Silent Crankbaits

[Vinny Chase]

I can honestly say I have never used this type of crankbait. I have heard this attribute helps in pressured areas. I live in MN and I don't consider this area to be pressured. Are there another benefits?

Thanks,

VC

[b.Lee]

A lot of the pros will tell you, After you have caught them on a crankbait with rattles, throw without rattle sand you should get on to the bass that are more skittish.

[Raul]

My favorite and most productive bait ever is Rapala 's original Shad Rap, been fishing with it for more than 2 decades, as you know, the baits is solid balsa and silent. As I get older I begin to beleive less in conventional wisdom stating that silent baits are better for "pressured" areas or for extremely clear water, why I say such ? cuz I fish that bait most of the times with excellent results regardless of the pressure or the water clarity, theoretically speaking, conventional wisdom says that in muddy water you should ( like if it were some kind of commandment you should follow : ) use a rattling crank, Ive used not only the Shad Rap but also other silent baits ( like Sonics, Bayou Boogies, River Runts and even minnow shaped baits like the the original Rapala Floating minnow ) I 've got in very muddy water with good results; I 've done the opposite ( fish with very loud cranks ) in crystal clear and pressured waters with good results.

So take it as this: having a few won 't hurt you, use them when you feel they may produce and, in the worst case scenario, well, you can always change it for a loud bait.

[5bass]

While a rattle will attract a fishes attention, it can also be the deciding factor on whether or not it eats the bait.

I'm glad some companies are offering silent baits again. I fish a super clear highland reservoir and having rattles is overkill most times. They can see my bait a long ways away and dont need the help of rattles to help them locate it.

I'm one of the people who feel like a silent bait is better for clear water but most times when I'm out I'll throw something with rattles as well as a silent bait to try to dial things in.

[Marty]

Like Raul, I've been fishing the Shad Rap since its introduction and I have more confidence in it than any other crank.

However, I've caught and seen caught too many fish on both rattling and non-rattling cranks when they should either work or not work.

So I'd advise to use the conventional wisdom as a starting point if that makes you feel better, but don't get locked into preconceived notions and keep trying different things until you get the answers you're looking for.

[SkilletSizeBass.]

While a rattle will attract a fishes attention, it can also be the deciding factor on whether or not it eats the bait.

I'm glad some companies are offering silent baits again. I fish a super clear highland reservoir and having rattles is overkill most times. They can see my bait a long ways away and dont need the help of rattles to help them locate it.

I'm one of the people who feel like a silent bait is better for clear water but most times when I'm out I'll throw something with rattles as well as a silent bait to try to dial things in.

X2

A few of the small watersheds I fish are very clear and get hammered with lures, so I think silent cranks and silent lipless lures are just another tool to try at times. I'm also glad to see more tackle mfr. coming back with a silent version also. Although a silent lipless is harder to find than a silent crank.

[Primus]

In my opinion it's good idea to have both silent & rattling cranks. I've done well with the liquid filled silent Sebile Flatt Shads in clear water lakes, at times they'll hit this bait and ignore  my rattling lipless baits. They also make painted Flat Shads which have a knocker sound. In addition to the Shad Raps that have already been mentioned I've done very well the last few years on Lucky Craft's RC series of baits. This year I fished the Strike King Series 6XD Silent version in the Sexy Ghost Minnow and this bait put a lot of nice fish in the boat for me.

[A-Jay]

While a rattle will attract a fishes attention, it can also be the deciding factor on whether or not it eats the bait.

I'm glad some companies are offering silent baits again. I fish a super clear highland reservoir and having rattles is overkill most times. They can see my bait a long ways away and dont need the help of rattles to help them locate it.

I'm one of the people who feel like a silent bait is better for clear water but most times when I'm out I'll throw something with rattles as well as a silent bait to try to dial things in.

I'm am in this club as well.

I would LOVE to try a Silent Red Eye Shad . . . .

