With apologies to my old reliable Lobina Lures Rico, the Whopper Plopper has become my favorite topwater bite in recent years. It’s not necessarily that it catches lots of fish, or bigger fish (although you could argue that both are true), but rather the sheer ferociousness of the strikes.

While the number of plopper-style baits and sizes has grown substantially, I tend to keep my color choices simple: black in low light or stormy conditions and some form of white, shad or bone in most other situations.

Nevertheless, if you’re looking for something else, the lure companies have your back. Whether you’re confronted with a distinctive water color, an atypical forage species, or just want to show your local bass something different, check out the following options: