Whopper Plopper Help

[loudcherokee]

I have a 90 size whopper plopper that I was fishing the other day on 14lb trilene xl and count not get the bait to work correctly unless I held the rod tip very high. The bait would not do the gurgling action without enough tension on the line to pull the nose of the bait up a little bit. There could be no line floating in the water in front of the bait or it wouldn't work right.

Not an issue on short casts but longer casts made it difficult.

Am I doing something wrong? Line too heavy? Would a split ring on the line tie help the action?

LC

 

[Big Swimbait]

Although a great bait, the 90 size will do this. I've experienced it myself. You are doing the right thing. I've gone to the 130 almost exclusively because of this, plus it gets bigger bites for me.

[flyingmonkie]

I've heard the same as above.  That's why I bought the 130.

I'm still not having much luck with my WP. :/

[Philo Beddoe]

Glad this question was asked because I've about given up on my 90 due to the same reason. Looks like I'll have to give the 130 a try.

[loudcherokee]

Have any of you tried a split ring on the lure tie?

I may give this a go next time I go out.

LC

[Bluebasser86]

My 130's have split rings, have not fished a 90 though. I use braid with mine which probably helps keep the nose up a bit. 

[Preytorien]

To answer your question - yes, and like Clayton said, I use it with braid. I've not used it with a split ring, because I never felt it would do that much in terms of getting the action to work. I would say the 130 will do better, but I've not tried it myself because I rarely come in contact with fish that are big enough to engulf a lure that size.

I have the 90 size, and I have to do the exact same thing as you to get the lure to impart it's action. The blade on the back can only spin if there's enough motion of water over the blades, and since it's smaller, you have to run it a bit faster and with more tension on the line to get it to spin. 

Be patient though guys - it took me a few outings and finding the right conditions for it to catch fish, but when I found them, it's a blast to use. It felt a lot like a more versatile buzzbait, so fish it similarly. If it's any help, my best days with it are a slight breeze so the water's a tad choppy - its a pretty splashy (is that word?) bait, so calm conditions might do more spooking than is productive. I run it over subsurface grass (maybe 3-6 inches below the surface) and it'll bring the fish up out of the grass to take a swipe at it. The fish seem to follow mine for a good while before committing their coup de grace, so keep it moving and be ready for a blowup. 

[CTGalloway21]

give the bait a second to resurface after it lands.  

[Mike L]

10 minutes ago, CTGalloway21 said:

give the bait a second to resurface after it lands.  

This is what I have to do also. ..useing braid helps.

 

Mike 

[Bluebasser86]

The WP has not been a numbers bait for me, it's more for finding that quality bite. I'm sure it has potential to be, but I think that's the exception to the rule which is why some guys get discouraged with it after a few unsuccessful trips. 

[loudcherokee]

Well I tried the split ring. It does help a small bit, but not enough to warrant running out and buying a pack of rings if you don't have any. If you got an oval split ring laying around, throw it on there.

LC

[Gilgamesh]

What type of line would you all recommend to use with the 130 size (the one that is 5.75 in)?  I've been using 12lb mono but am afraid that a hookup on a big fish / big hit might end up being an expensive mistake.

[loudcherokee]

16 minutes ago, Gilgamesh said:

What type of line would you all recommend to use with the 130 size (the one that is 5.75 in)?  I've been using 12lb mono but am afraid that a hookup on a big fish / big hit might end up being an expensive mistake.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I treat it like any other treble hook crankbait, popper, etc and use mono. I throw it on my crankbait rod and Lews BB1 with 14lb Trilene XL.

If it were a single heavy gauge hook like a buzz bait or frog I would use braid.

LC

[Bluebasser86]

18 hours ago, Gilgamesh said:

What type of line would you all recommend to use with the 130 size (the one that is 5.75 in)?  I've been using 12lb mono but am afraid that a hookup on a big fish / big hit might end up being an expensive mistake.

I use 50lb braid and fish it on my frog rod. It's a heavy bait that needs stout equipment. 

[FCPhil]

I have the same issue using 30 pound braid. Here 2 tricks I have found:

-On a steady retrieve if you hold the rod tip up and reel quickly at first it will pull the lure to the surface and get the line off the water. Once it's buzzing on the surface the way you want it you can then slow down to a slower speed and usually it will stay on top. 

-If you give it hard pulls, almost like you would with a chugger, it will buzz on the surface in between pauses. 

[eyedabassman]

On 6/12/2016 at 6:15 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

I use 50lb braid and fish it on my frog rod. It's a heavy bait that needs stout equipment. 

I will second that! 

[IgotWood]

I use the 90 a lot. I had the same problems you're having. As others have said, let the bait rest for a second or two before beginning your retrieve, and as you begin your retrieve, give it a couple of fast cranks to pull the head of the bait up. I always fish this bait with my rod tip up high. Not only does it allows for the best action, it also hooks every fish that bites. Seriously, I don't think I have ever missed a single fish on the plopper. They set the hook themselves if you keep the tip up, and the line tight.

[DogBone_384]

16 hours ago, FCPhil said:

I have the same issue using 30 pound braid. Here 2 tricks I have found:

-On a steady retrieve if you hold the rod tip up and reel quickly at first it will pull the lure to the surface and get the line off the water. Once it's buzzing on the surface the way you want it you can then slow down to a slower speed and usually it will stay on top. 

-If you give it hard pulls, almost like you would with a chugger, it will buzz on the surface in between pauses. 

 

X2

[fishwizzard]

The WP 90 is my most used topwater.  The 1/2oz weight means I can use it on a ton of my combos and I always have one on me.  I have also found that keeping the tip high and tension on the line makes them run perfectly.  I also enjoy popping and chugging them along. 

 

My state has no natural lakes, so any sizable body of water has a dam, they are the perfect spot to fish the WP90.  I can stand like 15' up the bank and bomb cast out.  It is super easy to keep the line tight and I can run down the bank when I hook one.   

[Esoxfreak]

Ive taken the front trebles off all my 90's...the back treble is plenty I find. They have a tendancy to hit it really hard anyway.the front will ride a bit higher.

[Airman4754]

On 6/12/2016 at 6:15 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

I use 50lb braid and fish it on my frog rod. It's a heavy bait that needs stout equipment. 

 

I do the same. 735 rod with 65lb braid and an 8 ratio reel.

 

[fishwizzard]

1 hour ago, Esoxfreak said:

Ive taken the front trebles off all my 90's...the back treble is plenty I find. They have a tendancy to hit it really hard anyway.the front will ride a bit higher.

 

I have though about doing that or replacing it with a single hook.  I have not caught a ton of fish on the WP, but I do agree that the hook up ratio is extremely high.