Finesse Topwater 2024
fin reply :
I've been throwing a whopper plopper 90 a lot lately (too much, probably), but today I threw a Tiny Torpedo. I haven't thrown one since last season. My first reaction was, what's wrong with this thing? Is the blade spinning? It took me a while to realize I was just spoiled from all the commotion the WP makes. After a while I got my technique back, but it got me to wondering if there's anything as small as the Tiny Torpedo but with more churning/agitation/commotion? Maybe a different type of prop? I'm just wondering if there's anything new out there like the size of the TT with a WP type prop on it.
I've got several double prop lures. They're a little bit too big/noisy for what I'm talking about. I'm looking for the insect that fell in, or the tiny frog swimming look.
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
How small are we talking?
I throw a popping bug on ultralights during the summer when rivers are low. We usually catch Bass, bream, warmouth etc..
Bankbeater reply :
I like to fish with a 1/8 oz. pop-r. Last spring the crappie were tearing it up.
Pickle_Power reply :
The first thing that comes to mind when you mention finesse topwater, I think of the Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Worm. That's one of the finest finesse topwater baits I've ever used. Soft plastic buzz toads are awesome, too.
There are a lot of really small topwater hardbaits, but none I can think of that are like the WP. Rebel makes quite a few little poppers; they have a really accurate looking grasshopper popper.
fin reply :
On 4/27/2019 at 5:27 AM, NittyGrittyBoy said:How small are we talking?
Like the size of a Tiny Torpedo (2"), maybe just a little larger. Propeller baits only (I guess you can call a Whopper Plopper a propeller bait). Something with more churning power than that little propellor the TT has.
Sorry my question wasn't worded more simple and to the point. I've got plenty of topwater stuff, small to large, I'm just asking about small propeller baits specifically. Is there anything new?
Munkin reply :
Finesse topwater to me is the LC Bevy Pop or the TD popper that are both about 3/16oz. They do make a torpedo smaller than the tiny but I have caught everything form a 3" sunfish to a 45" tiger musky on that bait so I never bought anything smaller.
Allen
WRB reply :
MegaBass Grand Siglett @ 1.6" and 1/4 oz is top water bug should work, pricey.
Rapala Skitter pop prop bait with rear prop is 1/4 oz and very popular.
Tom
GreenPig reply :
Whopper Plopper 75 is pretty small.
michaelsrex reply :
On 4/27/2019 at 9:46 AM, GreenPig said:Whopper Plopper 75 is pretty small.
And you can still toss it a mile on casting gear! At least with the mgl reels
waymont reply :
Not a prop bait but makes a great commotion. The smallest spook, the zara puppy is a bass killer. Use it on 8-10lb mono.
fin reply :
On 4/27/2019 at 8:27 AM, Munkin said:They do make a torpedo smaller than the tiny
I've got a couple of those. If the blades turn on those, it's really hard to tell. It's too small for my taste.
On 4/27/2019 at 8:27 AM, Munkin said:I have caught everything form a 3" sunfish to a 45" tiger musky on that bait
Wow. That must have been a heart attack when that musky hit. I've caught some nice fish on the Torpedo, nothing like that though.
On 4/27/2019 at 8:48 AM, WRB said:MegaBass Grand Siglett @ 1.6" and 1/4 oz is top water bug should work, pricey.
Looks awesome, but I can't imagine it would survive a good hit.
On 4/27/2019 at 8:48 AM, WRB said:Rapala Skitter pop prop bait with rear prop is 1/4 oz and very popular.
I don't know why I've never seen one of those. I've got a couple skitter pops. I looked at Rapala's video and it didn't look like it churned water very much, not even close to a whopper plopper.
On 4/27/2019 at 9:46 AM, GreenPig said:Whopper Plopper 75 is pretty small.
I've got several 90's and a couple 130's, but no 75's. It's only a half inch shorter than the 90, but I guess that's the closest thing out there to what I'm looking for. I'm surprised nobody is making anything smaller. It looks like Berkley doesn't even make anything smaller than the 90.
fin reply :
On 4/27/2019 at 11:51 AM, waymont said:Not a prop bait but makes a great commotion. The smallest spook, the zara puppy is a bass killer. Use it on 8-10lb mono.
I've got several. Love 'em. I tried to put a prop on the back of one of them years ago, but it didn't work well.
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
What about a small buzzbait?
I've got a tiny one, I'll take picture when I get off work.
the reel ess reply :
Take the back hook off, turn the blade around and replace the hook. Give that a try and see if it doesn't make a better commotion. It will also allow you to keep it in the strike zone longer. Hopefully, it won't cause the bait to spin. I had a 50+ bass day on a Tiny Torpedo once. Awesome bait.
WRB reply :
You think Megabass is going to market a lure that can't survive a bass strike!
