. Any thoughts?  

That's an extremely hard question to break down and analyze. I can hear how various rattle traps sound when I'm burning them and they start to near, but a jerkbait is a little harder. Plus I have no idea how it sounds to a fish.

That is the reason I have several different types of lipless crankbaits, sometimes the Rat-L-Trap is the one, other times it is a Spro Aruku  shad and then even 1 knocker, the Xcalibur one knockers sound different than the Rapala Clackin' Rap but at times the fish show a preference for one or the other, I can't explain why and if I could I'd be rich. I approach jerkbaits the same way as I do lipless cranks, I have a bunch of different brands because of the different properties each one has. I have experienced times when the 110 was a flat out killer but I've also had days where the 110 couldn't compete with a Rattlin' Rogue and days where the Pointer 100 was the only bait you could get a strike on, I don't know for sure why but some days it takes a different triggering quality to get them to react.

All the characteristics about a bait are thought to play some role; from the size, shape/profile. color and as discussed here, the sound.

 

When you fish with a few of each of the same color of baits, usually there is one (or if you're lucky two) baits that even though they look identical, one just out produces the rest.  May never know why, but there's something about that one that has it getting bit on average more than others.  Haven't noticed it too much in jerk baits, but I'm betting it happens.

 

I have one particular rattlebait like that - it's just killer.

 

And one of my most productive cranks, is supposed to be "silent".   But when I got it, I noticed that the weight inside is a little loose.  So rather than silent, it has The Faintest little "Click' when retrieved.  Really effective -

Couldn't say why, but I'd probably swim for that one.

 

 I've since purchased several more hoping for another - And just like buying lottery tickets - chances are slim.

 

A-Jay

I like to use the loudest rattle jerlbaits when the water is off color or dirty. Clear water it can be a toss up. 

All the characteristics about a bait are thought to play some role; from the size, shape/profile. color and as discussed here, the sound.

 

When you fish with a few of each of the same color of baits, usually there is one (or if you're lucky two) baits that even though they look identical, one just out produces the rest.  May never know why, but there's something about that one that has it getting bit on average more than others.  Haven't noticed it too much in jerk baits, but I'm betting it happens.

 

I have one particular rattlebait like that - it's just killer.

 

And one of my most productive cranks, is supposed to be "silent".   But when I got it, I noticed that the weight inside is a little loose.  So rather than silent, it has The Faintest little "Click' when retrieved.  Really effective -

Couldn't say why, but I'd probably swim for that one.

 

 I've since purchased several more hoping for another - And just like buying lottery tickets - chances are slim.

 

A-Jay

in lure weights if they arent pressure sealed theyre probably glued. Take a hair dryer and heat the crap out of an old beater crank at different angles to see if you can melt it and move it.

Just dont throw it in the microwave unless you like blue lightning in your house

Find yourself a bridge. Was fishing a bridge with a Rat'L Trap (A big bridge) and you could hear the bait rattling under the water, thanks to the ceiling of the bridge which echoed or bounced back the sound. Pretty awesome!