There is an article in the newest issue of NAFC magazine about “clonking” for catfish, especially flatheads. I’m wondering if we have any clonkers in IDA? BrianK appears to be someone who may clonk. Apparently clonking produces according the people who clonk. I think I may clonk myself if I have the opportunity. I’ll probably have to fashion a homemade clonker and see how it works.
dd
You’ll go blind 
Ya, I seen this article too. I believe the talk of clonking came up the night I was fishing with him as with the sinkers we were using made enough noise when cast out. I called it “ringing the dinner bell” and then clonking cmae up. But there was no clonking done.
I was doing it when you weren’t looking….
Didn’t you notice how thick my glasses are…. 
Ya, Ya, VERY funny 
your always “clonking” carefull or you will go blind 
you did it when CFG wasnt looking? you must really be fast
CA
Ok…back on track here…
Has anyone ever used one? I know that Denny has had an advertisment up for a few months on the Pro Cat’s website.
I was a little disappointed in the artical because of the lack of data…but then it would be difficult to record the results…I guess.
Basicly it seemed to me that they were asking you to take the sellers word that it worked…just my impression from the artical. That’s not a slam towards DH, just that any salesman is going to tell you thier product is the best.
The one statement I found interesting is quoting from memory “this is not a cat call, it makes inactive cats active”. Meaning if there’s no cats around…it’s going to be a long night…however if you’re fishing an area that you know is holding cats…and your bait placement is correct…they should bite…
I also noticed the pictures were all taken in the day (most articals have “staged” pictures)…but it would be interesting to try one of these tools during the daytime in a known cat spot. I guess that would be a good test (?).
On a side note…have you ever noticed that you always have good fishing when there’s a beaver around slapping it’s tale? Just a thought….
It doesn’t seem to be a preposterous idea. You have people playing electronic devices into the water that supposedly are fish crunching on shad. And they claim that is a wonder. I certainly would try it if the right circumstances presented themselves… And I just like saying “clonk”. 
dd
I have no idea what anyone is talking about with the clonking bit.. I guess I didnt see the source… whatever it is.. you folks try it out.. once I see it work, I might give it a try?
Sometimes you just never know when it comes to new stuff.. I remember seeing spinning wing duck decoys when they 1st came out and thought they were the craziest thing I ever saw… they proved themselves to be invaluable in the field and now I have a hard time hunting without one.. because they work.
Clonking is beating the water with a paddle like stick.
I remeber my grandfather slapping the water with the boat oar when we were fishing for musky.
On the other hand….Remember the Colur-C-Lector?
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I was a little disappointed in the artical because of the lack of data…but then it would be difficult to record the results…I guess.
It’s a not just a little difficult to prove anything, it’s impossible. Consider that once you clonk, you have no idea what would have happened had you not clonked. You cannot compare spots, boats, different nights without introducing lots of variables that confound the data. Even if you were to do a long-term “clonking vs. non-clonking” study comparing mountains of data, you could not eliminate the possibility that clonkers were naturally prone to more actively fish and tinker with their presentation than non-clonkers.
I’ve clonked with a homemade clonk and had mixed results. One night six hits in rapid succession, another nothing. No possible way to prove an impact.
By the way, I’ve never had good luck once a beaver started slapping its tail, I’ve often thought just the opposite, in fact.
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I also noticed the pictures were all taken in the day (most articals have “staged” pictures)…but it would be interesting to try one of these tools during the daytime in a known cat spot. I guess that would be a good test (?).
Those pictures are legit.
They were filming a video that day and using a clonk. I saw part of a rough cut of the video and they did set up on that spot, use the clonk and catch that fish.
I am not saying I beleive in clonking but he couldn’t have asked for a better chain of events. Catching that fish on camera minutes after using the clonk.
I also know both Tim and Denny hate staged or reused pictures of big fish in magazine articles.
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By the way, I’ve never had good luck once a beaver started slapping its tail, I’ve often thought just the opposite, in fact.
No kidding!? My last 40 came after a beaver started his tail dance. If I recall we had 3 fish after that. This isn’t something I’ve recorded in my log…but maybe I should. Things that make you go hmmm…
Thank RB, it’s good to know that not all pictures are staged!
PS the reason I can recall the beaver is because after one very loud splat, my brother in law…darn ner filled his pants.
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I also know both Tim and Denny hate staged or reused pictures of big fish in magazine articles.
If either Tim or Denny would come out and say that they have clonked and done so successfully it would lend a whole lot of credibility. I’m not holding my breath for that, though, since they’re pretty scientific in their approach (at least with Tim) and not about to endorse something they can’t really prove one way or another.
Note to self: Try Clonking near Brians line next time we are shore fishing together… Oh.. wait, I cant reach the water.. I will throw boulders instead.. I will see if that helps his fishing any, or if it increases my chances of getting a fish 100 yards away?
Matt, I believe or at least got the impression that Denny was endorsing the produce in the artical.
Dave…one thing for sure…it’s going to keep at least one person from catching fish! 
I was just down there fishing with Denny. We did not do any clonking…maybe we should have though Denny is a great guy to fish with no doubt! 
After re reading the Clonking artical this morning….the closest Denny comes to endorsing it is “Does it really work?…” “you tell me in 15 minutes”.
JetCat…what’s your thoughts on this?
I look at it like a superstitiuos baseball player who doesn’t change his socks for three weeks because he’s been hitting well. It’s tough to empirically quantify the results, the way they phrase it…If you catch a fish, then it worked…if you don’t then there aren’t any fish there, is pretty convenient. Hey, anything that you think works…great, and maybe it does. I certainly can’t disprove it. I’ll stick to scientific methods myself. I don’t think the clonk is very expensive….so you don’t have that much to lose. I do know that big fish that Victoria caught was right after Denny clonked. Without any more political ramblings….I won’t be clonking any time soon.
Jason.
I caught Brian Clonking last night. If I were you guys, I would think twice before shaking hands with him, if you know what I mean… 
You should have seen the look on Nubbenbucks face…
That’s why I use the fisherman’s greeting I showed you last night.
He has never seen one before? 
BTW, I laughed my backside off when I heard you try to get into your spot #2! I could hear the motor revving out of water from where we were! I said to the guys “Looks like they will be coming back!” Five minutes later, there you and NB go by! Funny!
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I could hear the motor revving out of water from where we were!
Another time you should have seen the look on Nubby’s face!
It’s hard going backwards in strong currant! The ol’ backside got alittle wet pulling out of there… 
The ol’ backside got alittle wet pulling out of there…
Do you have to put your back side in the water while clonking
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The ol’ backside got alittle wet pulling out of there…
Do you have to put your back side in the water while clonking
After reading your post and re reading mine…I think I’ll just delete mine!
I heard that using a rubber baloon-like device while clonking keeps your backside dry while pulling out. I also heard that it is how you practice “Safe-Clonking.”
eye-guide
Brian must have been barebacking
Oh god, I gotta go cut the lawn, and clear my head…
Yeee Haaawww!
You two need to stay away from each other!
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