Do rattles help or hurt?
Both, depending on conditions. Largemouth hear low-frequency sound through the inner ear and swim bladder, so in stained water, wind, or low light a rattle is one more signal helping the fish find the bait — a clear help. In calm, clear, hard-fished water the same rattle can flag the lure as something the fish has been stung by before, and silent versions often outproduce it. Carry both and let the fish vote: if rattling baits draw follows but no strikes, go silent.
The full story
This answer is one piece of a longer lesson — setups, diagrams and the reasoning behind it.
More questions about Hearing & Inner Ear
Same topic, other species
- Why does one dropped pair of pliers scatter the whole school? — Crappie
- Do muskie hear my boat and trolling motor? — Muskellunge (Muskie)
- Does drilling with an auger spook the school? How long until they recover? — Yellow Perch
- How well do pike hear? — Northern Pike
- Will talking or footsteps on the bank scare trout? — Trout (Rainbow · Brook · Lake)
- Does boat noise or an ice auger spook walleye? — Walleye