Livetarget Hollow Body Sunfish?? reviews?

[Mattlures]

Has anybody fished this bait yet? I would like to hear what you think of it. Please refrain from complaining over the massive asking price of $13 I am just curious what the guys think of it who have fished it.

[Hurricane]

I saw it on bass pro website but decided on grabbing 2 whopper ploppers instead. . 

[BassinLou]

7 hours ago, Mattlures said:

Has anybody fished this bait yet? I would like to hear what you think of it. Please refrain from complaining over the massive asking price of $13 I am just curious what the guys think of it who have fished it.

I have thrown this bait several times already, and I have to say I really like them. They have a unique way of moving through the water, due to its design. It's also a hefty bait, so it can be launched quite a ways. Unfortunately, however, I have yet to have a decent blowup yet to test those trokar hooks. It's not the bait isn't attractive, its just not the right season for my area yet. In the next couple of months, I think this bait will produce very big strikes. 

The 2 things that I found interesting are: 1. why the bait takes on water so quickly. The action is not effected, but every other cast you have to squeeze out the water. 2. The lures counter balance was not painted white or some other color to blend with the bait. The disc weight is a plain lead, contrasting against the bait color's  like a sore thumb. 

But, like I said. The action of this bait is very intriguing to me, and I will continue to throw it. 

[Kevin Beachy]

I have one coming tuesday, ill give a review of it once i get it!

[primetime]

I just grabbed one in each size and have only tested it but I like the action as it has an arch, and it is a bit harder than a LT Frog, more like a Spro Frog material which I like since the Trokar Hooks are money & it makes a nice jumping/slashing action due to the shape.

I like it. The Weight is in middle of body and some have complained about it, but it adds silver flash, but I colored mine to match the baits and made one red...I like the action of the bigger model, the small one is small...Dicks just had them for only $12.99 and the detail is great imo for that price. They Seem just right, not too soft, not too hard but I only took a few casts which each and liked what I saw. Can't imagine them not working, but looking forward to using them soon. So many colors.....

[Kevin Beachy]

Mine is suppose to be coming tomrrow.....

[Ginosocalbass]

Take it out of the package and look at the bottom side.  When you see the shiny weight then you can decide from there. 

 

for a company who's entire marketing and design [ and price point]  is based on lure realism... They did a tick poor job. I did not buy 

[Preytorien]

I have to say, of all the lures I buy, I am the most skeptical with this one. It seems to border on the line of gimmicky and genius (sometimes that line is VERY thin)

It's a great idea, and I can see how being a hollow topwater it'll generate strikes, but I'm just not sure how often. Time will tell. I also thought a Jackall Pompadour or R2S Whopper Plopper would be gimmicky, but they shut my mouth pretty quickly. 

Mine's one of the colors that seem to be hard to keep in stock, and I'm on a backorder list. Can't fish it right now anyways, it'd just skip across the ice

[Preytorien]

On 1/17/2016 at 8:38 AM, LastCast721 said:

I saw it on bass pro website but decided on grabbing 2 whopper ploppers instead. . 

You won't be sorry. Those things look goofy but man they catch fish

[MarkH024]

Just now, Preytorien said:

R2S Whopper Plopper would be gimmicky, but they shut my mouth pretty quickly. 

 

Whopper Plopper is just another rendition of a bait that has been around for a very long time and catching millions of fish. Glad to see you proved yourself wrong.  It's flat out fun to fish even up to the big 190 size for Musky

[BassinLou]

7 hours ago, Ginosocalbass said:

Take it out of the package and look at the bottom side.  When you see the shiny weight then you can decide from there. 

 

for a company who's entire marketing and design [ and price point]  is based on lure realism... They did a tick poor job. I did not buy 

I agree with this, but I bought it anyways... lol... I will stop here however, respecting the OP's wishes of not getting into a pricepoint discussion. 

