Retrieve: Click the spool over after a cast, begin your retrieve, and you’d swear you had a lipped crank at the end of the line. This lure bites and digs in the water presenting you with a lot of positive feedback as it shakes, shimmies, and thumps it’s way through the water back to your position. This is a very confidence inspiring bait to throw because you know full well it’s working the entire time you have it in the water. Instead of wondering whether a fish is going to hit it, you really begin to just expect it.

The protective layer of plastic over each Clackin' Rap is molded to provide the bait with realistic detailing

Durability: The Clackin’ Rap comes with unique finish as well. The paint and colors seem to be on the inside of the plastic rather than the outside so its finish is very durable. In addition, the bait itself withstands mis-casts into rocks, pilings, and other objects quite well.

Rapala's new, Sure Set hooks are designed to increase hook up ratio

The stock hooks on this bait are Rapala’s own “Sure Set” product. They are sharp, relatively thin, but hold up well. The one extra long prong is designed to increase hook up ratios but I cannot recall ever having this problem with a lipless crank if fished on a rod with a forgiving tip. These hooks seem a little overkill to me, but they do not perform any worse than a standard treble, so endure them.

The clacking chamber on every Clackin' Rap is quite visible

Availability: The Clackin’ Rap made it’s debut almost a year ago and is available in good numbers for the price of nine dollars a piece. There are seventeen standard colors and as of this writing, Rapala was getting set to release a smaller, two and a half inch, seven sixteenths of an ounce (2.5 inch, 7/16 oz) sized version of this bait 

Ratings: (We've re-calibrated our ratings standard for 2008 and have included a key at the bottom of the following matrix as a guide):

Pluses and Minuses:

Looking for a new lipless crank to try out? The Clackin' Rap is set to make some serious noise!

Conclusion: Judging from past success with the Lucky Craft LV500, it takes a lot for me to keep another lipless crank tied to the end of my line for any period of time – well, that is unless it’s about seven or eight inches long and comes in three or four sections. The Clackin’ Rap is now one exception to that rule. Though I’m not quite ready to put my two boxes of LV500’s into storage, the Clackin’ Rap is slowly expanding into a box of its own in my boat. I like this bait a lot more than Rapala’s original lipless bait the Rattlin’ Rap. The Clackin’ Rap’s unique sound, finish, and weight really make it a fun and inspiring bait to throw and one that’s easy to build confidence with. Thanks Rapala and keep the hits comin’!

Looking for the Rapala Clackin Rap? Try Tackle Warehouse.