Best Color Whopper Plopper for Bass Fishing: A Complete Guide

By: FishUSA Staff

April 15, 2025

The Whopper Plopper is one of the most effective topwater lures for catching bass. Its unique propeller-style tail creates a loud, churning action that triggers aggressive strikes from both largemouth and smallmouth bass. However, choosing the best color Whopper Plopper for different fishing conditions can significantly impact your success. This guide covers the best colors for various water conditions, weather, and bass feeding behavior to help you make the right choice.

Why Color Choice Matters

Best Whopper Plopper Colors for Different Conditions

Choosing the Right Whopper Plopper Size

Best Conditions for Whopper Plopper Fishing

Tips for Fishing the Whopper Plopper

Conclusion

Why Color Choice Matters

The color of your Whopper Plopper plays a crucial role in how well it mimics natural prey and stands out in different water conditions. Here’s why color selection is important:

Water Clarity: Some colors work better in clear water, while others excel in murky conditions.
Weather Conditions: Overcast days, bright sunshine, and low-light periods influence which color performs best.
Forage Imitation: Matching the natural baitfish or food sources in the lake increases your chances of a strike.
Reaction vs. Natural Bite: Some colors trigger reaction bites, while others are more subtle and natural-looking.

Best Whopper Plopper Colors for Different Conditions

1. Bone

Best For: Low-light conditions, early morning, and overcast days.

The Bone color is one of the most popular and effective Whopper Plopper colors. Its off-white, slightly translucent body provides a great silhouette against the sky, making it highly visible to bass.

Works Well In: Clear to slightly stained water.
Best Used During: Dawn, dusk, and cloudy days.

Shop Whopper Plopper: Bone

2. Loon

Best For: Murky water, aggressive bass, and overcast conditions.

The Loon color is a solid black Whopper Plopper with a high-contrast silhouette. Black is an excellent choice for dirty or stained water because it provides a clear profile bass can track.

Works Well In: Stained, muddy, or tannic-colored water.
Best Used During: Low-light conditions and when bass are striking aggressively.

Shop Whopper Plopper: Loon

3. Munky Butt

Best For: Clear water and sunny conditions.

The Munky Butt color mimics the flash of a baitfish, featuring a pearl-white belly with a pink-to-blue transition. It works great in lakes where bass feed on shad and herring.

Works Well In: Crystal-clear and lightly stained water.
Best Used During: Bright, sunny conditions when bass are actively hunting baitfish.

Shop Whopper Plopper: Munky Butt

4. Bluegill

Best For: Fishing near shallow cover and during the bluegill spawn.

The Bluegill pattern is ideal for ponds and lakes where bass feed heavily on sunfish and panfish.

Works Well In: Clear to stained water.
Best Used During: Late spring to summer when bluegill are active.

Shop Whopper Plopper: Bluegill

5. Perch

Best For: Northern lakes and smallmouth bass.

If you’re fishing in waters where bass feed on perch, this color pattern is a must-have. The green and yellow coloration mimics juvenile perch.

Works Well In: Clear water with rocky or sandy bottoms.
Best Used During: Summer and fall when perch are abundant.

Shop Whopper Plopper: Perch

6. I Know It

Best For: Mimicking shad and open-water fishing.

This color is designed to replicate the shimmer of shad, making it perfect for lakes and reservoirs where bass chase schools of baitfish.

Works Well In: Open water with shad schools.
Best Used During: Fall and late summer.

Shop Whopper Plopper: I Know It

Choosing the Right Whopper Plopper Size

In addition to color, selecting the right size can improve your success rate. The most common sizes are:

Whopper Plopper 90: Best for smallmouth bass, ponds, and pressured fish.
Whopper Plopper 110: A versatile size that works well for largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Whopper Plopper 130: Best for big bass and aggressive topwater bites.

Best Conditions for Whopper Plopper Fishing

Morning and Evening: Low-light conditions are ideal for topwater action.
Overcast Days: Cloudy skies extend the topwater bite.
Warm Water Temps (60°F+): Bass are more likely to strike topwater lures in warm water.
Windy Conditions: A slight chop on the water helps disguise the lure and triggers reaction bites.

Tips for Fishing the Whopper Plopper

Vary Your Retrieve: Mix up steady retrieves with pauses and speed changes to trigger more bites.
Target Shallow Cover: Cast near laydowns, docks, and weed edges where bass hide.
Use a Medium-Heavy Rod: A fast-action rod provides the right balance of power and sensitivity.
Pair with Braided Line: 30-50 lb braided line offers strong hooksets and prevents break-offs.

Conclusion

Choosing the best Whopper Plopper color depends on water clarity, forage, and lighting conditions. Colors like Bone and Loon are universal favorites, while Monkey Butt and I Know It excel in clear water. By understanding which color works best in different situations and fine-tuning your technique, you can increase your topwater success and catch more bass with the Whopper Plopper.

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