[Hurricane]

1 hour ago, MarkH024 said:

Whopper Plopper is just another rendition of a bait that has been around for a very long time and catching millions of fish. Glad to see you proved yourself wrong.  It's flat out fun to fish even up to the big 190 size for Musky

I can't wait to try it out..

[Preytorien]

21 minutes ago, LastCast721 said:

I can't wait to try it out..

You won't be disappointed. I don't know what makes the bass like em' but they do

[Kevin Beachy]

I now have one in my hands

[Paul Roberts]

Matt, apologies up front -I haven't fished it (and almost certainly won't). I see it as a pricey gimmick.

Bass will eat almost anything pulled on/through dense veges. It's not "frogs" they're after most of the time either. A bluegill bait is closer to the truth much of the time but one lying on it's side (bc that's the easy way to make it) isn't it either. The vids of it were far from impressive (esp if you shut off the music and hype talk); It moved the way one would expect a center-weighted pancake to move -rotating back and forth around the weight. Yeah, it'll catch some bass -heck it moves some water up there. But if it manages to outperform other hollow-body topwaters it's in spite of the fact it looks like a bluegill to the human eye rather than bc of it.

[primetime]

I agree 100% about bass not knowing your bait is a Frog most of the time, just like I always wonder what they think my ribbon tail worm is that they love? I do like the unique colors and shape of the bait, and if it can give a different look during the post spawn when bass are targeting Bluegill, then I think it may add a few strikes. 

I don't know why the weight is bothering people. How many natural Zara Spooks have you seen swimming on the surface with 3 treble hooks hanging below? And that is in open water for most part. Black and blue soft baits? Never seen one swimming around yet.  Scum Frog makes some killer hollow body frogs in the Trophy line that have a large Brass shiny weight and big shiny eyes and my best producing color is the blue body with a chart silicone skirt. I think the flash is a benefit at times, and like a bullet weight, simply color it with a sharpie....

I colored one weight red because the Bobby's perfect bleeding frog has always been a favorite of mine, and maybe it is the red hooks, but a wounded panfish with a target may help. I can color over it again. I colored one grey/black and it looks like every other hollow belly since they need a weight or everyone would be complaining about casting distance. Is it better than a hollow belly frog? Maybe, maybe not, but I like buying cool looking stuff. Live Target frogs are top quality, so I will give them a fair chance, the colors are fantastic as is the shape and detail. Add in Trokar hooks and it is actually a good deal since most frogs are $10.

just my opinion, I am sure they will work, and if it gives me confidence on a certain day, then the purchase was worth it, $13 is cheap compared to $10 frogs with what you get imo. I am just as guilty as the next guy as being a sucker for buying lures that look good, but Koppers did well on the frog so they deserve a chance on the sunfish. If they colored every weight to match the lure, production costs would rise and lure would be $25, sharpies do amazing things really fast. Sunfish have spots all over the place that are not the same on every fish anyhow. So I like how it looks in my collection.

[primetime]

3 hours ago, Preytorien said:

You won't be disappointed. I don't know what makes the bass like em' but they do

I have a gift card from the Holidays burning a hole in my pocket and I can't decide what to buy since I am stocked up well at the moment, but I have been thinking about buying a whopper Plopper for long time now. I noticed They carry them and was wondering what size is best? Does the 90 run ok or is the bigger size better in your opinion? I thought it was a gimmick as well but finally reading your post convinced me it is worth a shot on a gift card. I do like a few colors they have. Any advice would help, I don't want to buy a size that runs off if the bigger version is better.

 

[Kevin Beachy]

Ok, pictures, decide for yourself, i think it is very cool! This is, btw, the three inch, and i wish i had got the 3.5. I have more pics if you want them!

[primetime]

5 minutes ago, Kevin Beachy said:

Ok, pictures, decide for yourself, i think it is very cool! This is, btw, the three inch, and i wish i had got the 3.5. I have more pics if you want them!

