More Marbles, Fewer Marbles, Or Maybe Just One Big 'Un?

That was the basic gist of a question I recently found had been submitted to an online forum. Actually, the question asked by a reader was: "In your experience and knowledge, is there ever a time when one big rattle (popularly called a 'one-knocker') will work over many smaller ones and vice versa?"

Three of the respondents boiled down their answers to something along the general lines of it all depends on what the fish may want on any given day. "Let the fish tell you what they want" was their collective advice.

A couple of anglers, however, offered more in-depth advice.

Said one, "I like one-knocker baits, especially in lakes that get lots of pressure, or where a particular bait that's normally productive isn't working very well. I think fish get conditioned to seeing and hearing all the regular cranks and traps with BBs in them and learn to avoid them through the negative stimulus of being caught. The single 'knocker' ball, however, isn't something they hear as often and will get a much better response from them at times. Still, like almost everything in fishing, there is no set rule for when one will outperform the other. You just have to try them and listen to the fish.

And, finally came this response, "In the good ol' days, we would take a bait with dual ball bearings inside of them, drill a hole, remove one ball bearing, and seal the hole with glue. This was done to give the bait a different sound... . Today, you can get both a 'one-knocker' and a regular rattle bait from a number of sources.

"So, yes, there is a place for both types. The bass just have to let you know if they prefer the more intrusive noise of a 'one knocker,' or the quieter sound of Rat-L-Trap-type baits and topwaters... .

"Remember, being a successful fisherman is all about outsmarting the bass, as well as other competitors."