The lure uses folding winds like a Crazy Crawler that fold back during the cast and in a basses mouth.
Top water prop lures require action provided by the angler unlike the Whopper Plopper that is a wind in lure without added angler skill. Learn to rip the prop bait along with dog walking to produce more prop spray.
Tom
MIbassyaker reply :
Have a look at the Lucky Craft T-splash 55. It is about the size you're looking for, and has both a popper/chugger mouth, and prop on the tail.
evilcatfish reply :
Duo Realis does a couple of small cicada topwaters, 1/5 and 1/8 oz I believe. They are a lot of fun to fish, and as mentioned above the siglett is also a nice option. Also from Megabass, I really like the baby pop x, it’s a big bluegill catching machine
Paul Roberts reply :
Ditto the little buzzbait. I like the 1/8oz Strike Kind Buzz King triple. Simply killer.
Also, the Heddon Crazy Crawler.
I think of "finesse" as being quiet as well as down-sized. One of my favorites for high vis conditions is the Zara Puppy. Another killer.
greentrout reply :
use in ponds & creeks... catches bass too ... very subtle ...
The Bassman reply :
On 4/27/2019 at 11:51 AM, waymont said:Not a prop bait but makes a great commotion. The smallest spook, the zara puppy is a bass killer. Use it on 8-10lb mono.
I have fished this a lot over the years with great success. Heddon used to make an even smaller one but you couldn't get it to walk.
fin reply :
On 4/27/2019 at 6:46 PM, NittyGrittyBoy said:What about a small buzzbait?
I've got a couple that are about 3" long. I kind of forgot about them, never used them much. I need to dust them off.
On 4/27/2019 at 9:08 PM, the reel ess said:Take the back hook off, turn the blade around and replace the hook. Give that a try and see if it doesn't make a better commotion. It will also allow you to keep it in the strike zone longer. Hopefully, it won't cause the bait to spin. I had a 50+ bass day on a Tiny Torpedo once. Awesome bait.
I've been playing around with one, trying to modify it. I put a smaller hook on the tail trying to get the blade up closer to the surface, but having tried turning it around backwards. I'll definitely give it a try. I nail polished this one in greenish gold, without eyes or any pattern, so if it spins a little it doesn't matter visually.
On 4/27/2019 at 10:33 PM, WRB said:You think Megabass is going to market a lure that can't survive a bass strike!
Yes? ???? After my recent experience with a Lunkerhunt frog losing its leg on the first strike.
On 4/27/2019 at 10:33 PM, WRB said:Top water prop lures require action provided by the angler unlike the Whopper Plopper that is a wind in lure without added angler skill. Learn to rip the prop bait along with dog walking to produce more prop spray.
That's the way I always felt about buzzbaits - you just retrieve them in and there's no skill involved, but that's not really true. The tiny prop bait does require more skill and style. I've done a lot of different stuff with the tiny torpedo, but never tried to walk it.
On 4/27/2019 at 11:39 PM, evilcatfish said:Duo Realis does a couple of small cicada topwaters
Looks like it's a little cheaper than the Megabass. Do they hold up?
On 4/27/2019 at 11:42 PM, Paul Roberts said:I think of "finesse" as being quiet as well as down-sized.
Yeah, this was a stupid title for this thread. I should have titled it, "Is there a smaller whopper plopper style bait?" I guess maybe if you tried to make a smaller whopper plopper it would roll.
MountainMan83 reply :
LC Kelly J floating prop bait.
Maybe not exactly what you're asking about, but I picked one up on sale for a buddy of mine and got to throw it a few times. I liked to slight pause near cover and then rip it a few times. Will make more commotion than the tt and weighs about 3/16.
NYWayfarer reply :
Take a look at Tackle Warehouse: baits,hard baits,topwater,prop baits. They have a ton of choices there.
fin reply :
On 4/28/2019 at 6:08 AM, MountainMan83 said:LC Kelly J floating prop bait.
Maybe not exactly what you're asking about, but I picked one up on sale for a buddy of mine and got to throw it a few times. I liked to slight pause near cover and then rip it a few times. Will make more commotion than the tt and weighs about 3/16.
Academy makes one, I've got a few of them and I was actually throwing one this morning. Good lure, I've caught a bunch with it. I tried taking off the front propeller just to see what happened, and it rolled. I guess the front spin counteracts the back spin.
fin reply :
On 4/28/2019 at 6:15 AM, NYWayfarer said:Take a look at Tackle Warehouse: baits,hard baits,topwater,prop baits. They have a ton of choices there.
All those pretty pictures are nothing compared to the collection of decades of knowledge gathered here.
I did see something different there though - a "Ploppin' P" by PH Custom. It uses a single metal blade. Looks interesting, but I couldn't find a video of it in action.
