Berkley Choppo Review
I’ve been fishing for years, and let me tell you, the Berkley Choppo is a game-changer. This topwater lure has completely transformed my approach to angling. With its unique design and versatile sizes, it’s become my go-to for multiple species.
The Choppo’s magic lies in its ability to create an irresistible commotion on the water’s surface. That distinctive ‘walking’ action? It’s like ringing the dinner bell for hungry fish. I’ve seen bass, pike, and even saltwater predators absolutely demolish this lure.
From the compact 75mm to the beefy 120mm, there’s a Choppo for every situation. It’s not just about size though – the cupped face and weighted body combine to produce a tantalizing side-to-side motion that drives fish wild. Add in that loud, splashing sound, and you’ve got a recipe for explosive strikes.
But here’s the real kicker – the Choppo isn’t just effective, it’s versatile. Whether you’re working it with a steady retrieve, letting it sit and chug, or ‘walking the dog’, this lure adapts to your style and the conditions. It’s this flexibility that makes it a true multi-species marvel.
Berkley Choppo 75
The Berkley Choppo 75 is a popular topwater fishing lure. Measuring 75mm, this lure features a unique, segmented body design that creates an enticing walking action when retrieved across the water’s surface.
The Choppo 75 is crafted with high-quality components, including a durable plastic body and premium hardware. It comes equipped with two sets of ultra-sharp VMC treble hooks that help ensure solid hooksets. The lure’s balanced weight distribution and streamlined profile allow it to cast a good distance, making it an effective choice for covering water and locating active fish.
One standout feature of the Choppo 75 is its ability to produce a loud, popping sound when worked across the surface. This sound, combined with the lure’s erratic movement, helps attract the attention of nearby bass and triggers their predatory instincts. Anglers can work the Choppo 75 with a variety of retrieval techniques, such as a steady, twitching retrieve or a more aggressive, walk-the-dog action, depending on the fish’s mood and the prevailing conditions.
The Berkley Choppo 75 is a versatile and effective topwater lure that deserves a spot in every angler’s tackle box.
Berkley Choppo Sizes
The Berkley Choppo lure is available in several sizes to suit various fishing situations. The standard 4-inch Choppo is a popular choice for both freshwater and saltwater applications. Berkley also offers a 5-inch Choppo for anglers seeking a slightly larger profile.
The largest size in the Choppo lineup is the 7-inch model. This larger lure is well-suited for targeting trophy-sized predatory fish, particularly in saltwater environments when going after species like striped bass, bluefish, or large redfish. The 7-inch Choppo features Berkley’s signature hollow body design, which gives the lure an enticing swimming action when worked across the water’s surface.
All Choppo lures come equipped with a single, high-quality hook that provides reliable hook-setting power. The different Choppo sizes allow anglers to match the lure to the specific conditions and target species, making it a versatile topwater option for a wide range of fishing applications.
Berkley Choppo 105
The Berkley Choppo 105 is a top-water lure that has become a popular choice among bass anglers. This lure measures 4.1 inches (105mm) in length and weighs 1/2 oz (14g), making it a versatile option that can be effectively fished in a variety of water conditions.
One of the key features of the Choppo 105 is its unique “walking” action. The lure’s cupped face and weighted body allow it to “walk the dog” across the surface of the water with an enticing side-to-side motion. This erratic, lifelike movement is highly effective at triggering strikes from aggressive bass that are hunting for baitfish near the surface.
The Choppo 105 excels at generating explosive surface strikes. The lure’s loud, gurgling sound and splashing action help attract bass from a distance, while the walking motion keeps the lure in the strike zone for an extended period of time. Anglers have reported excellent results using the Choppo 105 around cover like docks, fallen trees, and weed lines, where bass tend to ambush their prey.
From personal experience, the Choppo 105 has proven to be a highly effective lure, especially during the summer months when bass are more likely to be feeding on the surface. The lure’s durable construction and hardware have held up well to repeated casts and strikes, and the variety of color patterns available (including shad, perch, and black/blue) allows for matching the prevalent baitfish in different bodies of water.
