whopper plopper6

Nice work Mark.    It will look good hanging from the mouth of one of those big 'ole Delta bass.

 

Ben

I had my heart in my mouth when I put in my float test bucket.

Because I had buried the barrel wrap in the front part, and glued it in, I would have had to cut the shaft off and make a new front section if it hadn't worked.

What's that saying about looking out for children and fools?

When I was test swimming it off the deck this afternoon, a seal came by!  I got it back in quick!  

I can't imagine how I'd ever get it back if a seal took it, not to mention how I'd get off the dock in one piece with a 12' pissed off seal on my butt!

Great job, Mark! Lure looks great!

Not gonna lie, I want to see you fight a seal on your line.

Brandon

That looks great Mark.  Nice work.  I agree with you, it is best if it stays level on the pause.  Congrats!

Barry

I had my heart in my mouth when I put in my float test bucket.

Because I had buried the barrel wrap in the front part, and glued it in, I would have had to cut the shaft off and make a new front section if it hadn't worked.

What's that saying about looking out for children and fools?

When I was test swimming it off the deck this afternoon, a seal came by!  I got it back in quick!  

I can't imagine how I'd ever get it back if a seal took it, not to mention how I'd get off the dock in one piece with a 12' pissed off seal on my butt!

 

Just be glad nobody has figured out a way to cross a seal with a pit bull. It wouldn't be safe to go near the water.

 

Ben

Mark that looks awesome! You reminded me I want to buy one, then reminded me I could just make one . That's pretty great to have it work on the first try. Nice paint job too!

Ben, seals and sea lions are the pitbulls of the water! Those sneaky little things will tear up a crab pot, take your fish, steal your lure, and eat more fish in a day than a guy can catch in a week (salmon).

Good thing I don't salmon fish much. I've never seen them eat a bass so far..

Jonister, the truth in advertising message should read:

 

1.  I had an original Whopper Plopper in hand and next to me to use as a guide while I was shaping both the tail and the head.

2.  I've been shaping stuff my whole adult life, so I had a reasonable plan of action going in.

 

I remember the sea lions on the rocks when I used to fish from them as a kid.  They moved when they were ready, and I wasn't anxious to help them along.  Those things are enormous, well armed, and fearless.

Photographers always make seals look so cute and cuddly. Nobody ever tells you they will chew a leg off. lol

 

Ben

You just gave me a little "Heureka" moment , Mark , .....many years ago I've built a few similar lures , yet with a deeper belly to be able to place the ballast lower to counterwork what you've called leaning .

 

But since the fin of my own lure was made of 0,5mm stainless steel sheet, the belly weight did not prevent the lure from leaning at about 45° at higher paces , ....and I've put as much weight as possible still retaining sufficient buoyancy !

 

Now I'm sure , that it has to do with the centrifugal forces generated by my heavier metal fin compared to the lighter integrated fin of your lure ,...and the belly is not even as deep !

 

I reckon , that your buoyant fin material is also the reason , that your lure even performs better than the original lure in that matter .

 

Well done , Mark , ........Greetz , Dieter

looks good......

Outstanding work Mark!

Thanks guys.

Mark,

 

Well done. What are you making the tail out of on this lure. This is exactly what I am looking for. Any advise for making them. Would you consider selling me some tails?

 

Phillip Rellergert

Phillip, 

I'm sorry but I don't sell baits.

I carved the tail from a block of the same AZEK PVC trimboard as the body.  

I took a piece 1"X 1 1/2"X 1 3/4" and trace the outline of the original tail, and then just began removing material, a little at a time, keeping the original right next to me as a reference.

Check out the picture two down from this one for more info.

Great job, Mark! Lure looks great!

Not gonna lie, I want to see you fight a seal on your line.

Brandon

You're a cruel mon, Skinner!  Hahaha

That looks great Mark.  Nice work.  I agree with you, it is best if it stays level on the pause.  Congrats!

Barry

Barry, I agree.  I made one with a sst Tally Wacker tail, and it hangs at a 45 degree angle on the pause.  I don't like it as much, since it's going to have silicone skirt "wings", but maybe the fish will.

I was hoping the sst tail would be faster to make and use, and more durable, but, with the shaping and installation work, it is at least as much work as just carving the whole thing out of PVC.

Durability will probably be one of the deciding factors, so I will have to wait for warmer water to give them both a true test.