I've also soaked a steel rivet in bleach for couple of days to rust the rivet this seems to help give it that coveted squeal.

My rule of thumb is the muddier the water, the more noise and vibrations, thus I use a clacker along with as much squeal as I can get.  If the water is clear, I prefer a 1/4 oz Cavitron with little water dispacement and I like how it leaves a bubble trail.

I have crimped rivots  and used them so much that they wore out both the blade and the rivot themselves. I soak the blades in an acid to give it a very unique abrasive sound. I have also scuffed the buzzbait wire arm for the same result.As for the tests of two anglers in the boat-It is hard to say. What happens if the next 3 days the guy with no clacker catches more fiish-IT all depends on the conditions. NOW there might be a case for water clarity/barometric pressure/light or low light conditions-the parameters are to great to make  absolute positive conclusions. I let the fish tell me how they want it.If I thought it made that much of a difference Cavitron would have a clacker version.

Make a 1/2 oz Cavitron with a clacker and I would be all over it, as would alot of other people.   

Hell, even just a 1/2 oz version would fit nicely for me.

Watch and learn my friend. I have been in the front and back of the boat and spent more time on the water than most professional anglers. This is what I do for a living -how bout you????? You cannot prove that a fish is hitting that bait because it has a clacker over one that dosent. Tell or prove to me how you can back that statement. I have heard your comments for a while now -anise oil theories ect- PROVE YOUR FINDINGS WTH FACTUAL DATA.

So you have factual data that proves a fish hits a buzzbait because it doesn't have a clacker?

Make a 1/2 oz Cavitron with a clacker and I would be all over it, as would alot of other people.

Hell, even just a 1/2 oz version would fit nicely for me.

Bingo 

UHHHH!!!! -Yes I do- Is that a loaded question Dan

UHHHH!!!! -Yes I do- Is that a loaded question Dan

That's funny right there 

UHHHH!!!! -Yes I do- Is that a loaded question Dan

I would like to see the factual data that proves your findings.

When you have a buzzbait that squeaks the the vibration patterns is off which translates to a bass thinking a baitfish that might have issues. If you bend the blade making it spin odd it draws more attention to the bait because the vibration pattern is different and the blade spins different. You can add weight to part of the wing blades (like a suspend dot) which also throws off a different vibration or bend one of the blades different. You can also drill out the front hole causing the blade to wiggle and wobble more which throws off a different vibration. You can also bend the arm so that the blade strikes the head as it rotates which changes the vibration pattern. Many "Pro" fishermen do this in muddy water because it puts out more pressure waves. Clacker blades do the same thing but put out a different tone than the blade that strikes the head. With the clacker it spins and clacks intermittently unlike the blade that strikes the head. When the blade strikes the head the entire bait chimes. When the blade strikes the clacker it also chimes but not as vigorously as it would if the blade smacked the head. Blades with holes in them create a bubble trail. If you file the edge of the blade thin it makes a different noise and the surface of the blade picks up more water on the rotation because the water sticks to the roughed up surface. Notching the blade causes the blade to spit water. A buzzbait straight from the box acts like a healthy baitfish and sounds like most of the other guys who throw a buzz bait.

What  the !! I Thought I had too much time LOL

NO beads bihind the blade!!! Rivets only! A ggod buzzbait should have a loud squuek almost like fingernails on a chalkboard.

I couldn't agree more

NO beads bihind the blade!!! Rivets only! A ggod buzzbait should have a loud squuek almost like fingernails on a chalkboard.

I couldn't agree more

Same here, and crimp that rivet!  I swear, my buzzbait improved drastically when I started crimping an bending the rivets to increase squeak.  I think the squeak is more important than the clack, but that's just been the case for me.  I also think that adding a small willow blade on a swivel behind the rivet is more effective than the clacker, but I fish clear water (4-12') so that likely explains it. 

It all depends on what mood the fish are in--aggressive /passive/lethargic-protective. Its all a puzzle -Bait companies give you the pieces-you put it together- In some instances the pieces may overlap- That could be a good thing-result-a strike