Overall, the Berkley Choppo 105 is a top-notch topwater lure that combines excellent fish-attracting properties with a reliable, well-engineered design. Its versatility and proven track record of success make it a must-have addition to any bass angler’s tackle box.
Berkley Choppo 120 Review
The Berkley Choppo 120 is a top-water lure that has become a favorite among bass anglers. At 4.7 inches (120mm) and 3/4 oz (21g), this larger version of the popular Choppo series offers a substantial profile to entice bigger bass.
The Choppo 120 features a cupped face and weighted body that allows it to “walk the dog” across the water’s surface with an alluring side-to-side motion. This mesmerizing action, combined with the lure’s loud, splashing sound, effectively grabs the attention of nearby bass.
From experience, the Choppo 120 has proven incredibly effective, especially when targeting trophy-sized fish around heavy cover like docks, fallen trees, and weed lines. The lure’s size and profile seem to trigger an aggressive, predatory response in big bass hunting for substantial baitfish near the surface.
The Choppo 120’s durable construction has held up well, and the variety of available color patterns makes it easy to match the predominant forage in different fisheries. Whether targeting largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass, the Berkley Choppo 120 is a must-have topwater lure for any serious bass angler’s tackle arsenal.
Berkley Choppo Size
The Berkley Choppo 120 is a substantial topwater lure, measuring 4.7 inches (120mm) in length and weighing 3/4 oz (21g). This larger size offers a more prominent profile compared to the standard Choppo series, making it an excellent choice for targeting trophy-sized bass.
The Choppo 120’s cupped face and weighted body allow it to “walk the dog” across the water’s surface with an alluring side-to-side motion. This mesmerizing action, combined with the lure’s loud, splashing sound, effectively grabs the attention of nearby bass.
The Choppo 120 is incredibly effective, especially when fishing around heavy cover like docks, fallen trees, and weed lines. The lure’s substantial size and profile seem to trigger an aggressive, predatory response in big bass looking for substantial baitfish near the surface.
The Berkley Choppo 120’s durable construction and variety of available color patterns make it a must-have topwater lure for any serious bass angler’s tackle arsenal, whether targeting largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass.
The Best Multi-species Lure Of All Time
The Berkley Choppo is widely regarded as one of the best multi-species lures. This versatile topwater lure can effectively target a variety of gamefish, including bass, pike, muskie, and saltwater species like bluefish and striped bass.
The Choppo’s cupped face creates a loud, erratic “chugging” action when retrieved. This action, combined with its ability to walk the dog and produce a tantalizing side-to-side darting motion, makes it irresistible to predatory fish. The Choppo’s durable construction and hardware also allow it to withstand the hard strikes of powerful fish.
The Choppo can be fished in various ways. Anglers can work it with a steady, medium-paced retrieve, pause it to let it sit and chug, or “walk the dog” with a side-to-side jerking motion. This versatility allows the Choppo to excel in a wide range of fishing situations and water conditions.
The Choppo comes in a diverse selection of colors and patterns, enabling anglers to match the hatch and appeal to the specific preferences of the target species. This makes the Choppo a must-have lure in the tackle box of any serious multi-species angler.
The Berkley Choppo’s combination of exceptional performance, versatility, and durability make it one of the best multi-species lures on the market. Its ability to effectively target a wide range of gamefish has solidified its status as a true all-time classic.
Fishing Bait
Soft-plastic stick baits are a versatile and effective fishing bait. A slow, wacky or Texas-rigged presentation allows the bait to fall naturally, which can entice fish to strike. Spinnerbaits are another proven artificial lure that create vibration and flash to draw in predatory fish like largemouth bass. The ease of use with spinnerbaits allows anglers to cover a lot of water and catch more fish. Whether using soft plastics or spinnerbaits, these simple yet deadly baits can help land your dream catch in all kinds of fishing conditions.
