Whats the best knot overall to use for the whopper plopper? Iwould like to knoe because i lost two whopper ploppers useing the clinch knot on 30 lbs braid. 

I use the improved clinch with 40lb braid. 

 

It would be helpful to know how you lost them. Was it on a cast, did a fish break you off, backlash? Also remember to retie every so often no matter what lure you are losing to reduce knot fatigue. 

It was on the cast 

What brand braid are you using? I had some Iron Athlete braid from TW (random cheap braid) that snapped on the cast a LOT. It would snap a couple inches above the knot (improved clinch).

Following this subject...would a Palomar knot be better?

FWIW I always use a palomar knot with braid of any size. I've never had one fail yet.

1 hour ago, jtharris3 said:

FWIW I always use a palomar knot with braid of any size. I've never had one fail yet.

Same here.

Palomar here as well. 

Palomar also.

Double uni 

I use Palomar knot for everything. But I also throw my ploppers on mono or copolymer, frogging and punching are the only things I use braid for.

clinch knots for braid aren't the best, Palomar knot always when using braid. 

Great braid knot and never fails is the fishing fool.  Basically a uni.

 

Would like to know more of the story but I'll ask questions. Was it on the cast right after catching a fish (setting the hook) or pulling loose from a snag? If so the braid had been pinched down into the spool and when you cast next it stopped so abruptly at this point the line can break. I always pull line out of the spool manually after pulling loose from a snag and I cast short after catching a fish and check the line didn't bury down in the spool. Also... don't Whopper Ploppers float?

4 minutes ago, Bass Turd said:

Also... don't Whopper Ploppers float?

Yes they do but if you cast far out into the middle of the lake etc. depending on the current and how big the body of water they could take quite the journey and it could be difficult to get to them.

I don't need to know anything other than a clinch isn't going to do it with braid.  Use a Uni knot.  A Palomar is a pain to use with big baits.

It won't matter what knot is used if the spool stops abruptly in mid cast.

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

A Palomar is a pain to use with big baits.

Why would this be, wouldn't you just double back enough line so that when you pass them through the ring you could form a big enough loop to go around your bait and then just cinch it up tight once it's over the bait?

Sure, if you like using a foot or more per retie.  For me it's pain.  I just use a Uni knot.

uni

18 hours ago, Alw8$Bassin said:

It was on the cast 

If it was on the cast, how do you know the knot failed?  With braid there is not the tell-tale curly cue at the end of the line when the knot pulls out. 

I agree with the Uni Knot. I got tired of putting the bait and all the trebles through that loop!  I recommend 7 wraps with braid.  You can double the line if you want, but I do not.

I use a palomar knot to a Norman Speed Clip and have never had a lure break on a cast.

3 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

Why would this be, wouldn't you just double back enough line so that when you pass them through the ring you could form a big enough loop to go around your bait and then just cinch it up tight once it's over the bait?

Honestly this is why I hate the Palomar for anything besides hooks. If I have a 5" bait with big treble hooks on it and it's windy out.....last thing I want to be doing is trying to make a loop out of feather light material (braid) and then pass the entire lure through it. I tie a Uni like 90% of the time, or the improved clinch. I am starting to favor the Uni more though after using the clinch for years.