Prop baits

[Ben77]

I'm looking to try some prop baits this year. Any good recommendations? Is the devil's horse worth it and in what colors thanks again!

[GTN-NY]

I’ve never had a devils horse but I use a torpedo in bass color a lot

[Jigfishn10]

Haven't used a prop bait in years but the torpedo was the one I used. Once I learned to walk the dog, the torpedo basically sank in my tacklebox. 

[Fishlegs]

I like devil horses. I have multiple colors, but I reach for the perch pattern first. Torpedos are great too. I caught several fish in 2020 on a bullfrog torpedo.

[Bankbeater]

Heddon Torpedo or Cordell Boy Howdy.

[Scott804]

The Devil Horse (originally Deveel Horse because they thought it wouldn't sell to uptight Christians in the bible belt if they spelled Devil properly, fun fact.) is a great prop lure. I like it because while it doesn't necessarily do the straight retrieve as well as something like a Whopper Plopper (another great prop lure, especially in Bone color) , you can work it multiple different ways much more effectively than you would a Plopper. You can twitch, rip, stop n go, slow roll, burn and all will get bit. I have never cared too much about color, usually just pick whatever looks cool.

 

Another prop lure to look out for is The Wood Chopper. While it is discontinued by the original manufacturer(s), many custom lure manufacturers will make copies/sell them. It is shaped similar to a spook and has a double blade on the back and it is fantastic when ripped across the surface violently. Very little pressure on the lure if you can get your hands on one! 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

I throw a propbait from now till winter hits again, I have modified Smithwick devils horse's for years. Hard to beat. 

 

But last year I've swapped up to Rapala X-Rap props. Must say I'm really digging them. Go watch videos from recent Okeechobee tournament, lot of guys slinging propbaits.

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DKErqEaGZSnw&ved=2ahUKEwj3iMqulInvAhWnrFkKHZjVBgoQ28sGMAF6BAgBEBs&usg=AOvVaw1ITrLSN6F2na9yEpNZVxQ3

[scaleface]

My favorite prop bait is the Bomber Prop A , long ago discontinued but I purchased  a lifetime supply .The heaviest 6 bass limit I ever caught was on one . Bagleys makes a similar one , the Bang-O-Lure with a  tail prop .

[river-rat]

I've been using a Devil's Horse since the1960's and it is still really effective. 

 

As for colors I use chrome/blue back, chrome/black back, silver shiner, and perch.

[Captain Phil]

The Devil's Horse is one of the most effective big bass baits ever made.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been won with this lure in Florida tournaments.  One angler made a good living for years throwing this lure exclusively.  His favorite color was chrome with a black back and an orange belly.  My favorite is the "Spotted Ape" pattern which is dark green with black spots. It's hard to find now.  I still have a couple left.  Change out the hooks and you are good to go.  This lure is made to fish in cover, so use at least 20 pound mono as monster bass eat this thing. 

 

I don't know what it is about this lure that makes it work so well.  I suspect it's a territorial thing as big bass seem to want to kill it.   I work it in short quick jerks.   You have to be observant as bass often come up behind it before smashing to heck out of it. If you only used this lure all day, you would win more than you lose.   I would trade a pile of "Whopper Poopers" for one good Devil's Horse.  ?

 

 

[Ben77]

2 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

The Devil's Horse is one of the most effective big bass baits ever made.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been won with this lure in Florida tournaments.  One angler made a good living for years throwing this lure exclusively.  His favorite color was chrome with a black back and an orange belly.  My favorite is the "Spotted Ape" pattern which is dark green with black spots. It's hard to find now.  I still have a couple left.  Change out the hooks and you are good to go.  This lure is made to fish in cover, so use at least 20 pound mono as monster bass eat this thing. 

 

I don't know what it is about this lure that makes it work so well.  I suspect it's a territorial thing as big bass seem to want to kill it.   I work it in short quick jerks.   You have to be observant as bass often come up behind it before smashing to heck out of it. If you only used this lure all day, you would win more than you lose.   I would trade a pile of "Whopper Poopers" for one good Devil's Horse.  ?

 

 

This is some great info thanks! I guess I know which one I'm getting now.