The 3 Best Lures For Catching A 10-pound Bass
Crankbaits, jigs, and swimbaits are effective lures for catching 10-pound bass. Crankbaits have an erratic, darting action and vibrant colors that can trigger aggressive strikes from trophy bass, especially deep-diving models. Jigs, whether football, swim, or pitching, can be worked slowly along the bottom or hopped through cover to entice big bites, with soft plastic trailers adding extra appeal. Swimbaits, which mimic baitfish perfectly, have gained popularity in recent years and can be irresistible to hungry, trophy-sized bass when slow-rolled through likely holding areas.
By keeping these three lure categories in your arsenal, you’ll be well on your way to tangling with a true 10-pound bass.
FAQ:
Which Bait Catches The Most Fish
When it comes to catching the most fish, the humble garden worm is an irresistible offering for a wide variety of freshwater species, from panfish like bluegill and crappie to the mighty bass. Threaded onto a simple hook, the worm’s natural scent and wiggling action is tough for fish to resist, and it’s a bait that’s easy to find and rig up.
While lures like jigs, crankbaits, and swimbaits have their place and can be effective for targeting trophy-sized fish, the classic worm and bobber rig is a time-honored tactic that continues to put fish in the boat. Other natural baits like live minnows, crickets, and grubs can also be highly productive, but it’s hard to beat the humble garden worm for maximizing your catch.
The worm is a bait that will never go out of style. I’ve had many of my best fishing days simply threading a worm onto a hook and letting it do the work. So keep a good supply of worms on hand – it’s a bait that can’t be beaten for putting fish in the boat.
How To Fish With A Topwater Lure
Topwater lures like buzzbaits are an absolute blast to fish with. Cast them out and start reeling them in right away. The splashing and commotion on the surface attracts the fish to strike. Early morning and late evening are the prime times to use topwater lures, when the light conditions are low and the fish are more likely to be feeding up top.
When the buzzbait hits the water, start a steady, moderate retrieve to keep the blade spinning and creating that enticing surface disturbance. Experiment with different retrieval speeds – a fast, erratic retrieve can trigger explosive strikes, while a slower, more subtle approach can also be effective. Pay attention to how the fish are responding and adjust your presentation accordingly.
Topwater fishing is an adrenaline-filled way to catch bass. Watching a big largemouth crush your buzzbait as it skitters across the surface is an experience every angler should have. With practice, you’ll be slaying the bass on top.
What Are The Different Types Of Fishing Lures
Fishing lures come in a wide variety of types, each designed to attract and catch different species of fish. One popular category is topwater lures, which create commotion and disturbance on the surface of the water to entice fish to strike. Buzzbaits are a classic example – they have a blade that spins and splashes as you retrieve them, mimicking the movement of baitfish or other prey.
Suspending lures are another versatile option. These lures float at different depths, allowing you to target fish holding at various levels. Jigs are a staple in many anglers’ tackle boxes. With their weighted heads and plastic or feathered skirts, jigs excel at probing the bottom and enticing strikes from bottom-dwelling species.
Soft plastic lures like worms, grubs, and creature baits are incredibly lifelike and effective. These lures can be rigged in numerous ways to target specific fish and cover. The soft, pliable action of these baits is often irresistible to hungry fish.
No matter the water or species, there’s a fishing lure perfectly suited for the job. Experiment with different lure types and sizes to see what the fish are responding to.
Best Bass Lures For Shore Fishing
One of my go-to bass lures for shore fishing is the crankbait. These little lures have a tight wobbling action that drives bass wild. Crankbaits come in different sizes and diving depths, allowing you to match them to the water conditions. When working a shoreline, I’ll often start with a square-billed crankbait that can bounce off rocks and wood without getting hung up. The erratic action of a square-billed crankbait is perfect for enticing strikes from bass that are lurking close to the bank.
Another lure that’s been a consistent producer for me on the shore is a soft plastic jerkbait. These lifelike lures have a subtle twitching action that drives bass crazy, especially when you pause the retrieve to let them suspend. I’ll rig a jerkbait on a light wire hook and work it through laydowns and along the edges of weed beds. The soft, pliable body gives it an irresistible action that bass just can’t resist.
