Barbless Whopper Plopper - Need Help, Keep Losing Fish

[ACGOG]

There was a topic on the main forum a little while ago regarding treble hooks and how they mess with a fish if they really hit the lure. This convinced me to flatten the barbs on my treble hooks.

 

That being said, I've had multiple fish hit my whopper plopper and I lose them every. single. time. It's been about 4 at this point, but that's 4 too many.

 

Is this simply a technique thing? Do I need to wait for the fish to get on it more? Or should I go ahead and just replace the treble hooks with circle hooks or regular EWG hooks?

 

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[Deleted account]

Large (like one or two sizes larger than what they come with) light wire (I like Gammys) trebles. One (at least) in the mouth, one on the side of the head, can't remember the last time I lost one. The hooks they come with are just the wrong choice for LMB. I only fish the 110 and 75, so may not apply to the others, though it probably does.

[looking45]

I replace the trebles with an inline, not circle, hook. One big hook is better than 3 small ones. If your going to use an online book, find a conversion chart so you use the correct size. The link below will help you

 

https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/choose-right-size-inline-hooks-replace-treble-hooks/

[OkobojiEagle]

Try fishing Spooks, large poppers and Wopper Ploppers front hooks barbed and back hooks barbless...

 

oe

[ACGOG]

Thanks! I'll give these a shot. 

[WRB]

Don’t hook set using the rod only. After the bass strikes reel fast and sweep the rod back keeping the rod bend throughout the fight.

Surface lure strike to landing a bass is about 50%, meaning you are going to miss a few.

Can’t see any reason to use barbless treble hooks on a surface lure.

Tom

[Jmoney402]

Are they coming off a split second after they hit it? If so, maybe they didn't get it very good.

If they are coming off after fighting them for 10 seconds give or take there is a few things you could try while using the same hooks.

 

As said above, no need to set the hook like a jig, just reel and keep tension. Using a moderate action rod that bends far down on the blank may help, or try mono if you are using braid. If you are using a 110 or 130 try a smaller size, when the fish shakes it's head that much weight creates alot of force to pop the hook out.

[RDB]

Good rule of thumb for topwater is wait for the weight.  Whopper Ploppers are fairly bulky and are not the most forgiving lures when given slack…I would think even more so with barbless.  I don’t use barbless but I think if I did, I might use a rod with a little more tip to help keep them pinned.

[Bass Rutten]

I seem to have a pretty good hook and landing % on wp 110's and 130's with stock hooks, I attribute it to using a heavy power mod-fast rod and copoly/mono line, and as rdb said wait for the full weight of the fish, just keep on steadily reeling no matter what your eyes see, easier said than done sometimes!