Do You Use A Whopper Plopper?

[drscholl14]

These really intrigue me. I can't figure out if they are a great lure or a flash in the pan. During certain situations they get bass so angry they hit these lures harder than any other lure I’ve ever used. Then a few days later, same conditions they don’t even generate a sniff. Couple things I’ve noticed:-Stopping and starting doesn’t seem to generate more strikes than a steady constant retrieve (in my experience).
-There is a sweet spot when it comes to speed in relation to retrieve rate and plopper sound/speed.
-The bone color is an absolute monster
-Bass will hit these in extremely shallow water (less than a FOW) and come up from deep structure.
-If there are weeds anywhere near this lure it will grab them.
-Pairing these with a spook can be deadly. Whopper Plopper is great for covering water, something most topwaters aren’t great at doing. I’ve found that if I get a couple of strikes on the plopper in an area, I’ll pick up a spook and pick apart the area and get a few more fish.
All that said, I’ve had plenty of times where I strike out using them. But in the end I keep using them because the strikes they generate are so darn entertaining. Are you guys using them much and what are your thoughts?

[pabasshawk]

I keep giving them a try but have never had much luck, I end up going back to the spook after they don't get a sniff and the spook produces.

[GOTTA BIG SACK]

Won a tournament with one 3 weeks ago. What’s funny is it’s the first time I really have ever caught much on it. For whatever reason they wanted it that day. Change the stock hooks. Don’t know why but I would lose almost every fish on them until I changed the hooks.

[5 by 3]

Seems to be a very situational bait for me as well. I’ve noticed that they’ll absolutely crush it on certain lakes around me, while they won’t touch it on other lakes.

[drscholl14]

I would definitely agree that the spook in general catches more fish. Those huge blowups keep me wanting to throw the Plopper though.

[drscholl14]

Won a tournament with one 3 weeks ago. What’s funny is it’s the first time I really have ever caught much on it. For whatever reason they wanted it that day. Change the stock hooks. Don’t know why but I would lose almost every fish on them until I changed the hooks.

Ive heard a lot of people say that. I’ve only lost a few fish on the stock hooks though.

[John Jackson]

Flip a coin for the day. Some days they want a whopper plopper more, and some days a buzzbait more. The bass have to tell you.
On herring lakes the WP is usually much better on the main water.

[WVBullet]

I just started trying them this year and so far they have produced.

[jrbdad]

I have caught more fish on a Plopper then a buzz bait.

[Quillback]

Hit or miss bait for me too. I have more confidence in walking the dog.

[Dogfish_Jones]

I am still waiting on my first fish caught on one. I have the bone color and the Loon color one. I will admit I do not use them as much as some of you all but for two years I've yet to catch one using it.

[DrewFlu33]

They used to crush it like they slept with their momma, but I've not had a ton of luck with it the last 2 years. The OP is in my neck of the woods, maybe it's making a comeback?

[born to fish]

Bought my first one last year. Was the 120 in Monkey Butt color. Went to lake that is close by and on first cast caught a bass. Caught about 20 or so in the next 2 hours. Went to another lake and never had a hit. Used it in northern Wisconsin and never had a hit. Went back to the original lake and caught the snot out of them. The fish I caught were bigger than average and were in both shallow and deep water. I now have a collection of the 90 and 120 in multiple colors but always migrate back to the Monkey Butt (has the look of a rainbow trout) maybe because of the confidence. They do hit it like a freight train. The other day I tried stopping it a couple times during the retrieve and that proved to be a productive move. I wait until I feel the fish before setting the hook. Have caught a lot on the outside of the mouth so they are swiping at it. Just my experience.

John

[drscholl14]

They used to crush it like they slept with their momma, but I've not had a ton of luck with it the last 2 years. The OP is in my neck of the woods, maybe it's making a comeback?

I don't know if I'd say it's making a comeback. I tie one on whenever I get to the lake early morning and toss it around for awhile and a lot of times I don't get much but on the few times it's on IT'S ON. They absolutely destroy it. I usually have the most luck with it running it over main lake points but this time it was a couple on points and then one 50 sq foot area in between a couple docks that got 3 or 4 fish on it.

Like I said, it's a lure that is either completely on or completely off for me. Fun as hell when they are crushing it though.

[Casslaw]

For me it’s a miss or miss lure! I have 6, the 90 and 110 in the same 3 colors. I can’t say I have really given the lure every chance to produce but I use my golf course ponds to test lures and I habe never had a fish even follow the WP! My go to is a Super Spook jr. I have caught so many fish on that lure it is hard for me not to throw it.

I have a couple Ricos, plenty of other poppers and prop baits as well and they catch fish for me but the WP has me thoroughly confused! It looks and sounds...perfect! I have caught plenty of fish on buzzbaits, love them, somthis seemed like a,great lure but it hasn’t panned out for me in any way.

[RFSims]

Use 90 size in fall for breaking bass and wipers. They kill it.

[BackLash625]

I keep giving them a try but have never had much luck, I end up going back to the spook after they don't get a sniff and the spook produces.

this..

[drscholl14]

this..

I've definitely zeroed with the plopper. But those days when it's on IT"S ON. That's what keeps me coming back. That and pairing it with a spook to really break down the spots that the ploppers get bit on. Deadly combo.

[okiebass]

I have done better on a choppo

[drscholl14]

I have done better on a choppo

That's interesting. Slightly different sound than the plopper? Haven't used the Choppo yet.