No matter what lure I’m using, I always make sure to work it slowly and methodically when shore fishing. Bass that are holding tight to the bank don’t want to chase down a fast-moving bait. I’ll cast parallel to the shore and work the lure with short, twitching retrieves, pausing frequently to let it flutter down. This patient, finesse approach is the key to drawing those shore-hugging bass out of their hiding spots.
What Is The Best Lure For Speckled Trout
Suspending jerkbaits are one of the most effective lures for targeting speckled trout. These lifelike lures have a tantalizing action that drives trout wild. They should be rigged on a light wire hook and worked through areas where trout are holding, like the edges of grass beds or around docks and pilings.
The key is to work the jerkbait with a series of short, sharp twitches, then let it pause and suspend. This erratic, darting motion triggers an instinctive strike response from the trout. Varying the retrieve speed, sometimes ripping the jerkbait quickly and other times working it slowly, can help find the presentation the fish are responding to.
Topwater poppers are another great lure for speckled trout. These noisy, splashing lures are irresistible to trout feeding on the surface. Work a popper along the edges of grass lines and around docks, pausing it frequently to let the fish get a good look. The strike from a trout blowing up on a popper is thrilling.
Match the lure to the water conditions. In clear water, use more natural, subdued colors. In stained or murky water, go with brighter, more vibrant patterns that stand out. The right lure choice can make all the difference when targeting hard-fighting speckled trout.
Best Fishing Lures
The best fishing lures include the suspending jerkbait. These lifelike lures have an irresistible action that attracts fish. They can be rigged on a light wire hook and worked through areas where fish are holding, like the edges of grass beds or around docks and pilings.
The key is to work the jerkbait with a series of short, sharp twitches, then let it pause and suspend. This erratic, darting motion triggers an instinctive strike response from the fish. Varying the retrieve speed, sometimes ripping the jerkbait quickly and other times working it slowly, can help find the presentation the fish are responding to.
Another great lure for targeting fish like speckled trout is the topwater popper. These noisy, splashing lures are irresistible to fish feeding on the surface. Working a popper along the edges of grass lines and around docks, pausing it frequently to let the fish get a good look, can be thrilling when a fish blows up on it.
When selecting lures, match the color and profile to the water conditions. In clear water, use more natural, subdued colors. In stained or murky water, go with brighter, more vibrant patterns that stand out. The right lure choice can make all the difference when targeting wary, hard-fighting fish.
Best Multi-species Lures
When fishing lures that can attract a wide variety of species, multi-species lures are a fantastic choice. These versatile baits are designed to mimic the natural prey of many different types of fish, making them an excellent option whether targeting bass, trout, walleye, or even saltwater species like redfish and seatrout.
One of the favorite multi-species lures is the Berkley Choppo. This suspending jerkbait has an incredibly lifelike action that drives fish wild. It can be worked with a mix of twitches, pauses, and rips to trigger explosive strikes. The Choppo’s realistic profile and vibrant colors make it a go-to lure when fishing waters with mixed species.
Another great multi-species option is a topwater popper. These noisy, splashing lures are irresistible to fish feeding on the surface. Success has been had working a popper along grass lines and around docks, pausing it frequently to let the fish get a good look. The sudden commotion of the popper hitting the water often provokes an aggressive reaction bite.
The key is to experiment with different retrieves and presentations to find what the fish are responding to on a given day. Varying speed, cadence, and pauses can make all the difference in triggering hard-charging strikes. With the right multi-species lure, a wide variety of gamefish can be caught wherever the angling adventures take you.
Reel in Success with the Berkley Choppo
The Berkley Choppo series has revolutionized topwater fishing, offering anglers a versatile and highly effective lure for multiple species. From the compact 75mm to the hefty 120mm, there’s a Choppo for every situation. I’ve personally experienced the thrill of explosive strikes using these lures, and let me tell ya, it’s addictive! The combination of that irresistible walking action and attention-grabbing sound is pure magic on the water. Whether you’re chasing bass, pike, or even saltwater predators, the Choppo’s got your back. It’s not just a lure; it’s a game-changer. So, next time you’re gearing up for a fishing trip, don’t forget to pack a Choppo or two. Trust me, your tackle box (and your fishing stories) will thank you. Now get out there and make some waves!