Any time you have long expanses of water to cast and fish that are willing to break the surface to attack, this style of lure will complement or even replace the other topwaters in your tackle box. I also was . These qualities allow it to perform extremely well in clearwater lakes and rivers. I found there are 3 in the 90 size that are killer for smallmouth. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 3 whopper plopper 90 lot / New / my240 at the best online prices at eBay! That is over complicated as I've caught fish on other colors but those three are consistent fish producers with Loon being one that has worked well no matter if it was bright and sunny or overcast and raining in both clear and stained water. 01 River2Sea WPL90/12 Whopper Plopper. Bluegill works for me. The size of the lure can also have an impact on its effectiveness for catching fish. In-Fisherman TV producer Doug Stange examines classic smallmouth bass tactics that worked back in the day and still work wonders today anywhere that big smallies swim. ", "Color plays a key role," Lefebre agrees. 10 Best Size Whopper Plopper For Smallmouth Reviews 01 River2Sea Whopper Plopper 75 Blue Blood WPL75/08 Topwater Surface Bait Lure. Consider 2X or 4X models if youre fishing for toothy critters or using heavy braid, as otherwise they may bend out. Once you cipher the proper rhythm, you can increase or decrease the cadence. Youll want a rod at least 7-feet longtypically a baitcaster except possibly for the smallest sizes of Ploppers, and a high speed reel to keep up with the retrieve. When River2Sea released their Whopper Plopper topwater lures it was obvious that they would become super popular. Smallies suspend in open water off steep ledges along rocky banks where they move periodically to forage. On the hottest summer days, I also fish a buzzbait. *Darl Black, Cochranton, Pennsylvania, is a veteran outdoor writer and photographer. When bass are up in the shallow waters feeding on shad, you need to have the blue bloodat your disposal. "On these lakes, topwaters can be effective over flats and humps any time of day," he says. On flat-calm days, when bass feed on small baitfish, I use transparent baits. If it is a small bass like smallmouth, utilize the seventy-five or ninety size. ", Lefebre: "Unless floating weeds interfere, I fish a hand-tied white feather treble ahead of the plug. The lure has an uncanny ability to maintain a surface disturbance even with a chop on the water. "It produces a 120-degree arc left to right when walked. What Is the Best Size Whopper Plopper Size? Smallmouths can be picky about what they want often a walking bait. Slowing it (longer pauses between downward snaps) allows the plug to glide or slide gently in a wider arc. Whopper Plopper 101: All There Is To Know About The Whopper Plopper This is the story of the Berkley CullShad. There is nothing quite like it. Needless to say, the Whopper Plopper is the most popular topwater lure the world has ever seen. Its body also rotates to the side so one eye dips below the surface on each pull." Baitfish size is also important. You never know how you may change their life forever. Muddy lakes with low visibility are ideal when water and air temperatures drop. Best Smallmouth Bass Lures Reviewed 1. You can't retrieve it too fast.". Hard to get a patent on something that's been around that long Quote KDW96 Members 1k 5 Location ILLINOIS My PB: Between 8-9 lbs "You can't go wrong with black; in clear water, I like Flitter Shad; for off-color water, it's bone. Into this mix came legendary globe-trotting multispecies expert Larry Dahlberg. Making it a great option to give the bass a different look. While you can alter your retrievefrom fast to slow, or anywhere in between, with stutter steps, slight pauses, and the occasional ripthe most important thing is to keep it moving. It's best to fish the Loon Whopper Plopper around heavy vegetation when, If you can afford multiple bait styles, the, It has a simplistic presentation that works well in dirtier waters. If I was going to have just 1 it would be Loon, that black works in all water clarities. Repeated casts with buzzbaits and spinnerbaits wouldnt elicit a strike but the first throw of the Plopper produced results. Big ones generally bite better on walking baits, in my experience. Its added weight at the back makes casting it a breeze and gives it an ideal side-to-side action triggering any nearby smallie into striking. In this situation, don't pause the lure keep it moving; speeding the retrieve challenges fish to run it down. | Sizes: 1/8, 3/16, 5/16, , and 7/8 oz. Just as the River2Sea version