Whopper Ploppers/Topwater

[tcbass]

3 hours ago, Koz said:

 

Whopper Ploppers are a part of my arsenal and I like to use them (especially Bone, Munky Butt, and Bluegill). However, if I was buying one topwater to be my first topwater it would not be my first choice. So, what would I get?

 

Teckel Sprinker Frog.

 

Why? It's kind of the best of both worlds. You can fish it a bit like a regular frog and it has the paddle tail action like a Whopper Plopper. You can fish it in open water and fish it over weeds and slop without getting hung up.

 

Granted, the hookup rate is lower than with the dual treble hooks of the Whopper Plopper. But it's a very versatile choice for your first topwater.

 

 

I bouht a lot of Teckels and a few Booyah Toadrunners when they first came out. Neither panned out. A homemade Teckel frog made with a Booyah Pad Crasher and Teckel tail have really worked for me though. 

[looking45]

If you want to try a topwater that Ive found to be more productive than the Whopper Plopper, try a Depps Buzz Jet. This bait makes more commotion then the Plopper. It seems like the Plopper is a hit or miss bait, some days they want it, some days they don't. They eat the Buzz Jet on a regular basis. 

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Deps_Buzzjet_Wakebait/descpage-DBJ.html

[tcbass]

On 8/18/2018 at 10:42 AM, looking45 said:

If you want to try a topwater that Ive found to be more productive than the Whopper Plopper, try a Depps Buzz Jet. This bait makes more commotion then the Plopper. It seems like the Plopper is a hit or miss bait, some days they want it, some days they don't. They eat the Buzz Jet on a regular basis. 

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Deps_Buzzjet_Wakebait/descpage-DBJ.html

 

 

How weedless is it?

 

 

And $27......yikes!!!!

[looking45]

16 minutes ago, tcbass said:

 

 

How weedless is it?

 

 

And $27......yikes!!!!

In stock form it has two trebles hanging from it so it isn't very weedless. If you're fishing it over slightly submerged grass, take the two trebles off and just use one siwash hook on the back end. You'll be able to work it over the grass with not much problem. Your hook up ratio will go down slightly with only one hook. 

[cheezledzul]

This little girl popped my cherry! Only got 1 hit on the wp. 

Caught this at the NE point over rocks and sand about 3-4 ft deep. Black w blue flakes weightless 4" yum dinger.  Shes a little odd looking to me. Skinny and yellow? Then again it was my first catch.

Had a 2nd fish but stupidly held the line and it flopped off the hook. When I was pulling out my pphone. i cried. Learned a lesson there lol. 

[tcbass]

 

 

 

6 hours ago, cheezledzul said:

This little girl popped my cherry! Only got 1 hit on the wp. 

Caught this at the NE point over rocks and sand about 3-4 ft deep. Black w blue flakes weightless 4" yum dinger.  Shes a little odd looking to me. Skinny and yellow? Then again it was my first catch.

Had a 2nd fish but stupidly held the line and it flopped off the hook. When I was pulling out my pphone. i cried. Learned a lesson there lol. 

 

 

Is that a smallmouth?

[Bluebasser86]

4 hours ago, tcbass said:

 

 

 

 

 

Is that a smallmouth?

Yes

[2marshall8]

I was looking for a whopper plopper topic. I've been throwing the loon in 130 during the night with average results. My biggest issue is short strikes. the other night I caught 1 2lber but had 8-10 strikes which were all misses. Any suggestions on modifying or working the lure in a way to prevent more short strikes? the hardest part with top water at night is you can see so you can tell if they have sucked in the lure to set the hook.

[IgotWood]

This may sound crazy, but I think there is something about the sound that the WP generates that the fish are more interested. For example, on my local lake I've spent a good amount of time fishing the 110 and 130 and have only caught 2 or 3 bass on them. But throw a WP 90 right behind the 110/130 and I immediately start smokin' em! I don't think it's the size because I catch plenty of fish on baits bigger than the 90. Go to a creek not far from my lake, and the 110 is the ticket. I have to believe that it's the sound more than it is the size.

 

As for a beginner topwater lure...go for it! It's so easy to fish. Cast and retrieve. Keep your rod tip high and the fish set the hook themselves.

[EGbassing]

I'd get a walking bait. (strike king version is by far the best for the price imo)

[Sam]

EG, the information shared with you above is outstanding. Everyone has their input and everyone is correct...for their waters.

 

So let's keep this simple and by the numbers.

1. You live in the great state of New York. So your water temperatures will be colder and your season shorter than most of the country.

2.  Due to the water temperature and shorter season, your bass will feed more and get ready for the winter earlier than the states to your south. And topwater is one of their favorite methods to fatten up.

3.  Keep it simple. Go with a 90 size Whooper Plopper and a black or white buzzbait for starters. Nothing fancy. Cavitron's work great.

4.  If the Whooper Plopper is too expensive to chance, then change out to a topwater popper bait.

5.  Give a shaky head worm a try on top of the water. Like a snake. Do not use a weight. Just use a medium or medium heavy spinning rig with 8-pound fluorocarbon line. Move it erratically on the surface. You can use a finesse worm or a trick worm. Or go with one of the 12-inch models. But I suggest going with the finesse and trick worms for this presentation before adding to your length.

6.  Do the same with the Senko of your choice, be it Texas or wacky rigged. No weight. Keep it on the surface.

7.  A wake bait may be to your advantage. Consider one. Go to YouTube and look up wake bait.

8.  Fish the topwater slow. Start with the buzzbait and then to the smaller Whopper Plopper. The popping bait will be next and then the wake bait. But focus on the buzzbait and Whopper Plopper the most. All day long.

9.  As for colors, match the hatch and forage's colors. Enough said.

10. And size. Size matters with your baits. Keep them as small as possible at first. Get used to them. See how they work and how the fish hit them. Keep eyes and ears open all the time. Make notes on each adventure. Use a fishing log at the top of this page under "Tools." start out slow and simple.

11. After mastering the smaller baits you are ready for the larger ones.

12. Use spinning gear. Easier to use than a baitcaster. Can handle light weights and line tests.

 

Good luck and let us know how you do.

[FCPhil]

110 size or the new 75 size all the way! (The 75 is fatter and planes better than the 90 I hear)

[NYWayfarer]

9 hours ago, FCPhil said:

110 size or the new 75 size all the way! (The 75 is fatter and planes better than the 90 I hear)

I have the 75 and the 90. The difference is the 75 sits on top of the water when standing still. The 90 dips its tail and sits nose up in the water when at rest.

 

The 90 so far is a much better producer for me.