Fishing the Whopper Plopper and Toadrunner

[Defiant Clone]

I tried to find a few answers regarding this and could not find what I was looking for, so pardon me if this topic has been discussed before.

 

I am having major issues with both my WP and Booyah Toadrunner, both lures utilize a spinning "tail" to make noise/bubbles. My issue is that the lure constantly spins on retrieve on both a baitcaist and spincast and will cause the line to spin/bunch up if any slack is present. I have tried varying the speed and this does solve some of the issue but hard to tell when the lure is at a distance. I use the Palomar knot if that matters and tie directly to the lure. 

 

*** Update - Problem has been fixed (see bottom post), thank you everyone who responded with suggestions!!!!

Edited October 13, 2019 by Defiant Clone
Mark as fixed.

[OnthePotomac]

Wow, that is a good one.  Mine just putt along with no problem.  I tie direct, but I guess you could try a swivel and see if that works.

[Defiant Clone]

1 minute ago, OnthePotomac said:

Wow, that is a good one.  Mine just putt along with no problem.  I tie direct, but I guess you could try a swivel and see if that works.

I thought about doing that but was wondering if that would negatively impact the natural performance of the lure, however its not working as is right now haha.

 

When I pull the lure out of the water to prep for my next cast, it will spin so fast that I feel afraid its going to fly off. 

[Big Rick]

What size WP are you fishing?  My 75's will spin if I speed my retrieve up too fast. The 90 spins horribly for me. The larger ones work just fine. 

 

On a side note, the Berkley Choppo 90 works like a charm and sounds just like my WP 75's. The hooks aren't as heavy but I caught a 15 lb grass carp with no bend out...  I've not tried the larger ones. 

[tcbass]

I always use Mustad KVD swivel Fastach snaps and I've never had a problem with either although I don't use the Toadrunner anymore I use the Homemade Whopper Frog. I have used the non-swivel Mustad KVD Fastach also and not had problems with spinning. Friend has straight tied Whopper Ploppers and Homemade Whopper frogs and never had any issues. As above said, the knock-off WP, Berkeley Choppo, also works. 

 

Here's what I always use:

 

 

You could have defective lures but having both a WP and Toadrunner defective would be rare. 

[Dirtyeggroll]

1. Make sure there is no debris in the tail.

2. Add a swivel.

3. Keep your rod tip down in or near the water.

4. For the Toadrunner, make sure both of the ‘legs’ are lateral to the hooks.

 

You may not need to do all of these things but one or a combination of some of them should fix your problem. If not you probably somehow have dysfunctional lures, which is doubtful. 

[Big Rick]

1 hour ago, tcbass said:

I always use Mustad KVD swivel Fastach snaps and I've never had a problem with either although I don't use the Toadrunner anymore I use the Homemade Whopper Frog. I have used the non-swivel Mustad KVD Fastach also and not had problems with spinning. Friend has straight tied Whopper Ploppers and Homemade Whopper frogs and never had any issues. As above said, the knock-off WP, Berkeley Choppo, also works. 

 

Here's what I always use:

 

 

You could have defective lures but having both a WP and Toadrunner defective would be rare. 

I love these things!  They work really well with crank baits, jerk baits, lipless cranks, and most topwater baits..... I have never had one bend out or break. And I caught my PB this year (8lb 3oz) on a jerkbait while using these..

[Defiant Clone]

1 hour ago, Big Rick said:

What size WP are you fishing?  My 75's will spin if I speed my retrieve up too fast. The 90 spins horribly for me. The larger ones work just fine. 

 

On a side note, the Berkley Choppo 90 works like a charm and sounds just like my WP 75's. The hooks aren't as heavy but I caught a 15 lb grass carp with no bend out...  I've not tried the larger ones. 

I believe it to be the 90 (its a knock-off WP), which I thought might have been the problem myself but I have the same problem with the Toadrunner and that is not a knock off.

 

I find that maintaining the speed is difficult since the changes as the spool fills up, but if I slow down it doesn't plop like its supposed to, same with the from.

 

1 hour ago, tcbass said:

I always use Mustad KVD swivel Fastach snaps and I've never had a problem with either although I don't use the Toadrunner anymore I use the Homemade Whopper Frog. I have used the non-swivel Mustad KVD Fastach also and not had problems with spinning. Friend has straight tied Whopper Ploppers and Homemade Whopper frogs and never had any issues. As above said, the knock-off WP, Berkeley Choppo, also works. 

 

Here's what I always use:

 

You could have defective lures but having both a WP and Toadrunner defective would be rare. 

I have a few swivels that I plan to try out tomorrow and see if that fixes it, thanks for the recommendation! I also agree that having two defective lures from two different manufacturers would be rare.

 

How do those Fastach snaps work?

Edited October 11, 2019 by Defiant Clone
add

[Big Rick]

4 minutes ago, Defiant Clone said:

I believe it to be the 90 (its a knock-off WP), which I thought might have been the problem myself but I have the same problem with the Toadrunner and that is not a knock off.

 

I find that maintaining the speed is difficult since the changes as the spool fills up, but if I slow down it doesn't plop like its supposed to, same with the from.

