whopper plopper Whopper Plopper = Crap?

[XF15-Loader]

So last week I break down and buy a couple Whopper Ploppers.  I grabbed one each bone and loon.

 

I fished the bone a few days this week and caught several fish on it.  Then I noticed that the tail wasn't spinning very well.  It got progressively worse until I noticed that the Plopper itself was spinning and twisting my line.  It then got to the point where I was having to reel it max speed to get it to spin.

 

Figuring it was maybe gunked up, I quit fishing it...that was yesterday.

 

Today it's a little overcast and the water is like glass.  I walk to my spot and throw the loon.  3 casts in and I notice it's doing the same thing to a lesser extent.  It's spinning but I have to really crank it to get it on plane.  

 

4th cast gets a fish.  I reel it in and it's a perfect hook set through the top lip.  I grab my pliers and attempt to roll the hook out...the d**n hook snaps!

 

I know people really like these baits and the concept is exceptional but, I cannot believe R2S doesn't have more stringent quality control or at least better quality components.  Has anyone else had issues with this tackle?

 

Thanks,

 

-J

[A-Jay]

Nope.

A-Jay

[MassYak85]

I'm going to take a wild guess and say you bought the 90 size

[XF15-Loader]

I did @MassYak85.  The heaviest rod I have will only handle up to 1oz.  I didn't want to risk damage to my rod.

 

So, knowing the issues I'm having w retrieval, is there something I need to do differently?  

 

 

[uncustered]

I don't know about doing things differently, but with the gradual up-sizing of crankbaits, the allowing of 9' rods in tournaments, I think you're going to see more manufacturers offering heavier capacity crankbaits rods.

 

 

I've got several 130's, KVD 8.0'S, 10.0's and swim baits... so I'm building an 8' crankbait rod rated to ***/4 oz....

[MassYak85]

@XF15-Loader Unfortunately what you are experiencing are known issues with the 90, hence my first comment. The 90 is extremely sensitive to anything, even a single blade of grass, getting caught in the tail and completely throwing off the action and causing the entire lure to spin like you describe. The 130 isn't much better as far as debris but usually the entire lure doesn't rotate as easily. Only thing you can do is fish open water or just deal with clearing the bait of any debris as necessary. As far as the hooks, I don't really like the hooks they use. The 90's hooks I think are fine if you fish open water and are careful when fighting fish, but they seem pretty fragile to me. I see you tied direct braid, as do I, but IMO those hooks need a little extra finessing to keep them in tact, whether you do that with using some line with some stretch, a rod with more bend to it, or loosening your drag is up to you. I've already had them bend a bit on dink smallmouth using 20lb braid. I think I switched mine out for some Owner's. I'm surprised your's broke like that instead of bending though. I like fishing the 90 and 130 right on the edge of weeds or pads and having the power to keep them out of the cover once they hit usually means having the power to ruin the hooks. In short I'd recommend upgrading them and be mindful of the debris in the water. Fish them with your rod tip high to get them on plane quicker. 

[moguy1973]

I did have a split ring break on one of my small ones, on a 10" fish no less as I swung it up out of the water.  I have had that same one bend the wire holding the back half of the bait where it spins.  Affected it pretty drastically too and it really hasn't worked right since, but it still catches fish. Changed the split rings to some Owners and changed the hooks to some Mustad short shank wide gaps.

[XF15-Loader]

Thanks for the insightful response, @MassYak85. I was fishing along a weed line and over top of a grass bed which would explain the issues I'm having.

 

Again, thanks for the assurance that I'm not alone in my experience.

 

-J

[j bab]

I bet R2S would replace it if you called them

[Arobb2012]

5 minutes ago, j bab said:

I bet R2S would replace it if you called them

They replaced my whopper plopper when it broke in half. I sent them a picture of what was left and they sent me a new one.

[XF15-Loader]

3 minutes ago, j bab said:

I bet R2S would replace it if you called them

Perhaps.  But, if these are known issues, it will most likely just happen again.  

[wdp]

Like MassYak85, I switched the hooks on my 90 to Owner and even beefed up to the 2x strong. 

[J._Bricker]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Nope.

A-Jay

 

X-2, I only own the same two colors and throw the 130

[Bluebasser86]

I have over a dozen 90 size ploppers and never had a single issue. I do swap the hooks out to EWG short shank Gamakatsu hooks. They're a little lighter to help the bait stay up and since they're shorter it's harder for the fish to get leverage to throw them. R2S doesn't make their own hooks and it's impossible to tell there's a weak spot in a mass produced hook by looking at it. Just something that happens if you buy enough baits eventually. 

 

You might look at the new 110 size. I fished one a lot today and they ate it really well. It's right at the 1oz mark so your rod you currently have should be fine. It rides over the waves and gets up better than the 90's do. 

[j bab]

15 hours ago, XF15-Loader said:

Perhaps.  But, if these are known issues, it will most likely just happen again.  

it sounds like the issue is that you hadn't figured out how to fish it yet, then you just got unlucky and the hook broke. i guess you could replace the hook yourself but if i were you i'd call r2s instead of just posting on here

[moguy1973]

Supposedly the new 110 Whopper Ploppers have a "weed resistant convex tail" so it might help keep the muck out of the back end that fouls it up. 

[CTBassin860]

23 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I'm going to take a wild guess and say you bought the 90 size

My thoughts exactly

[Bluebasser86]

7 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

Supposedly the new 110 Whopper Ploppers have a "weed resistant convex tail" so it might help keep the muck out of the back end that fouls it up. 

Mine was wrapping up stringy grass just the same and it takes very little to make the tail foul. Well worth the minor headache though. 

[XF15-Loader]

16 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Mine was wrapping up stringy grass just the same and it takes very little to make the tail foul. Well worth the minor headache though. 

Sounds like you need to learn how to fish that lure?.  LOL

[Bluebasser86]

56 minutes ago, XF15-Loader said:

Sounds like you need to learn how to fish that lure?.  LOL

Yeah, we nearly had my 4th 100 fish guide trip of the year, mostly on the 110 and 90 Plopper, but I'll keep trying to figure them out 

[Gary Coldiron]

Bought a 90 Bone whopper plopper.  Used it for about 2 weeks and noticed it wasn't spinner correctly.  Upon closer inspection I noticed it had a V-line crack in the tail section.  Contacted River2sea to see if I could just get a new tail section.  They asked for picture and immediately offered a replacement.  Not only is this an amazing Lure for catching Bass but they also have top notch customer service!  Thank you River2sea.  Love you product!

[tcbass]

On 6/10/2017 at 5:39 PM, moguy1973 said:

Supposedly the new 110 Whopper Ploppers have a "weed resistant convex tail" so it might help keep the muck out of the back end that fouls it up. 

 

This is true I think. Also, if you push the two pieces together and spin it it will grind up any weeds that you can't get out.

 

 

I like the 110 a lot better and it's all I use and it's worked great, my brother however loves the 90 and he's caught a ton of fish on it, so what can I say. He uses Loon and I use Monkey Butt.

[Aytch]

Caught a nice 18” largemouth today and was surprised to see the cheek damage I assume was from the Whopper Plopper tail. Anyone else seen this?

[HaydenS]

24 minutes ago, Aytch said:

Caught a nice 18” largemouth today and was surprised to see the cheek damage I assume was from the Whopper Plopper tail. Anyone else seen this?

Fish get pretty roughed up just swimming around.  I highly doubt the plastic tail damaged the fishes cheek in any visible way.

[Smells like fish]

That’s must be one mean plopper you’re slinging!!