NYWayfarer reply :
On 4/28/2019 at 7:03 AM, fin said:All those pretty pictures are nothing compared to the collection of decades of knowledge gathered here.
I did see something different there though - a "Ploppin' P" by PH Custom. It uses a single metal blade. Looks interesting, but I couldn't find a video of it in action.
I noticed that one. Looks interesting.
Also check out the Jackall Binksy popper, which is under poppers even though it has a prop. I have no experience with it but it is on my list of baits to purchase and try.
waymont reply :
I forgot to mention the Rapala Skitter Prop. They are small and the blade creates a lot of water spray that very different than a WP. These are great baits when bass are chasing small baitfish on top.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 4/28/2019 at 7:03 AM, fin said:All those pretty pictures are nothing compared to the collection of decades of knowledge gathered here.
I did see something different there though - a "Ploppin' P" by PH Custom. It uses a single metal blade. Looks interesting, but I couldn't find a video of it in action.
Well... looking at this suggests a lot of possibilities. Don't be afraid to tinker, or more. Things don't need a brand name attached for fish to attack it. Have some fun with this.
PourMyOwn reply :
Here's a thought, try putting a prop from a Baby Torpedo on that Tiny Torpedo. It should be quite a bit larger and make more of a ruckus.
fin reply :
On 4/29/2019 at 11:29 PM, Paul Roberts said:Don't be afraid to tinker, or more. Things don't need a brand name attached for fish to attack it.
I love tinkering, and I've tried lots of off-the-wall stuff. I don't care what anybody but the fish thinks about it. Today I tried taking a piece of 1/4" tubular insulation and sliced it lengthwise like a sub sandwich and then wrapped it around the base of the tail hook, securing it with a uni knot. It's a gray color and it doesn't look terribly different than the lure color. It worked so well I'm going to go back up a size on the tail hook. With the lure now sitting perfectly horizontal, the blade turns immediately with the slightest twitch and it churns out more water at low speeds. Maybe I'll post a pic of it later.
On 4/30/2019 at 1:02 AM, PourMyOwn said:Here's a thought, try putting a prop from a Baby Torpedo on that Tiny Torpedo. It should be quite a bit larger and make more of a ruckus.
I don't think I have any Baby Torpedoes. I had forgotten there was a larger size until you mentioned it. Good idea though.
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
Not sure weight, but tiny buzzbait I have
OCdockskipper reply :
In addition to putting a larger prop on a Tiny Torpedo, how about going full Frankenstein and modifying the back of the Tiny Torpedo to handle a Whopper Plopper propeller? You'd be out 1 Whopper Plopper and there is a chance the thing might roll over during the retrieve, but it may be worth a shot.
Sudden idea, how about removing the rear hook of a Tiny torpedo and tying a second Tiny Torpedo to that rear eyelet with 50 lb test. Two Tiny Torpedo's should kick up twice the water...
WRB reply :
If the prop is too big the torque spins the lure. Adding pitch the prop turns easier and faster, reducing pitch creates more vertical spray but requires more angler skill to work effectively. Tunning props is part of using prop baits. Adding feathered rear treble hook will increase strike ratio.
Tom
fin reply :
Top picture is Frankenstein with the tubular insulation added. Bottom picture (sorry for focus) shows buoyancy compared to original. These hooks may be overkill, but why not?
On 4/30/2019 at 5:44 AM, OCdockskipper said:In addition to putting a larger prop on a Tiny Torpedo, how about going full Frankenstein and modifying the back of the Tiny Torpedo to handle a Whopper Plopper propeller? You'd be out 1 Whopper Plopper and there is a chance the thing might roll over during the retrieve, but it may be worth a shot.
As @WRB pointed out, it would roll really bad if it worked at all. I think that's why there's no smaller size than the 75.
On 4/30/2019 at 5:44 AM, OCdockskipper said:Sudden idea, how about removing the rear hook of a Tiny torpedo and tying a second Tiny Torpedo to that rear eyelet with 50 lb test. Two Tiny Torpedo's should kick up twice the water...
lol. Tandem Torpedoes!
On 4/30/2019 at 5:52 AM, WRB said:Adding feathered rear treble hook will increase strike ratio.
I've never had much luck with feathered hooks for some reason. I like the way they look, but I just don't get hits on them. It probably adds a little buoyancy to the tail hook too.
On 4/30/2019 at 5:03 AM, NittyGrittyBoy said:Not sure weight, but tiny buzzbait I have
Yep, that's pretty much what I've got. I took one of them and painted it with the same green nail polish as the torpedo and put an olive/green skirt on it. Threw it a little this morning and got one slap on it. The topwater bite isn't really happening here yet.
Paul Roberts reply :
Nifty! Now this is fun! This kind of thing is where the next Senko, or WP, comes from.
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