Trouble with Whopper Ploppers

[EliHarris___]

So I went out to the Huron River today, had a rod with a jig w creature bait trailer, and one with a bone whopperplopper 90. I ended the day with only one large mouth, and a Bowfin! I’m very happy about the bowfin but I had probably 12 other bass swipe and miss, or get it and spit it out on the whopperplopper. Or they’d get it and I’d try to set the hook and it pops right out. I had a tank of a LM on the whopperplopper under a bridge and got it all the way to the kayak then out of nowhere just as i was about to land it, it pops off. It’s really just frustrating that I had that many bites and only landed one of them. What am I doing wrong? 

[Heartland]

Tell us about the setup and line you were using.

 

[EliHarris___]

26 minutes ago, Heartland said:

Tell us about the setup and line you were using.

 

I was using a 7’ medium heavy uglystick  rod, with 20lb braid to 15lb fluorocarbon leader. And as I mentioned, a bone whopperplopper 90

[Teal]

It could be your timing, if you are missing them on the strike.  Next question is what line are you using? 

 

If you had one come off after the hook set, I'd like to know what type of rod you are using..

 

 

Never mind I see it now.  

[EliHarris___]

Just now, Teal said:

It could be your timing, if you are missing them on the strike.  Next question is what line are you using? 

 

If you had one come off after the hook set, I'd like to know what type of rod you are using..

 

 

Never mind I see it now.  

Well mainly missing the strike, but that one bass got off, might’ve just been a bad hookset, what do you recommend?

Literally would watch it get hit so often, I was actually impressed with how many bites I got, but didn’t land non of em

[Teal]

I dont think its necessary to have the floro leader.  But I dont think that has anything to do with it.  Ugly stick is known to have a parabolic bend, so that will help you keep them pinned, however, I dont think it's amazing at the hook set.  You are just gonna have to keep throwing them and watch your timing and see if a stronger hookset would help

[EliHarris___]

4 minutes ago, Teal said:

I dont think its necessary to have the floro leader.  But I dont think that has anything to do with it.  Ugly stick is known to have a parabolic bend, so that will help you keep them pinned, however, I dont think it's amazing at the hook set.  You are just gonna have to keep throwing them and watch your timing and see if a stronger hookset would help

Ok, I’ll definitely try a harder hook set. Thanks, didn’t know that about ugly stick, definitely good to know

[Teal]

I'm sure the ugly stick isn't the best option for rod, but I don't it is the reason for all those miss.   Sometimes a bass can miss, sometimes we pull it away too fast.  When I first got into bass fishing I caught hundreds of bass on top water off of an ugly stick spinning rod that I picked up from walmart.   My inshore rods have a deep parabolic bend to and I've caught several on topwater.... May just be a timing issue.   Who knows keep trying and when you feel like it maybe invest in a top water specific rod.   

[Bluebasser86]

No reason to have the leader. The rod should work, and with straight braid you don't need a big hookset. I use straight braid with mine on a MH rod and just reel into them when they blow up on it. Some days they're just missing it.

[NYWayfarer]

Misses are going to happen. Smallies sometimes “slap” the bait. The stock hooks on the Plopper are sticky sharp and sometimes I hook them in the back when they do that. They do eventually need to be replaced. Mine have dulled and broken hitting rocks and getting stuck.

 

I have had way more hookups using straight 30# braid and a moderate fast rod. @Bluebasser86 recommended straight 20# braid and I am glad I switched. One of the best advice I have received on this forum.

[EliHarris___]

4 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

No reason to have the leader. The rod should work, and with straight braid you don't need a big hookset. I use straight braid with mine on a MH rod and just reel into them when they blow up on it. Some days they're just missing it.

I use the leader because the water is crystal clear. I’ll stop using it for my whopperploppers tho for sure, it’s not like they see the line on top water. Also that’s a little extra stretch I definitely don’t need on a kayak. However for my jig and other non top water, I will probably still use the leader because of how much success I’ve had with the leader compared to without. The water is just so clear

3 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

Misses are going to happen. Smallies sometimes “slap” the bait. The stock hooks on the Plopper are sticky sharp and sometimes I hook them in the back when they do that. They do eventually need to be replaced. Mine have dulled and broken hitting rocks and getting stuck.

 

I have had way more hookups using straight 30# braid and a moderate fast rod. @Bluebasser86 recommended straight 20# braid and I am glad I switched. One of the best advice I have received on this forum.