[Captain Phil]

1 hour ago, Benithebass said:

This is some great info thanks! I guess I know which one I'm getting now.

 

If you are going to learn top water, there are some things you should know.  You may already know them.  Top water is a big fish technique.  This means you are not going to get as many bites as some other forms of fishing.  The bites you get will be quality fish. Stick with it.  You need clear water for top water fishing.  You are wasting your time fishing top water in a murky or muddy lake.  Often the best top water fishing is in residential canals. 

 

You must fish close to cover.  This means you must be an accurate caster who is not afraid of hangups.  Bass hit top water lures many different ways.  Some blow them up, some suck them down lightly and others "flush the toilet".  How you set the hook depends on how this happens. A good top water fisherman can catch fish under the worst of conditions.  You can catch cold front bass by downsizing to a Tiny Torpedo.  Sometimes, line size can make a big difference.  There is a lot to learn.  

[Catt]

Only thing I can add ?

 

Heddon Wounded Spook

 

 

[WRB]

My 1st lure was a Hawaiian Wiggler #3 weedless spoon, 2nd was Creek Chub Injured Minnow wooden prop plug. The Injured Minnow was very popular in the 50’s until CC made a plastic model in the 60’s.

I discovered Smithwhick’s rear prop Buck N Brawl and Pa Scooters in the 60’s, they became my all time favorite prop baits. Not a big fan of the Devil Horse, more success with rear prop baits.

Re; Yo-Zuri 3DB prop in black prism Shad.

Tom

[Mr. Aquarium]

Only prop bait I use is the whopper plopper but I do love some baits with props on them, like an 8 inch jointed wooden musky jitterbug with a prop or the buzz jet  

[Fred Allen]

Got my biggest fish ever on Heddon with prop

 

 

[928JLH]

Deps Buzzjet. Had some great evenings with a Jackall Pompadour. 

[WRB]

1 hour ago, 928JLH said:

Deps Buzzjet. Had some great evenings with a Jackall Pompadour. 

Pompadour isn’t a prop bait!

Tom

[@reelChris]

I have an old devil's horse that's missing the front prop.  Is it trash or can I put a new one on?

[Ben77]

3 minutes ago, @reelChris said:

I have an old devil's horse that's missing the front prop.  Is it trash or can I put a new one on?

Definitely don't trash it just put a new prop on there and sling it!

[Captain Phil]

Devil's Horse lures are made of wood.  The line tie and rear hook mounts are screwed into the lure with long screws.  As these lures age, the wood can crack allowing water to can get into the holes and weaken the plug. You don't want to lose a big fish when the screws pull out.  Make sure the screws are tight and secure in the lure.

 

The Heddon Tiny Torpedo is a finesse top water lure.  Under cold front conditions, these lures will catch fish when nothing else will.  Line size is very important.  I use a spinning rod with 8 pound mono to fish these lures.  In bass fishing, it's the closest thing to dynamite that I know of. 

 

[scaleface]

Heres the Bomber Prop A in silver flash . My most successful  retrieve is to twitch it as fast as I can but still remain in  contact with the surface  . It excels post spawn around cover and points leading away from spawning coves . I have several new in package .Although unavailable Bagleys offers the same design . I have never used the Bagleys .

[MassBass]

Lots of good suggestions in this thread. My new lure last year was the bagely balsa prop bait, it has a prop on both ends. Color is baby bass. The props have a real nice 'zing' sound to them. The river smallies were hitting it like junkies going after free drugs. Also caught a small striper on it out of season which was a bit of a surprise. Another upside of fishing prop baits is that it won't fatigue your wrist like walking the dog every day. My go to retrieve is rip-pause rip-pause.   

[5by3]

I’ve had some really good days on the rapala x-rap prop. Seem to have my best luck on it from the bass spawn through the bluegill spawn, which happens from about mid-April to may/June where I live. 

[papajoe222]

One bait I haven't seen mentioned is Cordell's Crazy Shad.  It's a smaller double prop bait that is a top producer here pre and post spawn when the bass don't want a Pop R.  I recommend spinning gear only because it is lightweight and easily buffeted by the wind.