Fishing The "New" Rapala Clackin Series Baits
Written By Rick McFerrin
Full Time Guide/Owner Tennessee Bass Guides LLC.
www.tennesseebassguides.com

Tip's For The Beginner

This is going to sound like a "Poor Me Article" to start out with, but that's not really the case. Well maybe a little, But Just A Little! Last week I had surgery and I'm sidelined, off the water, restricted from, put on the shelf, truck and boat keys taken away, under my wife's supervision for 6 weeks more or less. Being a full time guide and a person that is on the water 12 months out of the year it's almost like a prison sentence. This has to be equivalent to doing "Fishing's Hard Time". If you can't tell I'm already stir crazy. Did I whine enough? Well, enough of that!

I don't believe I'm much different than the avid crank bait fishermen that has a bad case of Chunk And Wind running through their veins. You may be one of those. There's just something about having a "Big" Smallmouth or "Big" Largemouth slam a crankbait in the middle of a bring it on retrieve, or on the pause or right at the boat. It's a rush that I first experienced when I was a kid and it still stays with me today. I can remember like it was yesterday the very first Rapala baits that my dad bought, I was mesmerized. I can also remember dad's strong advice like "SON DON'T LOSE THIS" when we were fishing the lakes and ponds where I grew up. The variety, sizes and colors were few back then, but that didn't seem to bother the fish because we we sure caught a ton of them. Nothing has changed! I still catch a ton of them but now on a wide variety of Rapala baits that I use today. Why has that proven to be true for me over 50 plus years? Simple it's called Rapala Quality-Innovation and keeping your ear close to the water!

Which bring me to the reason for this article.

Rapala innovation has excelled once again in creating the new Clackin Series Baits which consist of the (left to right) Clackin Rap, Clackin Minnow and the Clackin Crank. Although each of these baits are very different in shape and size from one another there are several important features they have in common that we need to explore before looking at each bait individually. The first would be the Rapala Signature Clackin Rattle Chamber. I disassembled a Clackin Rap (left) to show you the Rattle Chamber that is inside the Clackin Series Baits. The round Rattle Chamber has external metal disc's located at each end and a steel ball inside the chamber. This is a very important feature because the chamber allows the steel ball to move freely without getting hung up inside the bait. Have you ever used a rattle bait and had to shake it by hand to free the rattle inside? You won't have that trouble with these baits! No matter how fast or slow these baits are worked the steel ball moves freely and emits a distinctive Clackin sound that fish can very easily zero in on. Although I fish primarily for Smallmouth and Largemouth the Clackin Series Baits are designed for multi species including Hybrid, Stripers, Walleye, Pike, Musky, Trout, Salmon and various pan fish.

Another key feature on all the Clackin Series Baits is the VMC Sure Set Hooks. To get right down to middle Tennessee lingo "these are some kind of great hooks." Both the standard 1X Strong Sure Set (left) and the Sure Set Flash Feather Teaser Tail (right) are manufactured from Vanadium Steel and are cone cut to provide maximum penetration. Folks these are extremely sharp take it from a guy that had one in his thumb this summer. That would be yours truly. Over the past several years I have been extremely impressed with the efficiency of these hooks. As you can see from both styles one hook is larger than the other two which increases your hook up ratio greatly. All Clackin Series baits comes armed and ready to go with Sure Set Hooks. Another Rapala excellent innovation. .

X Style Color Finish is another key element in the success of these baits. Each Clackin Series Bait is available in multiple color/finish choices that will help you match your needs all year long. True to life long Rapala reputation nothing is left to chance these are very durable high quality baits. Now let's get a closer look at each of the Clackin Series baits.

CLACKIN CRANK

The Clackin Crank has a distinctive shad shaped body profile with a clear diving lip design. Using 10lb Test Sufix Mono the #5 dives to 3 feet deep while the #7 will level off in the 4 foot range. By down sizing your line to 6lb or 8lb test Sufix you can gain additional depth if needed. These baits are intended to provide aggressive lure action when using a higher speed of retrieve but will also rise very slowly when stopped. Either way the Clackin Crank is well designed for all on the water situations including triggering a reaction strike on reluctant fish. These baits can also be trolled if you prefer. If you fish lakes with submerged grass these are going to be a "Must Have" for your boat. Crank it just fast enough to tick the top of the grass. If you get hung in the grass rip it free and hold on. Cast the Clackin Crank on the outside edges and into open pockets and trails in lily pad fields. With the durable lip design it's rugged enough to beat and bang on rip rap bridge areas, in chunk rocks and boulders, shallow long running gravel points and even on surfacing fish. If your fishing boat docks chose the color that matches the bait fish or bluegill around the dock. Make sure that the bait comes in contact with posts, ladders and any thing that is attached or sticks out from the dock. In backs of creeks run the Clackin Crank in the shallow ditches and bounce it off any rocks and timber that might be there. The #7 is 2 3/4 inches long and weighs 5/8oz while the #5 is 2 inches long and weighs 5/16 oz. Currently the Clackin Crank comes in 17 X Style colors which are available to all stores that carry Rapala products. As we have already discussed no matter how fast or slow these baits are worked the steel ball moves freely and emits a distinctive Clackin sound that fish can very easily zero in on. A must have for your year round arsenal.