Perfect! I’m already using 20lb so that’s easy, just gotta not use the leader

[Heartland]

1 hour ago, EliHarris___ said:

I was using a 7’ medium heavy uglystick  rod, with 20lb braid to 15lb fluorocarbon leader. And as I mentioned, a bone whopperplopper 90

Lots of flex in the upper end of those uglystick rods.  My preference would be a rod that is a little faster than the uglystick, your moving a large bait with resistance too much flex could be a hindrance.

[NYWayfarer]

3 minutes ago, EliHarris___ said:

I use the leader because the water is crystal clear. I’ll stop using it for my whopperploppers tho for sure, it’s not like they see the line on top water. Also that’s a little extra stretch I definitely don’t need on a kayak. However for my jig and other non top water, I will probably still use the leader because of how much success I’ve had with the leader compared to without. The water is just so clear

Perfect! I’m already using 20lb so that’s easy, just gotta not use the leader

I fish ultra clear water and the straight moss green braid doesn’t seem to bother the fish.

 

I have a dedicated set up for the Plopper, my Lew’s Mach Crush combo. No worries about switching baits and needing a leader. 

[Bird]

I've had really good success on the 90 this year on straight braid in gin clear lakes.....med fast.

 

MH rod is your enemy with treble hooks and braid.

 

 

[EliHarris___]

1 hour ago, Bird said:

I've had really good success on the 90 this year on straight braid in gin clear lakes.....med fast.

 

MH rod is your enemy with treble hooks and braid.

 

 

So just a medium fast rod instead of MH?

[Bird]

5 hours ago, EliHarris___ said:

So just a medium fast rod instead of MH?

I have had great hookup ratio with the 90 on 7' Med fast action rod. 

 

A jarring hook set, straight braid on MH rod is likely leading to fish lost by tearing the fishes mouth.

[mrc.in.wi]

I’ve found with top water lures the “ hook set” isn’t really as important as a hesitation before. 
For me it was hard to learn. You see the blow up and want to jerk the rod and reel like crazy. Hesitate for 1-2 seconds(especially since your using braid) then a sweeping hook set not a big tv show jerking of the rod.  With braid you could be pulling the lure out all the way back to the kayak. Remember braid does not stretch at all. Don’t get too aggressive. 

Sometimes they just short strike all day and you did everything right. 

[Sam]

Either go with braid tied directly to the Whooper Plopper or go with monofilament as it floats.

 

Upgrade to a medium 6'6" cranking stick, such as the David Fritts Speed Stick. The cranking stick will vibrate when the Whopper Plopper is being reeled in.

 

Sweep your hook set from side to side waist high. Do this for all treble hook baits.

 

Never, never, never allow any slack into your line after you set the hook.

 

Watch the bass hit the Whopper Plopper and wait two seconds and then set the hook. Easier said then done as our reflexes are so fast we set the hook a little too soon.

 

You may want to put some MegaStrike on the Whopper Plopper so the bass will hold onto it a little longer.

 

Good luck.

[gim]

11 hours ago, EliHarris___ said:

I’m very happy about the bowfin

This is your problem right there!

[Fishingmickey]

Sharpen your hooks? Wait until you feel the line load up and a smooth sweep hook set.

FM

[TnRiver46]

At least you have fish trying to eat the plopper........  mine goes completely ignored for months on end 

[trouttracker]

Are you referring to Michigan's Huron river?

[EliHarris___]

25 minutes ago, trouttracker said:

Are you referring to Michigan's Huron river?

Yep

3 hours ago, gimruis said:

This is your problem right there!

Haha, yeah I’ve just never caught a bowfin before that. It was a biggin too, It put up a very good fight 

[gim]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

At least you have fish trying to eat the plopper........  mine goes completely ignored for months on end 

I bought a couple a few years ago when they were all the rage...that was a mistake.  Between the two of them I think I've caught maybe 5 fish in 2+ years now.  I do think they are a well made lure, but fish just don't go after them.  I haven't had good luck with topwaters of any kind lately though, so it may just be topwater lures in general instead of the whopppers.

[TnRiver46]

27 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I bought a couple a few years ago when they were all the rage...that was a mistake.  Between the two of them I think I've caught maybe 5 fish in 2+ years now.  I do think they are a well made lure, but fish just don't go after them.  I haven't had good luck with topwaters of any kind lately though, so it may just be topwater lures in general instead of the whopppers.

They clearly eat the small ones in my neck of the woods but not the big ones. And I only have 1 of them and it’s huge......This conclusion is based on massive amounts of research. My buddies throw the small ones and catch fish, the big ones have still never landed anything in a few years