TackleTour

The Whopper Plopper was my go to lure in 2017, caught on this very productive lure many 4+lb bass, in my mostly finesse spotted bass waters.
Now, I'm looking for a designated combo specifically for this bait.
The line I like so far - 17lb Sunline Armilo, the reel - Antares DC 5.6, with very slow retrieve, I think that 5.6 gear ratio really helps and Antares DC castability is excellent to cover a lot of water.
110 version weights 26g
130 - 36g

Let say you own a tackle company and can make a rod for yourself, what specs of that would you choose for 110 and 130 size Ploppers?
Fill it up below

Length -
Lure weight -
Action -

I use a Smoke frog rod, 7'4", for both size whopper ploppers. It loads really well on the cast, and doesn't work me too hard on the retrieve. My biggest on that setup is 7 lbs., and it handled that fish just fine.

7'-7'4"
.3-1.5 oz (heavy)
Regular Fast
Glass composite construction
12" handle
Ti/SiC K frames

My $0.01 (not $0.02 because I don't throw a Plopper much)...

I've thrown the 130 WP and Deps Buzzjet on a Megabass Black Jungle Deep Cranking and Slow Rolling rod and XX Perfect Pitch. The Black Jungle is rated lighter than both weigh but handles them pretty good, however, I use the Perfect Pitch around heavier cover. I think a Black Jungle Power Versatile would be perfect for these....soooo

7'4", 12-30lb, 3/8 - 4oz, Regular Action

Yea MH rods work but feel a bit underpowered with a Whopper Plopper 130. I can use my Javalin, Nautilus or Dobyns Glass Cranking 765 and they work good enough but the Black Jungle Power versatile is perfect. However with the 110 a medium heavy rod works better.

hungry_cow wrote:Yea MH rods work but feel a bit underpowered with a Whopper Plopper 130. I can use my Javalin, Nautilus or Dobyns Glass Cranking 765 and they work good enough but the Black Jungle Power versatile is perfect. However with the 110 a medium heavy rod works better.

The 110 weighs 1 oz. Any decent frog rod can cast it well.

7'3" Hvy action Hammer Rod will be exceptional !!! Contact Gary @ The tackle trap

St. Croix LTB Sweeper Spinnerbait rod 7’ MH Modified Fast action with a Lew’s Super Duty 8.0:1 Reel spooled with 20# Sunline Super Natural mono. Same rod I throw buzzbaits and big spinnerbaits on.
You can throw them out of sight with that setup.

I actually prefer my Whopper Popper Rod to have some flex to it. I run a medium heavy cranking stick (Veritas).

down4ttown wrote:I actually prefer my Whopper Popper Rod to have some flex to it. I run a medium heavy cranking stick (Veritas).

I agree. That's why frog rods work so well. They can throw baits down to 1/2 oz, and still have the backbone to haul fish out of the slop.
I have gone through a few rods to find the best frog rod for me, and my 7'4" Quantum Smoke frog rod is a perfect fit for the 110 and 130 ploppers.

My favorite rod for the ploppers is a 7'2" MH Swampland (Seeker) S-glass. I use 30lb braid and can flat out fling those baits a mile while still having the grunt to plant the hooks and still have the soft tip to keep the fish pinned.
I've tried throwing them on heavier fast action graphite rods that I use for frogs and swimbaits and did not care for that at all.

MB BJ Power Versatile, handles any size Whopper Ploppers well. Rated for 3/8 oz. to 4 oz.