Rattle Baits in Spring

Rattle baits are a great search bait to comb through the water quickly — and one of the best options out there is a rattle bait. They work for all different fish species: bass, walleye, pike, white bass, even trout, and panfish.

For example, many early-season bass tournaments are won ripping rattle baits through the weeds. They can be absolute dynamite for early season walleyes as well. Don’t believe us, ask Tony Roach! Heck, they even smash ‘em through the ice!

These baits have a number of really unique qualities:

#1 – They put off a lot of sound and vibration.

#2 – You can cast them a mile.

#3 – They sink quickly, enabling you to efficiently cover a wide depth range.

These three factors help make rattle baits extremely effective for covering water and drawing fish in from afar. They are killer search lures for catching active biters.

Now you may be wondering if these will work on your favorite lake.

The answer: Probably

We’ve had success with them in rivers, clearwater lakes, dark water reservoirs, cold water, warm water, even frozen water! You won’t know if they work on your lake until you give them a try — and trust me, you don’t want to miss the boat on this one.

Generally speaking, most anglers will throw these baits on medium-action baitcasting rods, anywhere from 6’10” to 7’4” in length. If you prefer spinning rods, just make sure you’re using a reel with a large spool that allows you to work the bait quickly and efficiently.

It’s hard to go wrong with 12-14 pound fluorocarbon for line choice.

If you’ve never used rattlebaits in the spring, you need to give them a try. I have a feeling you won’t regret it!