of the Whopper Plopper was derivative of pre-existing lures, once it hit the bass world it spawned a host of copycats and successors. ", "During summer, I fish walking baits and prop baits aggressively," Lefebre notes. Later in the season, lots of splashing typically attracts them.". In-Fisherman's Rob Neumann profiles the Malone MegaSport kayak trailer and discusses why it's such a great trailer for the dedicated kayak angler. If the walker isn't working, I use a buzzbait and cover water. Receive Premium Angler Content, 100% Free of Charge. While many fish will inhale the lure and impale themselves, those that swipe at it may require a bit more luck to get them in the boat you enhance your odds of hooking them and keeping them hooked if your trebles are razor sharp. . The PopMax has a lateral weight system where the weight moves right to left allowing the bait to move back and forth creating a unique walking action. River2Sea Whopper Plopper Highly regarded as one of the deadliest lures on the water today, the River2Sea Whopper Plopper is a total game changer. Use topwater lure all-day, not just in the morning & night hours. Use the 75 or 90 version if the baitfish are smaller and a larger Whopper Plopper for bigger baitfish, like gizzard shad. Many lures do their best work in calm conditions, but this bait is different. If theyre super-aggressive and want to chase a lure, theyll come a long way to destroy it. Any self-respecting musky angler had a variety of gaudy, hard-gurgling plopping-style baits in their boattypically with a fixed, cigar-shaped front section, and a rotating tail by the back treble. Favorite Bass: Largemouth & Smallmouth Favorite Lake or River Grindstone Lake in Hayward Wisconsin Posted September 6, 2017 Size 90 in Perch pattern for Smallmouth and the 110 for Largies in Bone. This decision is also based on the forage, but water clarity is a factor as well. Doug Stange talks about the seasonal movements of largemouth bass and techniques that work well from North to South. If the water is calm or has a slight surface ripple, a size 75 or 90 Whopper Plopper is ideal. When bass are surface feeding on schooling shad, this is a go-to color. It would be best if you also tried to closely match your lure size to the baitfish the bass are feeding on. When fish have better visibility, they're often better at discerning between real and fake presentations. The Whopper Plopper comes in a variety of 8 colors, and even if the from smaller forage minnow and shad sizes to giant 8-inch versions intended for musky and pike, if the large version seems too like it would be too much, think again, as they have caught some absolutely monstrous bass as well. It would be best if you also tried to closely match your lure size to, The 130 Whopper Plopper has the classic sound that we all know and love. We're thoroughly impressed by the thumping sound this small bait can produce. If you are fishing topwater for smallmouth bass than the Whopper Plopper is a must have. It takes practice. I prefer to start with the smaller size 90 if I can since most of the waters I fish have small minnows as a key forage base. If you have been working the visible cover and then come to a long tapering point, be sure to work the lure the full length of the point. Walking a plug on the surface requires developing a rhythm between rod tip and lure action. A fun day of topwater action kayak fishing for angry river smallmouth bass with Walmart's budget version of a Whopper Plopper, the Ozark Trail topwater prop . If you can afford the Whopper Plopper Bone, Monkey Butt, and Loon, you'll be ready for any fishing situation. choosing the right topwater for the situation. For river smallies, the Powder White 90 is the best size Whopper Plopper. And while it does OK in the prespawn and fall migration, this is not a lure youll rely on in the winter, except maybe in Florida, Mexico, or similar climates. In an explosion of white spray and bronze flash, the lure disappears before your eyes and a wild aerial show is likely to follow. However, over the years Ive learned the hard way that there are certain topwater lures that outperform others when fishing for smallmouths. When using mono or copolymer, its feasible and advisable to go slightly stiffer on the rod choice than you would with braid. I would highly recommend checking out the baits and lures we have covered in this article. For example, many anglers have been led to believe surface baits are rarely effective outside early morning and late evening. Whopper Ploppers - Smallmouth & Largemouth Bass | In-Depth Outdoors I fire casts in both directions toward shore