I think you should also buy the bigger model then.They are pure Eye Candy.I agree, they look awesome. I saw them on the end cap at Dicks, and I couldn't make rational decisions at that point since I was caught off guard. Then I see the Molix Beetle and it was trouble...I just wonder about hook up percentage with all the extra plastic for the tail etc...I figure coat it with Megastrike and they will crush it down so you get a good hook set. with the  Mouse, you have to really bend the hooks up to not hook material on many sets, but once adjusted that is a winner as well imo. I am sure it will be fun to fish like all topwater baits and lures. 

Anyone use the Picasso Shad Walker? I bet it would be similar to that right? would love to hear anyone who has thrown that bait....

[Preytorien]

1 hour ago, primetime said:

I have a gift card from the Holidays burning a hole in my pocket and I can't decide what to buy since I am stocked up well at the moment, but I have been thinking about buying a whopper Plopper for long time now. I noticed They carry them and was wondering what size is best? Does the 90 run ok or is the bigger size better in your opinion? I thought it was a gimmick as well but finally reading your post convinced me it is worth a shot on a gift card. I do like a few colors they have. Any advice would help, I don't want to buy a size that runs off if the bigger version is better.

 

I think about any size is good. Here in Indiana I don't normally see fish north of 5-6lbs, so I went with the 90 size to just get more frequent hookups and I like it very well. Others will say go a size bigger since bass aren't too discriminatory, especially large ones you'll get down in FL. As for color, I got one that was darker in color since my buzzbaits tend to produce more when they're darker, but I don't think it matters quite so much.

[MDBowHunter]

They don't look to bad, but I feel it's gimiky (if that's a word). I also don't believe its going to be a magic lure, I also believe that if a fish will hit this that same fish would hit a hollow frog without hesitation. IMHO live target is more worried about their products catching the fisherman instead of the fish, and this is why I don't own any of their products.

[primetime]

Ok Thanks, I will go 90mm then...I am not a confident person with buzzbaits so I will go smaller to start so I get more action. I purchased way too many big swimbaits and then found out I am not a patient person. I wasn't sure the 90 was good but glad to hear it...I have a Loon Color in my cart right now, I don't know what else to get at Bass Pro since they seem to be a bit more expensive than most, and I don't need any new tackle really. I figure I use it to buy some new Toys.

Thx.

[primetime]

1 minute ago, MDBowHunter said:

They don't look to bad, but I feel it's gimiky (if that's a word). I also don't believe its going to be a magic lure, I also believe that if a fish will hit this that same fish would hit a hollow frog without hesitation. IMHO live target is more worried about their products catching the fisherman instead of the fish, and this is why I don't own any of their products.

I agree about Live Target when it comes to hardbaits and baitballs...I do like their frogs however, not my favorite, but a quallity bait for the money. I will admit that I am an easy target for tackle companies, good packaging is all it takes in a retail setting....

[MarkH024]

5 hours ago, MDBowHunter said:

 IMHO live target is more worried about their products catching the fisherman instead of the fish, and this is why I don't own any of their products.

All big brands are out to catch fishermen. That's how they make millions. And they leave it to the pros who represent them to show that their products work on the water by catching fish/winning tournaments, in result making more money for the company. Business is business. 

I love their frogs, field mice and some cranks. They make a quality product and have resulted in countless numbers for me. 

Not sure why the gill is being called gimmicky. Bluegill get injured and sometimes die slowly at the surface. Sometimes they flip themselves up in mats or pads and swim/flop on their side to get back in the water. It's no different than a spook imitating a baitfish, why's that not gimmicky? Ill be trying it this summer.

It's not first on my list. Not like the new Matt Rat! Patiently waiting Matt!Hook a brother up!

[68camaro]

On January 17, 2016 at 8:38 AM, LastCast721 said:

I saw it on bass pro website but decided on grabbing 2 whopper ploppers instead. . 

I was at BassPro last week and bought the sunfish and two whopper Poppers, a 90 and 110. So far only used the Whopper 90 and immediately lost it on 3rd or 4th cast:(

I need to wait a while for topwater bite to begin.