Do you find silent or rattling shallow diving squarebills more effective for river smallmouth?

[Ohioguy25]

There always seems to be some degree of stain in moving water but the river I fish does get very low and up to 12-15” of visibility at summer pool. Just trying to build up my crank bait arsenal and wondering which way I should skew?

[Scott F]

I know that there are guys who love cranks in rivers, but I’m not one of them. Too many places where crank baits just don’t work. The rivers I fish usually have too much shallow water or are too rocky for the bait to come through without getting snagged. Current also makes the baits not run and vibrate the way they should. There are too many other baits that work better in variable conditions. 

[flyfisher]

I haven't found a difference.  Any crankbait in a river is making all kinds of noise on its own as it should be banging into the rocks and bottom.

[Kirtley Howe]

I have a 50-50 mix of silent vrs. rattling. Some days they want rattles, some days they want non-rattle. Some days it makes absolutely no difference. When possible, I buy each new crankbait in both rattle and not rattle. A lot of times I am sure the style (squarebill, flat-side, etc.) is far more important than if it rattles or not. 

 

[Spankey]

Crankbait fishing is a big part of my fishing on the river and the lake. I have confidence baits that both rattle and don’t in squarebills and rounded lips. I believe majority of my fish have been caught on a rattling crankbait. Rattling by a wider margin. My waters are stained more than they are clear and most likely my reason for throwing rattling by a wider margin. 

[GReb]

Silent. Spro Lil John is a great river bait. 

[Ohioguy25]

22 hours ago, GReb said:

Silent. Spro Lil John is a great river bait. 

You think rattle spooks them?

On 8/28/2023 at 2:07 PM, Scott F said:

I know that there are guys who love cranks in rivers, but I’m not one of them. Too many places where crank baits just don’t work. The rivers I fish usually have too much shallow water or are too rocky for the bait to come through without getting snagged. Current also makes the baits not run and vibrate the way they should. There are too many other baits that work better in variable conditions. 

What would you say covers water better than a diving bait?

[Spankey]

4 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

You think rattle spooks them?

What would you say covers water better than a diving bait?

Across the country all rivers are not created equal (they can’t be). I’m not an expert by a long shot on bass behavior. 
 

I don’t think a rattling bait spooks them. Might make them shy away from a bait but maybe tomorrow that same bait they may take. I believe this happens all the time. They sort of survive on instinct. 
 

Can’t think of anything I use that covers more water better than a crankbait. But other baits probe the water better. 

[Scott F]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

What would you say covers water better than a diving bait?

In a lake, crank baits cover water very well. In a river, in-line spinners, spinner baits, Ned rigs and swim baits all can cover water very well. You can run them shallow or deep, with or against the current. If you want to control the depth, you vary the speed of the retrieve. 

[flyfisher]

16 hours ago, Scott F said:

In a lake, crank baits cover water very well. In a river, in-line spinners, spinner baits, Ned rigs and swim baits all can cover water very well. You can run them shallow or deep, with or against the current. If you want to control the depth, you vary the speed of the retrieve. 

I can agree with that but I will also add one plus to a crankbait is the ability to control depth without adding weight in faster water and the rise of a crankbait when motion is stopped has triggered a ton of strikes for me over the years, especially in faster water.