Rigging a whopper plopper

[Curt Burley]

does tying directly to a whopper plopper without the split ring affect the action?? thanks

[Boomstick]

I would recommend a swivel to help with line twist, but I have fished them without one without any issues. Every now and then, when you reel it in let it spin its way back so it doesn't get too badly twisted and you should be fine -- although a swivel is definitely preferred.

[Bird]

Does the whopper plopper come stock with split ring, have a couple but don't throw them much.

 

I prefer direct tie to about everything but that surely doesn't mean everyone does. Lol

[suzuki2903]

If you’re using braid then definitely need a good ball bearing swivel.  I use the split ring to a swivel and line to to that.  Never had any issues and doesn’t ruin my braid either. 

[CountryboyinDC]

This plug is supposed to be pretty much fished like a buzzbait, just retrieve at pretty much a steady pace.  You don't have to pop it on slack line like a walking bait, prop bait, etc.  So the action should be preserved without a split ring even without a loop knot.  The split rings mine came with were definitely sturdy, but the were round.  I took them off and kept them.  Never know when I might go tarpon fishing or something similar and need a split ring.

[Bluebasser86]

I fish them straight braid and never use a swivel or split ring and have no issues.

[MN Fisher]

13 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I fish them straight braid and never use a swivel or split ring and have no issues.

Yep - same here.

[Ogandrews]

I generally tie straight to it without a swivel, and rarely does it have any body roll. If you guys are looking for a much better alternative to a plopper look at the Lee Lures mini water chopper. It is 4.75” so around the size of a 110 but it is 1.8 oz and has slightly larger metal tail so it gives it a very deep and loud plopping sound. It spins at a super slow speed and can also be burned without the body rolling. The front hook has a wire hook hanger that hangs a little down from the bait which acts as a keel making it practically never roll. It is also a wood bait which makes it ride higher in the water and allows you to fish it in big waves and still have an effective presentation. Also comes in a lot of bigger sizes but the mini is the best bass size as well as being a great downsized musky bait. It’s not cheap, the mini is $55 but it’s worth it for a quality hand made bait and it is insured for the life of the bait so if anything breaks you can send it back and lee will fix it. Give it a try it’s a great lure

[Michigander]

Never really had any problems tying directly on without a swivel.

 

The Booyeah Toad Runner has almost completely replaced the Whopper Plopper for my fishing. I still keep them around for truly open water but the Toad Runner works better in the areas I spend most of my time in.

[PhishLI]

I've wrecked two spools of braid when snagging weeds just under the surface on the end of a bomb cast which made the WP spin all the way in. Swivel for me after the second time. It has zero effect on a chuck 'n wind bait.

[Dogface]

I put a dedicated swivel on every whopper plopper I have. I fish weeds and weed edges and the weeds will jam up the plopper and cause it to spin. I have had no issues with line twist since I added the swivels. 

[KDW96]

For those using swivels, What brand and size are you using please?

[NHBull]

Tie direct

No need for swivel 

[dgkasper58]

I use the Mustad Ball Bearing Swivel with Fastach Clip and love them easy to go from a 110/130 to a bama rig/swimbait with no worries

 

[Cdn Angler]

The only time i suffered bad line twist was with straight mono fishing in A LOT of weeds where the entire lure would get turned. 

 

Never had a problem with braid. 

 

I now put a swivel on 'em because winter is long and dark and i was going stir crazy. 

[Teal]

Tie direct. No swivel needed.  No issues from straight braid. 

[OnthePotomac]

Tie direct with 17lb XL mono.  I never saw this bait as one to "burn" across the top, just a nice steady retrieve.  As much as I watched Larry Dalberg develop this lure on his shows, I cannot remember if he only used a steady, and no real fast retrieve.

[Dogface]

18 hours ago, KDW96 said:

For those using swivels, What brand and size are you using please?

I match the size of the swivel to the particular plopper. I have them from 90s to 130s. As for make I use what the local bait shop has. 

[haggard]

I tie direct with copoly or mono and have never had an issue.

 

Except that time I set the hook on what turned out to not be a strike and had to duck to avoid a broken off whopper zinging past my head. I was disappointed I'd lost the lure and was about to tie a new one on, when I remembered (duh) topwater lures float. Retrieved it and continued fishing

 

Action should be fine tying direct. As others said a swivel might be worth considering but I don't have experience with them.

 

[Big Swimbait]

I prefer to tie direct, but all it takes is one blade of grass or a small piece of debris to stop that tail from spinning. Then the entire lure rolls. If this is at the beginning of a long cast, your line will be wrecked unless you are using braid. A quality swivel is cheap insurance.

[Throwafrog]

I use a swivel with the all plopperss but the 90 size. The swivel made the 90 go nose down and it was tough to get that good plopping noise if you know what I mean. Maybe I'll try a smaller swivel and split ring this year..

[pauldconyers]

To those that do not use a swivel but tie directly what is the advantage/reason to bypass the split ring?

[NHBull]

24 minutes ago, pauldconyers said:

To those that do not use a swivel but tie directly what is the advantage/reason to bypass the split ring?

I would use a clip over a split ring....I hat the sharp edges of a split ring.. if I was going with one, it would be an oval

[MN Fisher]

26 minutes ago, pauldconyers said:

To those that do not use a swivel but tie directly what is the advantage/reason to bypass the split ring?

Ummm...mine didn't come with split rings - so just tied direct as a matter of course.

[JustJames]

I normally tie direct, but I do have problem from time to time with line twisted when tail part hang up with anything. If that happen I’ll reel fast with rod tip high to get the head part out of water. After that I’ll let lure spin about 4-5’ down to clear twisted line.

I don’t think it matter much with WP 110 with or without swivel (definitely not split ring) but WP90 you would get head down effect when add big snap swivel.