Problem with Whopper Plopper

[176champion]

Thanks all...just ordered a couple packages of each size #2 and #3...

[Grubber]

Getting back to topic, the fix I did to my WP worked, just like new, now all I have to do is watch where I store it, because I am convinced that if you take one that has been baking in the sun all day, throw it in your rod box and any thing lays in contact with the tail, you're going to have problems. Seems to me they could make the tail with a slightly harder plastic and it would hold up better, but what do I know.........

[abkeenan]

58 minutes ago, Grubber said:

Getting back to topic, the fix I did to my WP worked, just like new, now all I have to do is watch where I store it, because I am convinced that if you take one that has been baking in the sun all day, throw it in your rod box and any thing lays in contact with the tail, you're going to have problems. Seems to me they could make the tail with a slightly harder plastic and it would hold up better, but what do I know.........

Larry Dahlburg (Plopper Designer) is a renowned lure designer but usually deals in soft plastics and resin concoctions. I think he just happened to use that plastic for the tail on the plopper on a whim, the lure became a hit and River 2 Sea has just stuck with it. If they went to a harder plastic or heat resistant tail piece one would think it would be better but at this point in production that probably isn't going to happen. 

Muskie guys have been using the "plopper" style baits for a while and here is a bait that has a hard tail section. I believe someone here on TR used it when ploppers were kinda hard to come by in a pinch when they REALLY took off after Watson's win on TR last fall. Not sure on all the sizes that they carry. Would imagine this bait precedes the plopper by quite a ways. 

 

Tyrant Tackle Crusader

 

[Grubber]

They must have made a tougher bait for musky, can't imagine one of these newer ones holding up to a giant musky.......or a peacock

[Stein]

6 minutes ago, Grubber said:

They must have made a tougher bait for musky, can't imagine one of these newer ones holding up to a giant musky.......or a peacock

They are tougher.  I have a few.  TopRaiders are hard plastic tails.  Some other topwaters have metal tails.  Those get bent but are easily formed back into shape.

[Sprint21fter]

Two advantage's with the plopper vs. toad,buzzbait. 1 cast ability, I can cast the thing another 30 or more feet further than a buzzbait or toad. 2nd, missed strikes, it floats rather than sinks. Fish like to bird dog alot topwaters in my experience. You can stop it,twitch it or burn it a crank and get them to react to it.  It's another tool to use to catch more fish.

[MOBASSIN83]

Grubbed, on a recent trip to table rock, I tossed my 130 out and was doing the exact same thing you described. I had used it several times before heading to TR with no issues. I spoke with Nathan at River2Sea. He is one of only a few people that answer if you call customer service. They replaced mine but I had to spend $6-7 to send the old one in! It took about 4 weeks to get my replacement. 

[Grubber]

I have to admit that it was probably my own stupidity that caused my problem but it seems they could be a bit less prone to heat warp, so for that reason, the two I own will be all I buy, not a fan for that reason......