Top coat question

[Jonah]

For those of you who have painted the tails of the KO Whopper Plopper, what have you used as a topcoat? The tails on the originals are pliable. I would think Devcon 2 ton would make the tail too hard. Thanks in advance for any and all replies.

[BobP]

I think most of the WP knockoffs have soft tail fins like the original.  I would be thinking in terms of dyeing the soft plastic instead of painting it, if I did anything at all.  After all, fish tails are usually clear translucent.  I have several originals.  On all but the black WP, which is all black, the tail cones are painted body color while the fins themselves are mostly clear translucent soft plastic with or without a little red dye accent on their tips.  The soft plastic is pretty hard stuff.  I don't know how much it really collapses when bit, but I suspect not much.  I wouldn't be using water based paint and any hard topcoat on them.

[Jonah]

It makes sense about the leaving the tails clear. You're advice and knowledge is always appreciated. 

[Allspecies]

I was thinking of dying the tails as opposed to painting. Pretty sure any paint would shortly flake off. There are pliable and flexible paints out there. The chemicals in the paints may cause damage to the plastic of the tails I'm afraid. Who else paints the plopper tails?

[21xdc]

I have been leaving mine clear as I want the bait tail to be noticed less no matter the color of the body.  I fish mine mostly with a steady retrieve and the tail is a blur to the fish, Just like I want it. 

[Allspecies]

Yeah that's what I'm learning towards. Folks can always get some spike it or other dye to change the color I guess. Second question. The style of the plopper I got to paint has the tail coming as two pieces. I assume the epoxy we coat the baits with would work just fine to glue the two sections into one. Anybody else get blanks with two separated sections to the tail or are they all like that no matter where you get them?