This Is A Good Question

[MIbassin]

Hey guys!

 

I havent seen this question asked anywhere else and im really curios to know the difference!

 

In your experience and knowledge....is there ever a time when one big rattle will work over many smaller ones and vise versa?

 

The reason i ask is because recently, many companies that have lures with many rattles have come out with a lure with one big rattle such as a one knocker spook just to name one.

 

What do you think?

[MrPeanut]

IMHO the fish want different sounds on different days / when they're in different moods.  At times they want the extra rattling of many small rattles, and other times they may want one knocker sounds or even silent baits with no rattles.

 

I try to throw a different kind until I figure out what they want. 

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Different sounds different sizes its all preference for the fish on a given day..

[Long Mike]

My "expert" response is, "it depends."  Let the fish tell you what they want.  It could easily be "none of the above" and you will have to change baits and presentations.

[Bluebasser86]

I like one knocker baits, especially in lakes that get lots of pressure or where a particular bait that is normally productive isn't producing as well as it normally does. I think fish get conditioned to seeing and hearing all the regular cranks and traps with BB's in them and learn to avoid them through the negative stimulus of being caught. The single "knocker" ball however isn't something they hear as often and will get a much better response from them at times. Still, like almost everything in fishing there is no set rule for when one will outproduce the other, just have to try them and listen to the fish. 

[Sam]

In the good ole days we would take a bait with dual ball bearings inside of them, drill a hole and remove one ball bearing, and seal the hole with glue.

 

This was done to give the bait a "different" sound.

 

Then, lo and behold, one of the pros started to do this on a regular basis and it caught on. It is still done today but the pros don't tell you they do it.

 

I don't recall the bait manufacturing company that first introduced the "One Knocker" but it was done with a lot of fanfare and the company's bass pros fell all over themselves telling us that this is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

 

Now, you can get both a "One Knocker" and a "normal" rattle bait from a number of sources.

 

So is there a place for both?  Yes. And as stated above the bass will have to let you know if they want a "One Knocker" or a "normal" rattling bait.

 

Remember, each has its own properties. The "One Knocker" can be less intrusive with its noise. And sometimes the bass want a quieter bait.

 

On other days the bass will eat up your "normal" Rat-L-Trap type baits and topwaters with "dual" bearings while ignoring the "One Knockers."

 

If you decide to experiment by removing one ball bearing from any of your "normal" rattling baits be sure to consider the bait's balance.

 

What gets me is that a pro like VanDam or Ike will hawk their sponsors' products as they come out of the box when in reality both, plus the other pros, will modify their baits by doing all sorts of things to the bait itself and the hooks. But this is Top Secret information that once in a while leaks out or you find it out via speaking with another pro, a friend or reading the pros' books and articles.

 

When a pro throws a Chugbug or lipless crankbait that bait can be totally different than the Chugbug and lipless crankbait you and I throw.

 

And that is the fun part of bass fishing: to outsmart the bass and your competitors.

 

Now go to the garage and the that drill, vice and glue ready to roll!!!