Hard baits: Prop baits

A floating body with a propeller: a single plopping tail (River2Sea Whopper Plopper and its copies) that churns on a steady reel, or one or two small props on a stick bait that sputter on a twitch. Noise and spray for low light, stained water and grass tops.

ItemDetail
BuildPlopper tail: a soft rotating tail on a hard body, reeled steadily; twin-prop: metal props front and back, twitched
BodyPlopper 9–19 cm (3.5–7.5"); prop sticks 7–11 cm (2.75–4.5")
RetrievePlopper: slow steady, speed up over open water; prop stick: twitch-pause, rip-pause
WhereGrass tops, over shallow cover, shade lines, stained water, dawn and dusk
SeasonPost-spawn to fall; summer nights
Rod / line7'–7'3" (2.13–2.21 m) MH moderate; 40–50 lb braid, or 20 lb mono for the plopper
ModelsRiver2Sea Whopper Plopper, Berkley Choppo, Yo-Zuri 3DB Prop, Smithwick Devil's Horse, Heddon Torpedo, Lunkerhunt Prop Fish

A plopper only works when the tail turns: if you cannot hear it, reel faster until you can.

Top 10 dans quatre marchés

États-Unis

  1. Heddon Torpedo Propbait — $6.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Topwater Propbaits' (28 items) sorted by Popularity: #1; topwater, 1-7/8 / 2-1/2 in (48 / 64 mm), 1/4 / 3/8 oz (7 / 10.6 g); the classic rear-prop Torpedo (Tiny and Baby); 5.0/5 avg (2 reviews)
  2. River2Sea Whopper Plopper Silent — $9.99 - $16.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Topwater Ploppers' (23 items) sorted by Popularity: #1; topwater, 2-3/8 in (60) to larger sizes, 1/4 oz+; the plopper: rotating soft tail that plops on a straight retrieve; silent version; 4.9/5 avg (10 reviews)
  3. Berkley Choppo Topwater — $14.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Topwater Ploppers' (23 items) sorted by Popularity: #2; topwater, 3 to 4-1/2 in (75-120 mm), 1/2 to 1 oz (14-28 g); cupped propeller tail plopper in four sizes; 4.6/5 avg (9 reviews)
  4. ima HeliPs Propbait — $16.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Topwater Propbaits' (28 items) sorted by Popularity: #2; topwater, 2-1/4 in (57 mm), 3/8 oz (10.6 g); pudgy twin-prop bait; squeaky blades, floats on the pause
  5. Smithwick Devil's Horse Propbait — $8.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Topwater Propbaits' (28 items) sorted by Popularity: #3; topwater, 4-1/2 in (114 mm), 3/8 / 1/2 oz (10.6 / 14 g); the original twin-prop stick (props front and back)
  6. River2Sea Whopper Plopper — $16.99 - $20.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Topwater Ploppers' (23 items) sorted by Popularity: #4; topwater, 5 / 7-1/2 in (130 / 190 mm), 1-3/8 / 2-3/4 oz (39 / 78 g); the full-size Whopper Plopper 130 and 190; 5.0/5 avg (2 reviews)
  7. Berkley Spin Bomb Propbait — $11.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Topwater Propbaits' (28 items) sorted by Popularity: #4; topwater, n/a; Justin Lucas twin-prop with large cupped plastic props; 4.5/5 avg (2 reviews)
  8. Cotton Cordell Crazy Shad Propbaits — $7.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Topwater Propbaits' (28 items) sorted by Popularity: #5; topwater, 3 in (76 mm), 3/8 oz (10.6 g); shad-profile twin-prop; 4.5/5 avg (2 reviews)
  9. Rapala X-Rap Prop Propbaits — $16.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Topwater Propbaits' (28 items) sorted by Popularity: #6; topwater, 4-3/8 in (110 mm), 3/8 oz (10.6 g); X-Rap body with front and rear props; 4.0/5 avg (2 reviews)
  10. Rapala Claptail — $21.99. Tackle Warehouse 'Topwater Ploppers' (23 items) sorted by Popularity: #6; topwater, 3 to 4-3/8 in (75-110 mm), 3/8 to 7/8 oz (10.6-25 g); Jacob Wheeler plopper-style: metal prop and back blade clap together; 5.0/5 avg (6 reviews)