and out to open water. If there were trout in the places I fish then the size 130 would get a good workout. The dark paint color casts a realistic shadow in the water, bring fish in from long distances. So which topwater lures are the best for smallmouth bass? A unique model on this list is the River2Sea Whopper Plopper 75. They come in a total of: There is also a saltwater version. While originally designed for bigger fish species, muskie anglers found out they were exceptional for bass. These two models usually produce hard strikes from quality bass so I throw the lures on 30- to 50-pound braid with a 7 1/2-foot flipping stick. I focus on shorelines with a 15-percent gradient and plenty of rock, and walk my Duck's Dawg with a quick Tennessee two-step. . . Summer smallmouths are generally attracted by fast-moving baits and water disturbance so increase the tempo during the warm-water period. Speeding the cadence makes the bait turn back and forth abruptly, throwing lots of water. It's phenomenal both over deep waters or in shallow water situations because it creates so much noise. Tactical Topwater For Smallmouth Bass - In-Fisherman Whopper Plopper Smallie Action! - YouTube He has participated and won fishing tournaments all over the country and enjoys fishing for bass, trout, walleye and other species. Heddon Rattling Sonar (Best Blade Bait) Conclusion Best Smallmouth Bass Lures Published Oct 21, 2021 9:31 AM EDT, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Whopper Plopper hooks for smallmouth - Bass Fishing Forums This size is known as a great Whopper Plopper for pond fishing. Mostly because I managed to lose the one we had in a tree Lol. Everything You Need to Know About the Fishing the Whopper Plopper To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. When I hear the prop making the most noise I know I am using a great starting retrieve. Each Whopper Plopper 75 comes pre-rigged with two 1X- Strong #4 Black Nickel Treble Hooks and is available in 11 colors to match any fishing condition. Although I have seen other anglers have success with the bigger sizes as well. It's known to catch a monster River Smallmouth Bass, likely due to its subtle flutter action. Eliminate line twist by spooling baitcast and Ambush Predator is the Wrong Term for Bass - Here's Why. The Whopper Plopper - Best Bass Fishing Lures What color Whopper Plopper for smallmouth? Whopper Plopper (Best Topwater Lure) 4. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Bass Pro Shops Associates Program., affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and Bass Pro.com We are compensated for referring traffic and business to other companies linked to on this site. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The popper is a great option when fishing for bass around tight cover or out in the open on clear water flats.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'tiltfishing_com-leader-1','ezslot_15',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tiltfishing_com-leader-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'tiltfishing_com-leader-1','ezslot_16',112,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tiltfishing_com-leader-1-0_1'); .leader-1-multi-112{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. There are two dozen different color patterns aimed at imitating any available forage in a wide range of water clarities. As topwater fishing has gained popularity, the River2Sea Whopper Plopper has become a household name. You'll catch more fish, for sure. An angler may find threadfin shad in one and gizzard shad in the other. Water depth doesn't much matter. September 2, 2018 at 10:09 pm #1795078. It casts farther, doesn't stretch on hook-sets, and makes walking baits more responsive. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Pete Robbins When to Choose a Whopper Plopper Over a Buzzbait. If you frequently switch between bass fishing and muskie or pike fishing, the 190 is the most versatile size. Get the lure moving toward you immediately and be ready to strike often the attacks come within the first one or two cranks of the handle. When it comes down to it, the ideal Whopper Plopper size depends on your situation and location. One of the best value and performance buzz baits out on the market is the Booyah Buzz Blade. If bluegills are everywhere, then I will select a Whopper Plopper that has more yellows and greens in it. I got a chance to pre-fish before it's release date same exact thing. The River2Sea Whopper Plopper takes advantage of largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass at both extremes of the behavioral spectrum.