CLACKIN MINNOW

The Clackin Minnow features a slow sinking minnow body profile and comes in two different sizes and weights. The #9 is 3 1/2 inches long and weighs 7/16 oz. The #11 is 4 3/8 inches long and weighs in at 3/4oz. Built into the Clackin Minnow is years of history. What do it mean? Although it has the Rattle Chamber this bait still retains the famous Rapala "Wounded Minnow" action Where can this bait be used? Well maybe the question should be "Where can't you use the Clackin Minnow?" The only place that I know it won't do you any good is leaving it at home in your garage. Think about the potential for a minute. With 2 sizes and 15 (Yes 15) X Style colors you will be able to match just about any meal that a fish is looking for. I guide a very deep clear lake in middle Tennessee and I can tell you from experience that this bait will be fantastic on fish suspended around bridge pillars. Cast parallel to the pillar and then let the slow sinking minnow action work. When you get to your target depth twitch it and the Sure Set Teaser tail will go into action! Rip it and let it sink and then get to cranking and hold on. Smallmouth, Largemouth, Hybrid and Stripers will come up from the depths of the clear water to nail this bait. The same method can be used on submerged timber, grass lines and for surfacing fish in open water. Think about paralleling the bank when bait fish are running up on the shore line. Match the hatch color and size and then find out what type of presentation the bass is looking for. Don't forget that the Rattle Chamber is designed to let the steel ball move and clack no matter what speed you are working the bait. Through the years I have watched aggressive feeding fish turn away from a fast moving bait but slam one that is "Just Barely Moving Along." With the Clackin Minnow you have the best of both worlds.

CLACKIN RAP

How do you improve on the wheel ? Or how do you improve on the lipless crankbait design? Well, leave it up to Rapala innovation again to answer that question in aces. It would be very interesting to know how many fish through the years have been caught on this type of bait. The total number would be staggering and (not bragging) I have helped add to that number myself. But how many lipless rattle baits have you had that won't always rattle because the BB's or Ball gets hung up inside the bait. If your success is dependent on the rattle and the rattle doesn't happen you might as well be throwing a paper clip. Once again problem solved with the Rapala Clackin Rattle Chamber. You get to cranking these babies and the vibration makes it sounds like some one needs to put oil in their truck engine before they leave the ramp. They work first time every time! You talk about a versatility, the Clackin Rap fits that mold hands down. You can throw the Clackin Rap a mile which helps with surfacing fish that are hard to reach. You can use your electronics to find suspended fish, watch the Clackin Rap fall in the middle of them nose first (because of the weighted nose) and vertical jig them up. Put one of these in the face of a hungry Smallmouth, Largemouth, Hybrid or Striper and it's lights out! Deep water, shallow water, fast retrieve, slow retrieve, burn it , yo-yo it, hop it, drag it, beat and bang it off structure and the possibility list go's on. Have you ever had problems keeping a tail walking Smallmouth hooked up on a lipless rattle bait? Sure all of us have, that's where the VMC Sure Set Hooks pay off. I have lost very few fish on the Clackin Rap compared to other brands that I have used through the years. There are 4 sizes and 16 X Style colors available on the Clackin Rap this year to meet all of your fishing scenarios. #6 is 2/12 inches long and 7/16 oz, #7 is 2 3/4 inches long and 5/8oz, #8 is 3 1/8 inches long and 7/8oz and the #9 is 3 1/2 inches long and 1 3/16 oz.

Conclusion

In the 1967 movie Cool Hand Luke starring Paul Newman the famous line "what we have here is a failure to communicate" was uttered. That line has caught on through the years and has been applied to many different situations. But I can assure you of this! With the Rapala Clackin Series baits you will have zero problems communicating with the fish you are chasing. Will the fish hear it coming? You bet! Retrieved as fast as possible or as slow as you can stand. The Clackin Series Baits are winners! Check them out at your nearest fishing tackle store. I sincerely hope you have a great, safe and enjoyable time on the water in 2011.

Rick McFerrin