Introducing the Berkley Screamin’ Choppo. This latest iteration of the plopper-style prop bait from Berkley aims to add a little something extra to their already popular Choppo lineup — a shrill squeak generated by metal on metal contact at the spinning prop tail. I’ve tested out a few of these baits over the last couple of weeks and this is what I’ve learned.
The Screamin’ Sound
Berkley set the rear end of this bait up to where four small metal teeth in the tail grind on a metal plate just above the rear hook. The result is a pretty unique sound — unique to prop baits anyway. If you have ever seen anyone do the “nail trick” to a buzzbait, that’s the sound that you get.
Basically, you can remove the prop of a buzzbait and tap the point of a nail slightly down into the hole on the top of the buzzbait prop and the hole in the bottom of it. Nail tips are actually square, not round. So, when you slide the prop back on the shaft of the buzzbait, you now have a square hole tumbling around on a round shaft, making a distinct sound. Berkley has figured out a way to do just that with the Screamin’ Choppo.
Personal Experiences
Berkley sent out several of these baits for testing. I fished with four of them, some in the 95mm size and some in the larger 110mm. I had good luck with the bait and caught a few fish. The hooks held up well and the “screaming” sound generated by the tail genuinely created an entirely new sound signature. A handful of major lure manufacturers came out with plopper-style baits this year to add to the half dozen already on the market. This bait sounds different from all of those that I have fished with.
I did have some trouble with some of the baits spinning in the water. This is a common issue with most baits like this. If you get a little bit of trash around the shaft of the prop, the tail will lock up and the bait will spin in the water, causing line twists. There’s nothing that can be done about that. But some baits have a tendency to spin a little in the water too even when there’s no obstruction, which will also cause line twists over time. So just be on the lookout.
Key Features
The Berkley Screamin’ Choppo comes in two sizes: 95mm (3¾ inches) and 110mm (4⅓ inches). The larger weighs 1 ounce and the smaller weighs 3/4 of an ounce, which translates to both casting really well. These are both great sizes for bass fishing, one being a little larger and a solid option for summertime fishing around bigger forage like bluegill. The other being a bit smaller and perfect for fishing in the fall around shad and other smaller baits.
There are 14 colors available, offering something for every situation. From solid colors like bone, chrome, and black to transparent shad patterns, as well as a couple bluegill paint schemes. I really like the color patterns available.
The Screamin’ Choppo is a little more plump, as opposed to the traditional Choppo. This makes the bait a little more buoyant and so it sits up a little higher in the water and can be reeled a touch slower. The Berkley Fusion 19 treble hooks pair well with the bait. They’re strong, sticky and sized to where they never foul up on the prop, which can be a common annoyance with some baits.
Lasting Impressions
I’m impressed by the ingenuity of the team at Berkley to take a known sound that works well in buzzbaits and incorporate that into the back of the Screamin’ Choppo. I’m not sure if that was their inspiration or not, but kudos to them on getting it done. I was hoping the larger, more buoyant body would eradicate the spinning issue that’s common in this style of baits, but I did experience some rolling with a couple of the lures.
At the end of the day, Berkley set out to improve on an already phenomenal bait—its original Choppo—and that was a tall order. I don’t believe this one will replace the original in my tackle box, but I could see it coming into play when bass want something different. For instance, on windy days when the conditions would warrant putting a topwater down, I could see throwing this one a while longer. And, during the hot summer months when I like to crawl a buzzbait along the surface in the shallows, the Screamin’ Choppo 110 would be a great alternative.
