There is not a topwater bait in my tackle box that gets more use than the whopper plopper. But as they expand in popularity, there are so many sizes and colors to choose from. Should you get the silent version? The biggest? There’s so many options…
Here is the answer: If you only can buy one whopper plopper, buy the whopper plopper silent, size 90, in monkey butt. But, naturally, different sizes and colors will work better in different situations, so for more in-depth information lets cover what color, size, and type are best for your needs.
The best size whopper plopper
The size of the whopper plopper you are using is the most important factor as it affects a variety of aspects from your gear to the action is presents in the water.
First, the size of the whopper plopper will affect what rod and line you want to use with it. The 130 is a whopping 1 ⅜ ounces which requires a heavy rod with a good flexibility to cast, and I wouldn’t use anything lighter than 15 pound test line. While this may be available to you, chances are the majority of poles and line you have in your arsenal would benefit from a smaller lure.
Size | Length | Weight | Recommended Line | Recommended Rod |
---|---|---|---|---|
60 | 2 3/8" | 1/4 oz. | 6 lb. | Medium |
75 | 3" | 3/5 oz. | 8 lb. | Medium |
90 | 3 1/2" | 1/2 oz. | 8-10 lb. | Medium or Medium Heavy |
110 | 4 3/8" | 1 oz. | 12 lb. | Medium Heavy |
130 | 5" | 1 3/8 oz. | 15 lb. | Medium Heavy or Heavy |
170 | 7 1/2" | 2 3/4 oz. | 20+ lb. | Heavy |
The Whopper Plopper 90 hits a nice middle ground at ½ ounce which is suitable for anything over 8lb test and a medium rod action. But is still a large enough bait to get good action and entice larger bass. If you want to upgrade to the 110, I’d recommend going to a 12 lb test line and medium heavy action rod.
Which whopper plopper size has the best "action"
The size of bait will also affect its action. The size of a whopper plopper also affects the size of it’s “tail” which is what displaces water and creates that action creating sound and movement in the water. The bigger the tail, the more water it moves. The smaller, the less movement.
This is why even though the Whopper Plopper 60 falls in at a small ¼ of an ounce, it doesn’t have quite the movement on the water that a 90 does. Similarly, a 130 will be moving even more water than either. Again, I find the 90 hits a good middle ground of having fantastic action but not so large it is difficult to cast or too large to catch a variety of bass
What size whopper plopper for what sized fish?
Which brings us to the other important size aspect; how big is too big for the bass you’re targeting?
If you are targeting bass just after shad have spawned in the summer you can use a 90 or even 75 with great effectiveness, as the bait fish are typically smaller. If bass are feeding on a larger forage source, like blueback herring, you could throw a 130 and still be matching the size. Or if you’re fishing a small pond that has only bluegill, then the fall months you’ll likely want a 130 or larger size. In the spring during spawn, you’ll want smaller.
Again, this is why I recommend the 90 if you only have one option. It hits the widest variety of sizes and can be small enough and large enough for what’s needed. But if you’re like me, you won’t be using just one whopper plopper once you get hooked, and you’ll have all sizes to choose from.
Which color whopper ploopper is best?
Now that you’ve got your size picked out, lets talk about colors. Most topwater lures can be broken down into 3 main color categories: black, white, and natural. Look at buzzbaits, poppers, walking baits, anything. All colors available generally fall within those three categories.
A whopper plopper is all about movement. So the color is not necessarily a main concern for me when fishing with them. I would much rather throw the “wrong” color in the right size than throw a bait too big or small just to match the color of what bass are foraging at that particular time.
Nevertheless, color can make a difference. So if you have the ability, buy one in loon, bone, and monkey butt and you’ll have all colors covered. But if you can only choose one, I prefer monkey butt. You’ll have the natural color of most baitfish covered and you’ll also get to tell all your friends you’re fishing with monkey butt. Sorry, bad joke.
Seriously though, there is no wrong answer here and every fisherman will likely tell you a different color. I have had success with monkey butt and prefer a natural style bait for almost all topwater fishing. If it is extremely sunny out (which usually means I’m not fishing topwater anyways), you’ll probably do better with the loon color as the black contrasts from the brightness and makes it easier to see. Bone also does well in overcast conditions and would be my second go-to color if monkey butt isn’t working.
Again, I want to re-iterate if you plan on fishing the whopper plopper in a specific area that has one type of bait fish – choose the color that best matches the bait fish in your area. That is always the best approach. Matching the hatch is half the battle of choosing any bait.
Why the silent whopper plopper is best
So most people probably wonder why I prefer the “silent” version of the whopper plopper over the original noisier version. I have used both to great effect, but find the silent version is more useful in my arsenal as a good middle ground between a very noisy topwater bait and something more quiet, like a walking style bait.
If I wanted all the noise and action of the original whopper plopper I could just throw a buzzbait which is just a tad noisier if I really want to attract bass. Generally it’s also heavier and lends to greater casting distance for me. I think the silent version of the whopper plopper fits in a lot better where a buzzbait might be too noisy, but a popper might not make enough action to cause the reaction I’m looking for. I also can throw a whopper plopper just a bit further than a popper.
And a “silent” whopper plopper is far from silent. It lacks the internal acoustics of the original (rattles inside the bait), but has the exact same tail spinning action. It makes enough disturbance to be noticeable to any bass in the area without being overbearing and perhaps scaring a few fish off under calmer conditions.
So if I had to choose one, I’m going with the silent version as I find it is the best version to use under any conditions. But if you have choppy, muddy, or very low light conditions you may prefer the original version. Personally, I use the silent and if I want to go for something really noisy I switch to a buzzbait instead.
Conclusion
With this information hopefully you feel more informed about which size, color, and type of whopper plopper to purchase. Most importantly, just buy one and go fish it. I guarantee it won’t disappoint. It’s a mainstay in my topwater box and bass will tear it up. Soon, you’ll probably find yourself buying several in different sizes and colors because they really are that good.
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