 

I have a few swivels that I plan to try out tomorrow and see if that fixes it, thanks for the recommendation! I also agree that having two defective lures from two different manufacturers would be rare.

Well, I throw mine on braided line. I don't think that makes a difference. The knot certainly doesn't make a difference. It seems to me that if both baits are exhibiting the same problem then it could be corrosion on the shaft of the WP and in the swivel of the Toadrunner. Could you have gotten moisture in your tackle box? Try spraying the swivel and WP shaft with a lubricant. Even line conditioner may help. WD 40 even. That beats ruining your line and fishing experience. 

[tcbass]

1 hour ago, Defiant Clone said:

I believe it to be the 90 (its a knock-off WP), which I thought might have been the problem myself but I have the same problem with the Toadrunner and that is not a knock off.

 

I find that maintaining the speed is difficult since the changes as the spool fills up, but if I slow down it doesn't plop like its supposed to, same with the from.

 

I have a few swivels that I plan to try out tomorrow and see if that fixes it, thanks for the recommendation! I also agree that having two defective lures from two different manufacturers would be rare.

 

How do those Fastach snaps work?

 

 

Love them. Been using them for years. 

 

Much stronger than regular snaps and easier to put on. 

[Defiant Clone]

11 minutes ago, tcbass said:

 

 

Love them. Been using them for years. 

 

Much stronger than regular snaps and easier to put on. 

Just watched a video of them, didn't comprehend them at first glance, but holy heck this seems like an amazing idea!

[CountryboyinDC]

I don't use any of the other baits mentioned, but the Whopper Plopper's tail will definitely seize up, usually at the end of your record distance cast.  If you don't have a swivel of some sort, you might as well just cut the line off once you're done with your retrieve with the tail seized.  I haven't been fishing WPs like I did when they first came out, but I've taken to using a snap swivel as the connection.

[The Bassman]

4 hours ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

1. Make sure there is no debris in the tail.

 

This is the main problem I notice. Just takes a little string of snot moss between the body and prop to jam it up.

[tcbass]

56 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

This is the main problem I notice. Just takes a little string of snot moss between the body and prop to jam it up.

 

My only gripe about the Whopper Plopper is they foul up so easy. 

 

That's where the Whopper Frog kills them. Even in open water. 

 

 

[Defiant Clone]

On 10/11/2019 at 9:01 PM, tcbass said:

 

My only gripe about the Whopper Plopper is they foul up so easy. 

 

That's where the Whopper Frog kills them. Even in open water. 

 

 

That is basically the same thing as my Toadrunner, glad to see the concept works for someone!!!!

 

Update*** 

I went out this morning and tested the WP with a swivel and that maybe improved the situation by 50%, the WP still spun in the water but I no longer had the line twist problem.

 

Not sure how I noticed this but I figured out my issue, the metal rod that protrudes past the rotating tail and holds the rear treble hook was bent slightly, straightened it up and boom problem was solved. Never threw the Toadrunner but I will try it out with a swivel next time. Thanks for all the suggestions!

[tcbass]

1 hour ago, Defiant Clone said:

That is basically the same thing as my Toadrunner, glad to see the concept works for someone!!!!

 

Update*** 

I went out this morning and tested the WP with a swivel and that maybe improved the situation by 50%, the WP still spun in the water but I no longer had the line twist problem.

 

Not sure how I noticed this but I figured out my issue, the metal rod that protrudes past the rotating tail and holds the rear treble hook was bent slightly, straightened it up and boom problem was solved. Never threw the Toadrunner but I will try it out with a swivel next time. Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

 

Great news!!!

 

We've used a lot of Whopper Ploppers and never had an issue with not running properly besides the 90 not running as great which is a common problem, if I'm correct that's partly why they created the 75 which is my favorite WP. 

 

I had a lot of bites and few catches with the Teckel and Toadrunner. These homemade Whopper Frogs have about a 95% catch rate which is way better. 

[Defiant Clone]

16 hours ago, tcbass said:

 

 

Great news!!!

 

We've used a lot of Whopper Ploppers and never had an issue with not running properly besides the 90 not running as great which is a common problem, if I'm correct that's partly why they created the 75 which is my favorite WP. 

 

I had a lot of bites and few catches with the Teckel and Toadrunner. These homemade Whopper Frogs have about a 95% catch rate which is way better. 

So I have a spare spinners for the Toadrunner and I have a KVD Sexy Frog, I might try and make one like you did. Looks like you just used 3 way snaps?!?!?!

[tcbass]

6 hours ago, Defiant Clone said:

So I have a spare spinners for the Toadrunner and I have a KVD Sexy Frog, I might try and make one like you did. Looks like you just used 3 way snaps?!?!?!

 

Yep. #6 3 way swivel and CPS Centering Spring.  

 

 

[tcbass]

8 hours ago, Defiant Clone said:

So I have a spare spinners for the Toadrunner and I have a KVD Sexy Frog, I might try and make one like you did. Looks like you just used 3 way snaps?!?!?!

 

Do it. 

 

I'll say that I tried a lot of frogs and can't remember if I tried a KVD Sexydawg but the only one that worked was Booyah Padcrashers. Luckily they are one of the cheapest frogs.