Lain enhances his River2Sea
Whopper Plopper by adding a high-quality barrel swivel to the lure's line tie. Lain
explains, "Anyone who uses a Whopper Plopper around grass knows that even
a single blade of vegetation caught on the lure's rear prop can cause the
entire lure to spin, leading to unwanted line twist."
By incorporating a barrel swivel, Lain prevents this line twist when the lure
becomes fouled by foliage. Additionally, he believes that the swivel's freedom
of movement on the lure's split ring adds more action during the retrieve.
However, the primary purpose of the swivel is to prevent line twist.
Monofilament Leader
Lain rigs his setup with a
two-foot, 25-pound Sunline monofilament leader. "Monofilament floats, has
some stretch, and provides shock absorption." Using only braided line can
lead to problems. The thin diameter of the braid makes it easy to slip into
split rings and wrap around hooks; sometimes, a hook point can even
penetrate the braid itself. "When that happens, you’re done," Lain warns.
Such
mishaps are the last thing any angler wants to deal with. If a bass strikes at
the lure but misses and is still in pursuit, your chances of getting another
opportunity are greatly reduced if the braided line has tangled with the bait.
There's nothing worse than having a fouled topwater lure when fish are actively
feeding on the surface all around you. "I use a mono leader with just
about every topwater bait that has treble hooks," he adds.
These are not just excellent
tips; they are essential for improving anglers' topwater efficiency. Success in fishing is
all about the details; they are the difference between something good and
something great. I am sure anglers will find Lain's tips crucial for a
successful day on the water, rather than talking about the one that got
away.
