Rapala's Clackin' Minnow

One of the hot new lure for 2011 is Rapala's Clackin' Minnow. Like the Clackin' Crank, the Clackin' Minnow features the same unique Clackin' Cadence chamber but in a jerkbait / ripbait form factor. The Clackin' Minnow is sort of a cross between the X-Rap and the Clackin' Rap. It's got great side to side erratic action and a very unique sound among other jerkbaits. The sound is somewhere between the high pitched rattles you get with small beads like a Smithwick Rattlin' Rogue and the duller one-knocker sound you might get with a Lucky Craft Pointer. But the Clackin' Minnow sounds seem to emit further, enabling it to draw fish from further away at times.

It's not the prime time for jerkbaits as of yet in these part, but sure can't wait for the jerkbait bite to come to see how this new lure compares to the other baits I've used.

The bait in two sizes - 09 and 11 - and will come in 16 colors to start. It features a big VMC SureSet Flash Feather Teaser Tail for a rear hook and a standard Black Nickel VMC round bend hook on the belly. Each bait is hand-tuned and tank-tested prior to packaging.

One other important note is that the baits are slow sinkers. This should make the bait more of a fast moving application jerkbait as opposed to the dead of winter type jerkbait. The CNM09 is 3 1/2 inches and will run 3 to 4 feet deep, while the CNM11 is 4 3/8 inches and will run 4 to 5 feet deep. These new Clackin' Series lures are now available at your favorite tackle shop or the Rapala website.

Species:         Walleye, Pike, Musky, Trout, Salmon and Panfish     

Technique:     Casting & Trolling

Environment:  Freshwater