Are Walking & Popper baits Necessary?

[Brett's_daddy]

Okay, I already have 4 of the Whopper Ploppers (2 in 90 and 2 in 130) and I just got a couple of the Pompadours. I haven't fished with any of them yet except one of the 90 size WP's and that generated a couple of break the water hits by bass and caught a couple of chain pickerel. My question is this, should I add a popper bait like a Megabass Popmax, R2S Bubble Pop etc. and a walking bait like a Lucky Craft Sammy, Duo Realis Pencil, KVD Sexy Dawg OR would these baits be pretty redundant to the WP's and Pompadours I already have? I prefer variety and don't want to get too many baits/lures that basically do the same thing.

[j bab]

You're describing completely different lures. Whopper Ploppers and Pompadours are basically buzzbait alternatives. They make a lot of noise and splash and you constantly retrieve them. Poppers and walking baits are different from your baits, and they're different from each other as well. I recommend getting a couple of those as well.

[Hog Basser]

I would recommend a Heddon Zara Spook for a good walking bait.  It's been proven effective for decades and doesn't cost near as much as some of the others you described.  It's also very easy to walk.  I always have several of them in my arsenal and also have the WP.  

Also, same thing for poppers, go with a Rebel Pop R for a much cheaper and just as effective popping bait.  

[J Francho]

The Popmax and Sammy 115 are about the only top-waters I throw, but I throw them a lot.

[BrianinMD]

Well no lure is "necessary", however will you be able to cover more scenerio's while on the water, yes.

[Brett's_daddy]

3 minutes ago, BrianinMD said:

Well no lure is "necessary", however will you be able to cover more scenerio's while on the water, yes.

Yeah, I use the term necessary very loosely. I just basically am wondering if i should make a space in my tackle box for a popper and a walker as space is becoming increasingly limited with the influx of new lures this year...lol. If it's a walker I'd like an easier to learn walker as i don't have much experience with these baits and i know some are easier to walk than others. Of course all of the lure makers rave about how easy their product is to make walk but of course they are trying to sell you so opinions from other fishermen who have them are really what I'm looking for. Same goes with poppers!

[J Francho]

Bigger baits are easier to learn to walk.  A Sammy 115 is a good size to learn on.  It's easy, once you get the cadence down.

You can also walk a Popmax pretty easily, too.  Just use light downward strokes, lighter than you would with a Sammy or other spook type bait.

[Big Phish]

If you've got the pompadour and poppers I would recommend at least a couple Sammys or spooks if you wanna be able to cover more possible scenarios.  The ploppers and pompadours I would use on windy, choppy days when you need a lot of noise to get their attention.  the Walking stick baits will make a little more subtle presentation as to not spook them on calm mornings.  So yes to me they're necessary.  You can however opt for other subtle top waters like a walking frog or quieter crank style wake baits.

[YoTone]

idk but top water fishing is so sweet to catch bass on that i dont care if i catch less fish.

[MIbassyaker]

I'm having a hard time processing the question.

Are the most successful kinds of topwater lures in the history of bass fishing necessary?  

Well, technically no I suppose.  I can't imagine why you wouldn't want a few anyway.

[Brett's_daddy]

Just making sure I'm not being redundant ;).

 

[bagofdonuts]

Bigger poppers are slower moving target baits. There usefulness comes in staying near the target longer. They are not really what I would call search baits like a buzz bait. But if for instance you want to target a specific type of cover like cypress knees they can't be beat. You need both. 

[Brett's_daddy]

You've all convinced me...lol. My friend has a Tackle Warehouse order going in a couple of weeks and I've zeroed in on the Duo Realis Pencil 110 in the Neo Pearl and the Prism Gill colors as the ones i would like to get. As for the poppers, I have a couple of Hula poppers now so maybe I'll go with those until I can ask for some nicer poppers maybe as an anniversary gift or something ..

[DubyaDee]

Grab an evergreen sb 120 to your cart while you're at it. I just got a few recently and am in awe every time I throw it. It'll spit and walk easier and better than anything I've seen. 

[thebillsman]

I went the complete opposite way. I have a bunch of assorted Spooks and Pop-Xs but just recently caved and got a 90 whopper plopper. I've never had much success throwing top water and I'm hoping the plopper turns it around. 

[Bluebasser86]

Walkers and poppers are about the only topwater I throw other than buzzbaits. If you're anywhere around smallmouth, you're at a serious disadvantage without a walking bait IMO. 

[thomas15]

Collect 'em all!

[Brett's_daddy]

All I can afford is a couple right now if i go with the nicer Japanese ones, something less expensive like the KVD Sexy Dawg I could get 3 of but not sure if it would be wiser just getting 2 of the nicer Duo Realis and being happy with those.

[J Francho]

I have one popper I throw, Popmax in Python, and one spook type bait, a Sammy 115 in MS Shad.  Those cover the color bases. In fact, that Sammy only has one eye.

[Tygaiser7]

Rebel popR's are a must in my tackle box. So easy to fish and they produce big fish. And they are a blast! 

[Dwight Hottle]

You will be happy with the Duo Realis Pencil 110 as it is the easiest walk the dog bait I have ever used. 

 

 

[crypt]

On August 8, 2016 at 1:20 PM, Hog Basser said:

I would recommend a Heddon Zara Spook for a good walking bait.  It's been proven effective for decades and doesn't cost near as much as some of the others you described.  It's also very easy to walk.  I always have several of them in my arsenal and also have the WP.  

Also, same thing for poppers, go with a Rebel Pop R for a much cheaper and just as effective popping bait.  

see above…...

[Drew03cmc]

I have some Pop Rs, Super Spook Jr's, Gunfish 95s, Rover 98s and buzzbaits. I haven't caught much on any of them though, probably a location thing though.

[B1gD4ddy]

I've never had any luck with any kind of buzzbait but I still throw it in hopes to land one eventually..  

I have 2 walking frogs work very nice sorry I never remember brands and I have 3 poppers all have multiple fish days under their belt..

I can't get enough of the top water blowup. . 

I remember not catching anything with my first walking frog until one day a guy that was fishing near me asked if I ever caught anything on it I said no and he said do you ever try walking it (lol I had no idea it was a walking bait I just bought it because I liked the way it looked and knew I had luck with frogs all frogs are the same right lmao) he them explained to me how to use it and was impressed when I started to figure out the technique which got me fish on Ive seen him around again from time to time and he asks every once in a while if I know how my lures are suppos to be used lol

[MassYak85]

I would definitely recommend at least one walking spook style bait and one popper. Whopper ploppers are great but aren't exactly subtle by any means. The walking bait can be fished as fast or as slow as needed, and is a more subtle. The popper can be thrown to an area and worked for very long periods of time, just sitting their popping it. The benefit being it can sit there and spit water, attracting fish to an area, causing commotion without you needing to bring it towards you as much.