jig rattles

johnnie crain outdoors · Fri Aug 15, 2003 7:17 am

Pro staff,
when you use rattling jigs do you prefer-built-in rattles, add on rattles, or rattles inserted into the trailer? Also, do you feel painted on eyes make any difference on a jighead? Johnnie

catt951 · Post by **catt951** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 1:56 pm

Good question Johnnie, I generally don't use rattles. I prefer Wal-Mart Renegade Jigs which come with rattle band skirts, so sometimes I add a rattle. Why? I don't know cause I catch more with out one. My most resent favorite is Strike King's Bitzy Bug Flip 1/4 oz. Black/Blue with a Zoom Swimm' Chunk in Blue Sapphire. I guess rattles along with black lights are two things I totally don't see a need for. But I'm willing to here so reasons why!

Dennis Bligh Jr · Post by **Dennis Bligh Jr** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 2:58 pm

I tend to use rattles on my jigs mainly for the confidence factor, whether or not they work I couldnt tell you. There is a local guy here tha makes nice jigs with the rattle straps, I like these better than the built in ones. With the built in rattles you cant change the skirts on your jigs with trashing them. As for the painted eyes, they sure catch alot of fisherman, fish I dont know about. Have a good day everyone.

Eric · Post by **Eric** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 3:26 pm

I do prefer rattles on my jigs and when I make my own jigs I use rattle collars or straps. Tournament Force jigs, which use a rattle collar are also a favorite.
I have a friend that never uses rattles and exclusivly casts Terminator finesse jigs. He swims these jigs 90% of the time with a rod pumping motion. I can honestly say that when the bite is tough or the fish are on that particular bait, he can not be beat. He just wears em out with those little baby jigs, just swimming them off the bottom.

Eyes? Well, I tie a lot of hair jigs for smallmouth fishing during the winter and the only time I add eyes is when producing a baitfish pattern. I honestly beleive that unless you are swimming a jig, eyes will not be very inportant because 9 times out of 10 you are imitating a crawfish.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 10:08 pm

I use rattles in stained to muddy water. I feel that this in addition to the bulk of the bait add appeal for hesitant bass. I use jigs from Retriever Lures. They use add on rattles and have two different types of add on rattles. The most appealing to me if I am dragging or bouncing the jig, is a rattle that is longer than most because it is connected to the skirt by a two long soft rubber arms(one on each side)through experimenting I have found that these longer arms help to support the bait on the bottom causing the hook to stand upright(better hook ups)as opposed to laying on it's side as with most jigs. In contrast if I am fishing thick cover I prefer an add on rattle that is held closer to the bait helping to prevent hang ups. If fishing clearer water I let the mood of the fish tell me wether or not to use a rattle. As for the painted eyes I am indifferent.

mofish · Post by **mofish** » Sat Aug 16, 2003 3:30 am

Jigs and rattles lets see. In clear water I don't use the rattles and I use a 1/4oz jig. Muddy water I use my own home made rattles, ( out of old christmas lights). I put them on the jig themselves and the trailer. In stained water Put them in the trailer. I dont know how many times I have fished a jig and not get a bite add a rattle and catch fish. But it also goes the other way around too. You just have to let the fish tell you.

As far as Eyes? Heck I don't even paint my jigs! I might take a perm. marker and color it a little but I have found it doesn't really make that much difference.

Like Catt I like to use the worm weight with the built in collar for a skirt. This type of jigging can be deadly. I find it to be more weedless because it is rigged Texas style. I have to thank Catt for introducing me to that trick. Skirted collar worm weight and a big Salty Craw on a 3/0 to 4/0 hook and hold on.

catt951 · Post by **catt951** » Sat Aug 16, 2003 4:23 pm

Thank you Mo! Most anglers will not use a Texas Rig Jig, they think a jig must have a hook attached. The beauty of the Texas Rig Jig is the weight & skirt slide away from the hook as it does with Texas Worm Rig. I'll fish it with worms, lizards, creatures, & of course a craw worm.

johnnie crain outdoors · Sat Aug 16, 2003 9:15 pm

Conley, what's the deal with the Christmas lights for rattles, care to share that with us. Never heard of such a thing.
I prefer to use rattles in dirty water, in heavy vegetation and in log jams. Some fish are buried so deep in cover they may not see the jig, but hear it and come out enough to check it out. I like Large painted eyes, bass are attracted to eye *****, a cue tip dabbed in paint or a waterproof marker does fine. I feel eyes are about 20% important, rattles, about 75% of the time. Thanks guys. Johnnie

mofish · Post by **mofish** » Sat Aug 16, 2003 9:47 pm

I'm sorry I thought I posted this before. I make my own worm rattles out of old burt out Chirstmas lights.

Take one old christmas light and take it out of the green holder. You do this by bending the wire out straight and then pull on the bulb part. Once you have it away from the green holder. (I'll try to post some picture with this later.) Hold the bulb by the tip. Now take your Dremel tool with the cut off wheel attached put on some saftey glasses and cut the end of the buld that has the wires sticking out of it. It will not cut it perfect most of the time it just breaks but thats Ok it can still be used. Make sure that you drop down some from the end or there will be nothing left to glue back together. Now take the end that you cut off, there will be wires inside the bulb too. Just clip them off with some wire cutters. Now take some #6 bird shot. I just took an old 12gauge shotgun shell and cut the end off. Put three shot in each light that you have cut. Mix up some epoxy. Dip the end of the light with the two wire still sticking out the end of it into the epoxy and line up the cut with the peice that has the shot in it. Take the bulb and push the point into a piece of styafoam and let it dry. In a couple of hours you will have a great worm rattle that has wires attached to it that you can twist around just about any bait that you wish to add rattles too. Plus the sharp point on the other end works great to push into worms or jig trailers.

There you have it Christmas Light Rattles.

MMT · Post by **MMT** » Sat Aug 16, 2003 10:27 pm

As a guy who makes jigs, I never put eyes on my jigs...the exception being hair jigs. I prefer a barbel type strap for rattles. The hang in the skirt.