Plopper Lure for Bass Fishing – It’s about the Allure

Ploppers are surface contact lures known for continuous plopping noise, splashing action and bubbling wake lure action produced by its spinning tail.

Anatomy: Plopper lures are treble hook lures where the tail section is a segmented propeller.

Rattle: Some come with the rattle that some say it doesn’t matter too much as it is already a noise lure.

Variants & Other Names:

Lure Action. Continuous plopping noise, splashing action and bubbling wake.

Search Bait: Less common.

Pros’ Choice: Less common.

Ploppers are surface contact lures typically selected when:

Targeted Depth is:
- Shallow: Common
- Deep(Offshore): Not common.
Fishing Speed:
- Fast: Commonly considered for fishing fast to cover water.
- Slow: Not Commonly considered a slow fishing lure.
Lure Visibility:
- High Lure Visibility: Common, some say a slight ripple on the water is better than flat.
- Low Lure Visibility: Less Common, but some suggest more common for a top water selection due to the commotion the lure makes especially in wavy water.
  - Vibration, Flash and Sound: The splashing action creates sound, vibration and a wake.
  - Scent and Taste: N/A
Contacting Cover: Some suggest all lures are good near cover where plopper lures are good when contacting:
- No Cover: Common.
- Grass: Not Common.
- Rock: Not Common.
- Wood: Not Common.
- Dock: Not Common.

Selecting the Plopper Lure Type, as a treble hook lure type, there are the following key decisions:

Shapes: Generally, all have the minnow style shape but there are less common: softer body versions, ones that look like a frog and ones that look like a rat.
Sink Classification:
- Top Water:
Size:
- Small: 2 3/8″ to 3″
- Common: 3 1/2″ to 4 1/2″
- Large: 5″ to 7 1/2″
Lure Weight:
- Light: 1/4 oz,
- Common: 1/2 oz
- Heavy: 1 oz

Lure Color: As lure color selection is mostly tied to the lure visibility download the Acute Lure Color Breakdown™ Infographic.
- Forage: Some suggest it looks like a fleeing bait fish.

As a treble hook lure type, the common rigging considerations includes:

Hook Size: Besides replacing any bent or rusted hooks some, albeit not common, look to upsize or downsize or upgrade the manufactured provided hooks.
- Small: #4 #5
- Common: 1/O or 2/O
- Large: It is common to replace bigger hooks such as 3/O or higher with 1/O or 2/O to enhance the hook set and to use a lesser power rod.

Main Line: Some suggest braid as there is little chance the line will get caught in the lure and some suggest monofilament as it floats.
- Light: 10 lb test to 15 lb test
- Common: 15 lb test to 20 lb test
- Heavy: 30 lb test to 40 lb test
Leader: Not common, some suggest fluorocarbon or t monofilament in high lure visibility scenarios:
Rod:
- Baitcaster Rod: Power = Medium (some suggest Medium Heavy) and Action(Taper) = Fast (some suggest Moderate Fast)
  - Reel: Some consider fast reel 7.1:1 or faster.
- Spinning Rod: Not common.

Presentations for plopper lures are commonly considered a horizontal presentation and a tight line presentation with the following considerations

Cast Techniques:
- Common:
  - Overhand: Common, for long distances.
  - Roll Cast: Common, for less entry noise when casting to or near targeted cover.
Initial Lure Action: Initiate the retrieve immediately to compel the lure action.
Retrieve Techniques:
- Common:
  - Straight Retrieve: Steady speed at a rate that maximizes the lure action.
Secondary Action: Some suggest adding some top water pops to compel a reaction bite and to create some changes in the lure action.
Identifying Fish On: Visually.
Hook Set: Typically, pull/sweep hook set after identifying fish on followed by landing the bass.
Repetition at Spots: Not common

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