Rattles on jigs

[Quillback]

Saw this question on another board and was wondering what the Ozark fishermen think.

Do rattles on jigs make a difference in your opinion?   I never use them, but maybe I should try them?

[5bites]

I've never been able to tell that they did. I've caught fish on a brown finesse jig in mud water so like most things I believe we over analyze things. The only time I could think it might even remotely help would be pitching in a mess and shaking it. Otherwise it's just a confidence thing in which case it can definitely make a difference. 

[m&m]

I agree with 5bites.  I have them and sometimes i use them and sometimes i don't.  i am more concerned with color than the sound.  I think the sound of the jig head dragged across the bottom works.

Mike

[merc1997 Bo]

i can tell you it is one of those things to let the bass tell you.  i have seen it both ways.  i have seen it many times in clear water and not a breath of air, and the only way to get a bite was with a rattle on the jig, and go the next night with same conditions and you have to fish without the rattle to catch them.  that is why it is called fishing and not catching.

 

bo

[Old plug]

Merc I have never been much of a supporter of anything that rattled. Just for the reason you stated. I have to question if that additional noise is of any additional help. Maybe they get curious sometime and then maybe the next time it feels like something they do not want to be near. Fish are deaf. I am sure hey are ware of things around them both day and nite. Maybe in muddy water it is harder to pick up things. I sure do not know? But I have been in a boat with other a few times with someone using a rattle jig and I was using a plain jig ( I took he rattles off because I did not like their bulk on the hook) and we both caught fish. I can cause a lot of vibrations jut shaking the jig and trailor. That seems to suit me. 

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

i was never a rattle fan until i started diving, we take rocks and ding our tanks and the bass come in everytime to see what was making the noise, walleye do the same thing

[Champ188]

i was never a rattle fan until i started diving, we take rocks and ding our tanks and the bass come in everytime to see what was making the noise, walleye do the same thing

Pretty hard logic to beat right there. Every diver I've ever known says the same thing.

[merc1997 Bo]

i was never a rattle fan until i started diving, we take rocks and ding our tanks and the bass come in everytime to see what was making the noise, walleye do the same thing

 

Pretty hard logic to beat right there. Every diver I've ever known says the same thing.

just because they come to look does not mean you will get bit.  they still might bite better without the rattle, or with.  same can be said for crankbaits.  there are times that one without rattles will do much better, and anymore, it seems to be more often, and i think that has to do with everything having rattles.  but, the bass will usually tell you which one is more effective.

 

bo

[fishinwrench]

96.4% of my jig bites happen on the initial fall.  Rattles just add weight (which isn't always bad, but far from a deal breaker).

[jpb2187]

I can't say I go out of my way to fish one or the other, but I do have some with rattles. One trip I was using a rattled jig but the band broke during the day. After that I stopped getting bit on the jig. Naturally that was the day I didn't have any other jigs with rattles on them in the bag.