Should I keep the rattles on the jig or take them off?

Keep em

with the rain, and most likely some muddy water I'd keep the rattles on (also I'll fish rattles on a jig at night). If i'm fishing clear or ultraclear water I'll fish a jig without rattles.

Take it from the jig master Denny Brauer- Rattles all the time! except on football jigs.

Depends. Sometimes better withem sometimes better without. As a generalized rule i base it off the mood of the fish. Agressive fish seem to usually take it fine with em maybe even find it easier. Sometimes though on a real neg bite seems like the slightest thing can make a finicky fish drop a jig too quick.

Crawfish make clackin noises when they are on rocks feeding so you want it....with a football head it's big enough to create some noise for you. If it's not working then take it off. I personally don't use them enough but I need to.

I like rattles in wind or off color/muddy water, otherwise no rattles for me.

Don't matter!!!! I fish a jig 90 percent and I catch just as many with or without. Water clarity and jig color MATTERS!!!!!!

What color jig would y'all throw in muddy/stained water?

Follow the same rules apply as with other baits....dark like black/blue or black/chart.

Don't over think colors... I was terrible about that. Most Texas waters are not clear in comparison to northern waters.
Clear water for our standard: green with a little brown (natural)
Stained: black, black&blue, black&brown
If there biting they will eat it...... Caught a 40.98 pound 5 best fish. Went back the next day and caught one fish over 7. They r there but sometimes they bite sometimes they don't. No substitute for time on the water

take'em off

I normally use my the rattles. If the water is choppy or water isnt clear. I put the on flipping jigs but not casting jigs.

I fish a jig more than any other bait and this is what i follow. Mood of fish means a lot too.

Yep, with a 1 ounce football head you are making plenty of noise in rocks and rubble. Most of the time I do not use rattles. I add the rattles if I'm not getting the bites and in certain conditions. I.E. Muddy water or heavy overcast.

But even with my flipping jigs I don't use rattles most of the time or if I do I only use one. I just think it gives em something different.

Example, look at Crankbaits and how the rattles change over time as fish get accustomed to them. You see some companies changing to one large ball for the rattle or using a crank wiht lots of bb's. Look at rattle traps and the one knockers as compared to the bb's.

At the end of the day though Jig fishing is about confidence. If you have more confidence using the rattles you will catch more fish. If you have more confidence without rattles, you will catch more fish. Confidence

Thanks for the feedback and perspectives. I am going tomorrow and I will give both a shot.