A-Jay

[Nick]

Stirring the pot, every crankbait makes "noise" unless it is resting on bottom or suspending. Any vibration technically is noise (as long as their is a carrier for the waves) and a moving object can be picked up through the bass' lateral lines regardless of the extra rattles a bait may have. So every bait puts out its own signature waves. A crank without rattles still makes a lot of noise from hooks and rings and its own action as it pushes water and bangs the bottom so one with rattles or one without ain't necesarily the deciding element to catching fish on a crank.

IMHO rattles vs. no rattles ranks way behind a bait.s unique wiggle/wobble, depth achieved, speed, profile, hooking ability, durabilikty, color, straight running, and deflection ability.  Last give me a  good angler on the other end of the line, and he/she will probably catch fish on lots of different crankbaits because he/she will be fishing in the right location and has narrowed down many other important considerations mentioned above. (Sorry for the  rant!)

[5bass]

Stirring the pot, every crankbait makes "noise" unless it is resting on bottom or suspending. Any vibration technically is noise (as long as their is a carrier for the waves) and a moving object can be picked up through the bass' lateral lines regardless of the extra rattles a bait may have. So every bait puts out its own signature waves. A crank without rattles still makes a lot of noise from hooks and rings and its own action as it pushes water and bangs the bottom.

You just added some credibility to my post. I stated that in the clear lakes that I fish, the extra rattles were overkill most times. The wobble and general noise of the hooks and rings on a silent bait is often enough to attract a fish.

so one with rattles or one without ain't necesarily the deciding element to catching fish on a crank.

Correct. But it can be. That was my point.

You have to give both a chance and usually by the end of the day, one of the two will outfish the other.

[fishfordollars]

Best thing to do when everyone is throwing rattling baits. follow them down the same spot and catch the fish turned off by the rattles. As long as the water is decently clear, I stick to baits without a rattle. Never seen anything in the water that makes a rattle.

It can amaze you.

[Nick]

Mr. Limit,

I was not trying to add or detract from your statements. My only point was that many other factors overshadow the rattles  in determining  the success or failure of a particular model. I kind of prefer wooden ones myself.

[Blue Streak]

I prefer a silent crank bait over rattles in almost every situation except muddy or very stained water. I think it just gives a more natural presentation, and right now the bass are loving them.

[farmpond1]

While a rattle will attract a fishes attention, it can also be the deciding factor on whether or not it eats the bait.

I'm glad some companies are offering silent baits again. I fish a super clear highland reservoir and having rattles is overkill most times. They can see my bait a long ways away and dont need the help of rattles to help them locate it.

I'm one of the people who feel like a silent bait is better for clear water but most times when I'm out I'll throw something with rattles as well as a silent bait to try to dial things in.

I'm am in this club as well.

I would LOVE to try a Silent Red Eye Shad . . . .

A-Jay

Or a silent clackin' shad ;D

[fishfordollars]

It's very simple to silence a trap or any of the other rattling lipless baits.

Get a drill, drill two holes, one in front of the front treble, and another hole behind the front treble. Very important to drill both holes. you have problems getting the glue in without the second hole to allow air relief. After you have put the glue in be sure to hang the lure from the rear treble(Head down) so the rattles(Weight) are positioned lure head forward. This will keep the bait with a head forward weight. close the holes with Marinetex.

I took a trap apart to get the correct location for the drill holes. the traps do not have two separate chambers, just two sections front and rear connected by a narrow tunnel. Takes less than five minutes start to finish. Be sure to let them dry completely.

FYI, I use super glue for the inside chamber.

Good luck.

[northern basser]

I've always liked crankbaits w/ rattles and a lot of action. This year my fishing partner(frogginstein) started using a silver and black shad rap which obviously has no rattles and a tight wiggle. He was hauling fish in the boat at a alarming rate compared to me. I finally began to use the same lure(different colors) and my luck improved. At first I thought he was just getting lucky, it couldn't be skill or choice of lure ;D ;D ;D ;D.

Theres a time and place for everything, but this fall in southern MN those shallow running shad raps were the ticket! You just don't want to get weeds off it by smacking it on the water. I broke the lips off like 3 of those sh. run. shad raps. Oops

[Carrington]

i almost always use silent crankbaits