Square Bills with rattles or silent

Which do you like best - Square bills with rattles or silent- what size do you prefer as 1.5 ,2.5 or 3.5

I prefer silent if I can get away with it. It's more natural than rattles. I especially love silent when I know a lot of people are throwing squarebills.

Silent for me.

Silent unless the water is REALLY murky. Then I grab one with rattles.

Silent 1.5 size

They all have there place, but I prefer silent 1.5 or a 1 knocker depending on conditions

Even silent ones are noisy from the hooks rattling against the body!

Obviously not as loud though!

Silent 1.5

I like silent and large. At least that's what I prefer and have the most confidence with. I suppose any of those variations might be best for certain situations- just depends.

I like the 2.5 size. Silent most of the time. Color doesn't matter as long as it's Sexy Shad or Chartruse Sexy Shad.

I guess I go against the grain but I like mine rattling, unless the water is very clear. If one is not working, try the other.

I like both. If there's a lot of pressure on the area you're fishing, try a silent 1.5 in <5ft and 2.5 in <7ft.

Yes, I throw both. Here is a link to an article I wrote last year about this subject.

http://www.wmi.org/bassfish/articles/T214.htm

Hopefully, it will help. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

In muddy water I will throw one with rattles! Now with clear water or water with lots of fishing pressure I will throw silent crank bait.

Thanks for that- good read there.

No problems sir.

Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

I tend to go with the 1.5's. There are a ton of advantages to using silent unless it is murky or cloudy. In that case, I would either use silent Chart-black or use one with rattles.

1.5's spring to mid summer...2.5's late summer thru fall. Start with rattles and switch to silent or 1 knock if the rattles don't get bit well. Pattern/color depends on the water color and the forage fish in the area.

Great article.

I like them both honestly. They each have their purpose.
I really prefer the 2.5 on 12lb fluro. I have noticed if throwing in a school or if you're looking at your graph and you see school fish or bait balls; if they don't hit the crank with the rattles, sometimes ill switch to the silent. It actually happens a lot within in school, but I prefer the rattles along rocks and spillways and or dams.

Silent 1.5 Sexy Shad

Will always go silent other than 'Trap season

When fish are actively feeding, in cold water, or in muddy water I like to use a bait with rattles so fish can find the lure even easier. On pressured waters, slightly clean water, or when bass are facing high air pressure conditions I prefer a silent bait. As for size, I prefer the 1.5 type crankbaits most of the time unless I am fishing in muddy water or during the Summer and early
Fall turnover when the water temperature is over 65 degrees and bass follow baitfish into shallower water.

The 2.5 size baits are preferred when you want to target larger sized bass or are fishing through very thick wood cover as they float up out of cover a bit faster than smaller crankbaits and have a larger sized bill which help deflects off of hard cover easier. I usually throw a crankbait made of wood when using the 2.5 size. They are usually best during the warmer months as they displace much more water.

I feel crankbait color and line size can be more important than crankbait size and silent vs rattling. Having a bait that is too translucent or too brightly colored for the water conditions you are faced with can make the difference between 1 and 5 bites. I either use a shad colored bait with a green or black back and white or silver sides, bright colored bait such as candy citrus or solid chartreuse with a black back, or a bluegill colored crankbaits. Using the right diameter line will help you to reach the fishes depth and cover that they are using. I like to use 8-12 lb line on 1.5 size crankbaits and 12-17 lb line on the 2.5 size baits. I hope this helps!

I like rattles when the water has a little more color to it. In clearer water, it doesn't really make much of a difference to me. And I throw the 1.5 about 95% of the time

Excellent article Thad.

Excellent response from someone who knows bass fishing. Love it when a guy this knowledgeable shares some detailed info in their reply

Yep.. I have fished with Stephen a ton of times... He knows what he's talking about for sure and can flat out hammer the bass!