Rigging a whopper plopper

[WRB]

Spro swivels are tiny light weight and strong. Check the eyelet size before using with your split rings. Size 7 (75 lb) is .058 ID and should work with most split rings.

Tom

 

[PhishLI]

19 hours ago, BigBassBo said:

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.

Exactly. This is the only reason I use a swivel.

[pauldconyers]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Spro swivels are tiny light weight and strong. Check the eyelet size before using with your split rings. Size 7 (75 lb) is .058 ID and should work with most split rings.

Tom

 

From what you are saying if you were to use a swivel you would use it WITH the split ring? I assumed if I did it I would use it directly to the bait?

[ATA]

On 4/28/2020 at 5:13 PM, Curt Burley said:

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

if you want they do their job, it is better to use non and tie it straight to your line. Here also I did something crazy with them and I drop shot them LOL, give it a try and you'll be amazed.

[WRB]

12 minutes ago, pauldconyers said:

From what you are saying if you were to use a swivel you would use it WITH the split ring? I assumed if I did it I would use it directly to the bait?

You add the swivel to the split ring on the lure and tie to the swivel. If the split ring on the lure is a heavy wire measure the wire to be sure the swivel eyelet is big enough to fit.

Tom

 

[Ogandrews]

Figured I would add something that I have learned from the musky world. I haven’t ever heard any bass guys talk about this, but I’m sure somebody has done it. The whopper plopper was actually originally a musky bait and then was made smaller because people were catching nice bass on it. Tail baits like the plopper have been a staple in the musky world for way longer than the plopper has been around. One thing I learned from a couple old timers was how to fish a tail bait in heavier weeds. Remove the front treble completely from the bait. Take the back hook off, take a small piece of shrink tubing and slide it over the hook. Reattach the hook to the split ring, and slide the shrink tube so it covers the hook split ring and hook hanger, and then hold a lighter to it while keeping the hook straight out so the tubing holds it straight out from the bait. With the front hook removed and the back hook straight out, the prop will act like a weed guard and you will be amazed how thick of weeds you will be able to get this thing through. You would think that the hooking percentage would go way down but there is very little difference, still has 2 more hooks than a buzz bait. I do this all the time with musky sized prop baits like a top raider or pacemaker and it is one of the best ways to get fish out of the slop. For bass fishing this is a great way to show the fish something different if you are on a body of water where people regularly throw buzz baits. Give it a try you will be surprised how well it works. One tip is to cast into an open pocket and get the prop working before you hit the weeds, if you land right into some slop then you will most likely get hung up.

7 hours ago, WRB said:

Spro swivels are tiny light weight and strong. Check the eyelet size before using with your split rings. Size 7 (75 lb) is .058 ID and should work with most split rings.

Tom

 

Second vote for spro swivels, those are what I use for tying musky leaders with 100-200lbs floro and I have never ever had one fail, not expensive either.

[Bluebasser86]

10 hours 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've never bought one that came with a split ring and there's no need for one, just something that could potentially fail while fighting a fish, especially with using straight braid.

 

I use the 90 size a majority of the time and fish in a lot of wind (and waves). Adding anything extra to them isn't an option and I actually change the hooks out to reduce weight and make them ride higher.

[JustJames]

9 hours ago, pauldconyers said:

From what you are saying if you were to use a swivel you would use it WITH the split ring? I assumed if I did it I would use it directly to the bait?

You need split ring to connect swivel to lure (doesn’t come with it) unless you use snap swivel. If you have duo lock snap then you don’t need split ring just buy good swivel (bearing type)

[ChrisD46]

On 4/28/2020 at 9:07 PM, suzuki2903 said:

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. 

*Good Option : I use a small Spro ball bearing swivel - first get a good quality small split ring and add to the WP . Next , attach one end of the Spro swivel to the split ring and another to your main line . If a WP picks up a piece of grass  or debris in the slotted rotating tail section ti will cause your WP to spin and by the time you realize it is happening - your main line is ruined ! Lastly , go as small as possible on the Spro swivel and the split ring so as to not add any unnecessary weight to the WP nose  which could cause it to nose dive while retrieving .