Hooks on Whopper Plopper - do you change them?

[Eddie101]

I missed two decent size bass - say, about 3 lb. 5 oz each (down to the oz, LOL!) - yesterday on a Whopper Plopper lure. The stock hooks that came with the bait looked very convincing, and sharp enough when I felt them with my finger - well, so I thought. Anyway, I had a decent hook set too, but I still missed them both. I'm not one of those guys who goes crazy on modding anything especially lures, but I may have to be flexible to the idea. Thank you in advance for your valuable input!

[Dwight Hottle]

I have had some with lighter grade hooks that were extremely sharp but the last few had heavier hooks with marginal sharpness so I switched them out. 

[Eddie101]

2 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

I have had some with lighter grade hooks that were extremely sharp but the last few had heavier hooks with marginal sharpness so I switched them out. 

What brand and size do you recommend please? 

[Scott F]

Even with the sharpest hooks, best hooks, you will not hook every fish that takes a swipe at your bait. Sometimes, they just miss the hooks.

[Eddie101]

2 minutes ago, Scott F said:

Even with the sharpest hooks, best hooks, you will not hook every fish that takes a swipe at your bait. Sometimes, they just miss the hooks.

That's fishing I suppose. So, do you just leave those hooks alone or do you change them for - at least - greater peace of mind?

[Dwight Hottle]

3 minutes ago, Eddie101 said:

What brand and size do you recommend please? 

Size depends on the bait size

Size 75 & 90 uses #4 hooks

Size 110 & 130 uses #2 hooks

Sixe 190 uses 5/0

I like using Owner short shank ST35 or ST36 hooks. 

[Scott F]

12 minutes ago, Eddie101 said:

That's fishing I suppose. So, do you just leave those hooks alone or do you change them for - at least - greater peace of mind?

I use the Whopper Plopper frequently. I find the hooks that come on the bait work just fine. Do whatever you think you need to do to give you “peace of mind”.

[JediAmoeba]

Along with the size whopper, what power rod were you using?

[The Bassman]

My biggest problem with any topwater is reacting too fast. It's cost me a lot of fish, I'm sure.

[Eddie101]

1 minute ago, JediAmoeba said:

Along with the size whopper, what power rod were you using?

It was WP 90, and I was using an old 6'6" All-Star - either medium or MH - rod. 

[JediAmoeba]

1 hour ago, Eddie101 said:

It was WP 90, and I was using an old 6'6" All-Star - either medium or MH - rod. 

That's a smallish one - MH should be enough power.  Sometimes bass hit topwater lures with their nose and never even open their mouth - they are just hitting it to tell it to get out of their territory.  I wouldn't get too hung up on 2 missed too water fish but if the hooks are thick, you may want to go to a strong thinner wired hook; just dont horse them in too much once hooked.  

[GreenPig]

From the 75 to the 190 WP, all my hooks are factory and plenty sharp. You gonna miss them sometimes no matter what you do.

[keagbassr]

5 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

Sometimes bass hit topwater lures with their nose and never even open their mouth - they are just hitting it to tell it to get out of their territory

I think @JediAmoeba nailed it with this statement. I get this a lot with buzzbaits this time of year as I'm often hooking them under the chin, or the side of the face. This pic of a fish I caught last week shows it.

[DropShotHotShot]

I noticed better hookups when I changed to a slower (moderate) action rod.  Let them eat it better