Rattle vs Non Rattle Cranks

[10,000 Casts]

When I troll I like to have either all rattle cranks or all non rattle cranksin a spread.. Am I looking to far into this?

clear water = no rattle

dirty water = rattle

[Scoot]

I'm a believer that it makes a difference sometimes. However, the conditions (clear vs. stained water, sunny vs. cloudy, etc.) under which one will work and the other won't, or vise versa, I've not figured out one bit. Just when I think one is the answer, the other seems to be.

I know some muskie gurus have said rattles are no good because you can't tell when they will help and when they will hurt. But, I don't see that any different as anything else-- when will using Lure X help catch more fish or result in absolutely no interest in it from the fish? Put it on and give it a try... I see lures with rattles the same.

[SDS]

I prefer rattles hands down. Sounds and vibrations are two things I like to have while fishing Musky. I also fish mostly clear water lakes with the weed line at 20+ fow.

[Andrew Erickson]

they all have a time and place, there is no rules when it comes to muskie fishing!

[10,000 Casts]

To be honest, I have not caught one muskie on a Jake in 8 years of trolling them! Some Northerns but they don't count.. I know jakes catch Muskies but not for me... Yet on other Non rattle cranks we have done good in all water types and conditions.. Funny thing is that imo the Jakes have better paint jobs.. If I could put out a 5 line spread I would be able to pin point this a little easier. But with only 1 or 2 lines in the water, I want to have thest best chance possible..

[SmellEsox]

To be honest, I have not caught one muskie on a Jake in 8 years of trolling them! Some Northerns but they don't count.. I know jakes catch Muskies but not for me... Yet on other Non rattle cranks we have done good in all water types and conditions.. Funny thing is that imo the Jakes have better paint jobs.. If I could put out a 5 line spread I would be able to pin point this a little easier. But with only 1 or 2 lines in the water, I want to have thest best chance possible..

Wow. No kidding? I've caught quite a few fish on Jakes trolling. One of my favorites for trolling.

[10,000 Casts]

yep, I can't figure it out.. Up until last year, I really never trolled much but we still caught fish on other cranks.. I trolled Jakes on 6 different lakes last year and never boated a fish yet my go to Crank did pretty well.

[50inchpig]

only one secret to success when you're trolling jakes: use the ugly ones!

[RK]

Hiya -

I suppose it matters at some level, but it likely changes from day to day, and with muskies, your sample size is so small it's about impossible to draw any hard and fast conclusions. I know that sounds cynical, but you can never tell...did it bite because I was using a rattling crankbait? Or did it bite because I was using a rattling crankbait when I found one that was willing to bite?

In the end I think stuff like this boils down to confidence.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Andrew Erickson]

In the end I think stuff like this boils down to confidence.

+1

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

only one secret to success when you're trolling jakes: use the ugly ones!

same rule with Hellhounds

I know plenty of guys that have had 3-5 fish days on Jakes so I know they work.. I also like the look of the new Storm Flatsticks.. well I'll just keep pluggin!

[SDS]

Jakes are my favorite cranks with rattles. I own around 15 jakes, some are the same exact pattern, but only catch fish on a handful. I think some lures have a certain sound that fish are more likly to strike for one reason or another. If i buy a lure and it dosnt produce within a couple trys it ends up in the s#%t box.

[Dave_Williamson]

It really depends on the Lake I think......I fish very similare lakes with clear water and on some lakes they like the rattles and on others they won't hit a bait if it rattles. Its all trial and error try them both until you get it dialed in.

[brad coin]

the guides in Northern wisc think it matters quite a bit in the fall,,,they bugged Joe Bucher to make a silent depth raider,,and Rollie and hellens still sell them in the shop and online

[Musky Buck]

I'm with 10,000 Since 1988 we have 0 crankbait catches, however, have never fished past August either due to coaching varsity football. And we never use them anymore, my gut tells me get off the water if you need to dig deep and put a crankbait on. Nearly convinced stocked MN fish in the waters I fish don't like them much or I don't know, haven't seen a muskie video in recent years where crankbaits were the bomb, but retirement will come one day and we'll give em a go again some day.

[JJJ]

Grab a non rattling crank. Grandma, tripleD, etc... Hold it by the lip then shake it. The split rings and hooks make a rattle sound on their own. Conclusion is that all cranks rattle. Question is to what degree or intensity?