Replacing Trebles On Popmax & W Plopper

[TxHawgs]

Do you guys change the hooks on the Megabass Popmax? If not for lack of quality then sz? I'm guessing they are sz 4 and W Plopper changing for better hook also looks like a sz 4, u guys go short shank and up to a 2 on either of these plugs or is that too big? Just change to a different #4 on the Plopper or? Thanks

[fishballer06]

I can't speak for the whopper plopper,  but my Pop Maxes come stock with quality hooks. I'm generally not concerned with using the largest treble possible with poppers because I fish them slow and the fish generally inhale them, rather than slapping at them like a faster moving bait like a whopper plopper, wake bait, or spook. 

[TxHawgs]

25 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

I can't speak for the whopper plopper,  but my Pop Maxes come stock with quality hooks. I'm generally not concerned with using the largest treble possible with poppers because I fish them slow and the fish generally inhale them, rather than slapping at them like a faster moving bait like a whopper plopper, wake bait, or spook. 

Yea that's true, but u still need to keep them pinned once u have em and that's what a good wide gap treble or going up in sz cuz u went with a short shank will help do. Already changed them as I'm fishing tomorrow am, stayed w a 4 but put Mustad grip pins on.

[kickerfish1]

I wouldn't change them on either bait unless they were damaged or rusted in some way after use. I am not a guy that is trigger happy on changing out stock hooks on hard baits unless something dictates

[Bluebasser86]

What size WP? I use the 130 and changed them to #4 VMC Spark Points. The stock hooks will bend pretty easily. 

[buzzed bait]

10 hours ago, kickerfish1 said:

I wouldn't change them on either bait unless they were damaged or rusted in some way after use. I am not a guy that is trigger happy on changing out stock hooks on hard baits unless something dictates

i'm with you on that.  only the strike king _xd hooks are the ones i'm changing out immediately.  they bend when you look at them funny.

[Bandersnatch]

Also interested in experience with pop max replacement hooks. 

[RyneB]

I put owner Stinger 36 hooks on all of my topwater baits. I fish in Illinois, we dont have massive fish, so I can get away with 36. If you have big fish, step up in size. But those owner stingers are crazy crazy sharp. I cant remember the last time I had a fish throw a bait with those hooks on.

[RB 77]

The hooks on the WP are some of the stickiest sharp I have ever used. Durable too. I have only ever changed out the older ones that were a much thinner gauge. The new ones are beefy on the larger Ploppers. Cant speak for the MB PM, haven't used one. would like to some day though...

[A-Jay]

On 6/8/2016 at 7:02 PM, TxHawgs said:

Do you guys change the hooks on the Megabass Popmax? If not for lack of quality then sz? I'm guessing they are sz 4 and W Plopper changing for better hook also looks like a sz 4, u guys go short shank and up to a 2 on either of these plugs or is that too big? Just change to a different #4 on the Plopper or? Thanks

Honestly, I haven't caught enough bass on the WP to come up with what I like yet.

 But I fish the Pop Max a ton - and Yes I change them. 

For the belly hook (only) I love the Owner St-35. 

Pop Max gets a #2 - it places the hook points 'beyond / past' the belly of the bait. 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Short_Shank_Treble_Hook_ST-35/descpage-OSSF.html

The Pop Max Tail hook for me is a KVD EWG 1x strong 2x short and I go up one size. 

For the dressed treble - I just tie up my own - pretty easy.

On 6/8/2016 at 8:43 PM, kickerfish1 said:

I wouldn't change them on either bait unless they were damaged or rusted in some way after use. I am not a guy that is trigger happy on changing out stock hooks on hard baits unless something dictates

I am that guy ~ and this is why.

 

And occasionally - one of these tows me around for a while. 

A-Jay