I
’m pretty sure, that nearly a decade ago, I was one
of the first anglers to fish a Whopper Plopper on
Mexico’s Lake El Salto. El Salto is a fishery that’s good even when it’s “bad,” but we got there shortly after
a fall hurricane, with the lake far over its banks and water
gushing over the spillway. The bass were still there, but they
were spread out and somewhat tentative.
My guide laughed when I pulled out a white Plopper.
Then he stopped laughing when a seven-pounder jumped
all over it. His jaw just about hit the floor when I repeated
that feat.
We’d been working so hard to cajole these fish to bite,
and now I was experiencing strikes like you’d see from
peacock bass in the Amazon, or from rampaging yellowfin
tuna.
I still bring a selection of Ploppers on my twice-yearly
trips to Mexico. They still produce fish, and they tend to be
better-than-average quality, but it will never again be what
it once was.
Today it’s more situational – rather than producing
all day long the Plopper tends to work best in low-light
conditions or in a chop. It’s still just about my favorite way
to catch them down there, but while the romance is still
alive – the honeymoon is over.
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
I’ve heard similar sentiments from anglers on the Ozarks-region lakes who helped popularize the Plopper, but now find that it’s another tool in the box.
That’s been a constant throughout bass fishing history. When the Alabama rig first got widespread attention, some speculated that it would wipe out fish populations everywhere. Today it still works, but primarily in particular windows. The same holds true for the ChatterBait, the buzzbait, and other lures dating back to the Rapala Original Floating Minnow and the Fred Young Big O.
Former tour pro Terry Baksay qualified for the 1990 Bassmaster Classic largely on the strength of the then-new Lunker City Slug-go. Not only had most bass across the country seen it at that point, but there were no fluke-style baits at the time, nor were there buzzing toads.
Often, he had an area and a segment of the water column all to himself. It was the same when Dee Thomas ramped up the flipping technique and others including Dave Gliebe and Gary Klein helped bring it east.
If no one else is doing it, that’s a huge advantage. Eventually, though, everyone catches up. The techniques and tools don’t become ineffective, but what you once had all to yourself is now divided up into many pieces of the pie.
Nevertheless, because the lures still hold the characteristics that made them effective in the first place, you shouldn’t put them down – you just need to use them more wisely.
FISH IT SELECTIVELY
When a new lure or lure type comes onto the scene, fish will often crush it even when you don’t have prime conditions. The Whopper Plopper is a perfect example.
That first time I used it at El Salto, fish that I’d normally chase with a crankbait, or a 10-inch worm were coming up out of the depths during the height of the mid-day sun to crush it.
Now they might do that occasionally, but it’s less likely. It’s hard to put those great memories out of my head, and I may still fish the Plopper during “off peak” times if I’m looking for a single big bite, but other than that I tend to throw it only when it’s low-light or I know the bass are looking up. Try to exercise that discipline – if you can.
MIX UP COLORS
You can keep a lure type fresh by mixing up the colors that you cast.
Historically, I kept my Plopper choices simple – black, white and bone.
As fish have become more discerning, however, I’ve mixed in more natural baitfish patterns, especially in clear water. I’m certain that it earns me some extra bites – and even if that’s an unsupported belief, it gives me the confidence to continue to make the proper presentations. Similarly, if everyone is throwing a white or white and chartreuse vibrating jig, consider something offbeat – it could be a standard like green pumpkin or black and blue, or it might be something gaudier and less common.
TRY A SIMILAR ALTERNATIVE
Sometimes “giving the fish a different look” doesn’t involve a look at all, but rather a different sound.
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Winter 2023
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