Canada

  1. River2Sea Whopper Plopper 90 — C$14.99–C$23.99. fishingworld.ca 'BASS FAVOURITES 2026' collection, best-selling sort #1 of 219; anglingsports.ca 'Top Water' collection, best-selling sort #4 of 136; runs topwater; 90 mm / 1/2 oz; plopper tail
  2. Berkley Choppo — C$17.99. anglingsports.ca 'Top Water' collection, best-selling sort #1 of 136; fishingworld.ca 'TOPWATER BAIT' collection, best-selling sort #2 of 36; runs topwater; 90 mm / 105 mm / 120 mm; plopper tail
  3. River2Sea Whopper Plopper 75 — C$22.99. anglingsports.ca 'Top Water' collection, best-selling sort #5 of 136; runs topwater; 75 mm / 1/4 oz; plopper tail
  4. Berkley Screamin' Choppo — C$20.99. anglingsports.ca 'Top Water' collection, best-selling sort #10 of 136; fishingworld.ca 'TOPWATER BAIT' collection, best-selling sort #19 of 36; runs topwater; 105 mm / 120 mm; plopper tail with squealing blade
  5. River2Sea Whopper Plopper 190 — C$29.99. fishingworld.ca 'TOPWATER BAIT' collection, best-selling sort #4 of 36; runs topwater; 190 mm / 4-3/8 oz; plopper tail, musky size
  6. Z-Man HellraiZer 5" — C$19.49. anglingsports.ca 'Top Water' collection, best-selling sort #18 of 136; runs topwater; 5" / 3/4 oz; self-walking rear-prop topwater
  7. River2Sea Whopper Plopper 110 — C$28.99. anglingsports.ca 'Top Water' collection, best-selling sort #23 of 136; runs topwater; 110 mm / 1 oz; plopper tail
  8. Berkley Spin Bomb 60 — C$14.99. anglingsports.ca 'Top Water' collection, best-selling sort #35 of 136; runs topwater; 60 mm; twin-prop stick
  9. Rapala ClapTail 110 — C$29.99. anglingsports.ca 'Top Water' collection, best-selling sort #72 of 136; fishingworld.ca 'TOPWATER BAIT' collection, best-selling sort #28 of 36; runs topwater; 110 mm; prop + clapping back blade
  10. Heddon Tiny Torpedo — C$9.49. fishingworld.ca 'TOPWATER BAIT' collection, best-selling sort #27 of 36; anglingsports.ca 'Top Water' collection, best-selling sort #113 of 136; runs topwater; 1-7/8" / 1/4 oz; rear-prop stick

Japon

  1. Berkley Screamin' Choppo — ¥2,420 (naturum list price). naturum 'スイッシャー' (Swishers / prop baits) category, best-selling sort #1; ; plopper tail
  2. Megabass Prop Darter 106 — ¥2,068 (naturum list price). naturum 'スイッシャー' (Swishers / prop baits) category, best-selling sort #3; 106 mm / 1/2 oz; floating rear-prop minnow
  3. Deps Calling Hustler F — ¥2,772 (naturum list price). naturum 'スイッシャー' (Swishers / prop baits) category, best-selling sort #6 (also keyword 'プロップベイト' #1); 125 mm / 27 g; floating double prop
  4. Nishine Lure Works Baby Avinaux 70F — ¥2,630 (naturum list price). naturum 'スイッシャー' (Swishers / prop baits) category, best-selling sort #7 (also keyword 'プロップベイト' #2); 70 mm / 6.1 g; floating prop
  5. Deps Buzzjet — ¥1,920 (naturum list price). naturum 'スイッシャー' (Swishers / prop baits) category, best-selling sort #9 (also keyword 'ウェイクベイト' #3); 96 mm / 30 g; prop-tail noisy
  6. Megabass X-Plose Double Scratch — ¥1,823 (naturum list price). naturum 'スイッシャー' (Swishers / prop baits) category, best-selling sort #11 (also keyword 'プロップベイト' #5); 103 mm / 1/2 oz; floating twin-prop
  7. Heddon Baby Torpedo — ¥1,901 (naturum list price). naturum 'スイッシャー' (Swishers / prop baits) category, best-selling sort #14; 63.5 mm / 3/8 oz; rear prop
  8. Daiwa Gillnado F — ¥1,080 (naturum list price). naturum 'スイッシャー' (Swishers / prop baits) category, best-selling sort #20 (also keyword 'プロップベイト' #9); 70 mm / 14.7 g; floating prop
  9. Heddon Tiny Torpedo — ¥1,200 (naturum list price). naturum 'スイッシャー' (Swishers / prop baits) category, best-selling sort #21; 49 mm / 1/4 oz; rear prop
  10. Smith CC Crazy Shad C04 — ¥1,694 (naturum list price). naturum 'スイッシャー' (Swishers / prop baits) category, best-selling sort #22; 3 in / 3/8 oz; double swisher

Chine

  1. 亿智谷 (shop) 水面拖拉机 螺旋桨路亚饵 (plopper tail) — ¥5 / item. Taobao list page 'buzzbait' sorted by sales (fetched 2026-09-28): position 1 of 20; shop 亿智谷旗舰店. Whopper-Plopper-style single rotating tail (buzzbait = "surface tractor"); listing photo used as is.
  2. 国王路亚 Kingdom 水面拖拉机 铅笔 微物 螺旋桨 — ¥54 / item. Taobao list page 'buzzbait' sorted by sales (fetched 2026-09-28): position 6 of 20; shop 国王路亚旗舰店. Kingdom plopper with a rotating tail; cropped, small logo removed.
  3. 钓之猪 DIAOZZ 迷你噪音拖拉机 双螺旋桨 — ¥2.98 / item. Taobao list page 'buzzbait' sorted by sales (fetched 2026-09-28): position 8 of 20; shop 钓之猪路亚. Mini twin-prop plopper; cropped to the two lures, captions removed.
  4. 天天特卖工厂 (shop) 水面拖拉机 铅笔螺旋桨 — ¥8.33 / item. Taobao list page 'buzzbait' sorted by sales (fetched 2026-09-28): position 12 of 20; shop 天天特卖工厂. Plopper; listing photo used as is.
  5. 风鲨 (shop) 小型水面拖拉机 炸水铅笔 — ¥35 / item. Taobao list page 'buzzbait' sorted by sales (fetched 2026-09-28): position 14 of 20; shop 风鲨旗舰店. Small plopper, three colours; listing photo used as is.

← Poppers · Walking baits (walk-the-dog) →

Hard baits

Sub-surface hard baits by what makes them move: crankbaits with a lip (squarebill, medium, deep, flat-sided), lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits (suspending, floating, deep), hard swimbaits (glide baits with one joint, multi-jointed swimbaits), spybaits, and the topwater hard baits: poppers, walking baits, prop baits, wake baits.

  1. Crankbaits
  2. Deep-diving crankbaits
  3. Medium-diving crankbaits
  4. Squarebill crankbaits
  5. Flat-sided crankbaits
  6. Topwater hard baits
  7. Poppers
  8. Prop baits
  9. Walking baits (walk-the-dog)
  10. Wake baits
  11. Jerkbaits
  12. Suspending jerkbaits
  13. Water temperature and buoyancy tuning
  14. Nose split ring and loop knot
  15. Jump the slack and rod work
  16. Jerkbait colour and rattle selection
  17. Jerkbait rod, reel and line formula
  18. Jerkbait treble hook sizes and feathered tails
  19. Floating jerkbaits
  20. Slow-sinking jerkbaits
  21. Sinking jerkbaits
  22. Deep-diving jerkbaits
  23. Hard swimbaits
  24. Glide baits (single joint)
  25. Multi-jointed swimbaits
  26. Lipless crankbaits (VIB)
  27. Spybaits
  28. Choosing a hard bait: mechanism, depth, season

Hard baits