I know before I type this I am going to stir up a hornet's nest but I honestly have a question about this.
I was on Tawakoni this weekend and saw first hand how a thumper device made a significant difference on the whites and hybrids. There was a guide with his guests that were smoking the whites. He had a small device mounted on his transom in a box that had some sort of actuator that was striking the water surface. Not too loud, not too quiet. It actually sounded like it might have had a toilet plunger cut off and mounted in it due to the cupping sound it was making.
We were catching fish, same lures, but by no means the numbers that they were 30 yards away. He moved around and the fish actually followed him. Say what you will, I am convinced after seeing if first hand.
So here's the question, do any of you know where I can buy a small actuator motor that runs on 12 volt that has a plunger shaft? I can build the rest.
Also, is this what some of you call deadsticking? I ask because I have seen it used in this context however deadsticking is something else entirely in lmb fishing. Deadsticking for lmb is cranking down a jerk bait and letting it sit forever.

Thanks.

Here's motor I used to build one, sounds like you'll need to engineer the plunger assembly.Possibly some sort of cam configuration, wheel with a pin through plunger handle just for an idea.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Torque-Electric-Gear-Motor-12v-Low-Speed-100-RPM-Gearmotor-DC/291909356948?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D2220072%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D41376%26meid%3Dae8a5caedd07485cabc8a31168d294d9%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D172530775456

Duh, you'll need a speed control box too, unless you want to do 100 plops a minute. Motor speed is 100 rps at 12 volt.Sorry coffee hasn't kicked in yet.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/9-50V-40A-DC-Motor-Speed-Control-PWM-HHO-RC-Controller-12V-24V-48V-2000W-MAX/371175245087?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D41376%26meid%3Dee96f0f0b8eb46728e09538ddfcb5531%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D8%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D391093301357

Excellent. Thanks. I think you probably nailed the RPM too. I tried to count off how many strikes per second/minute and 100 RPM is extremely close.

I would be interested to hear from other folks on what devices they may have come up with.

Check out my classified here
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/11389751/Bobo's_Thumper#Post11389751

I have one that works by voice command. If I want on I just say thump. If I want fast I just say thump faster. If I want slow I just say thump slower.
Takes 10 years to make one of these voice command thumpers thou. Trying to get it patented but them people look at me like I'm crazy.

are you sure the OP was not looking at a splasher instead?

I may have been looking at a splasher and not realized it. Do you have any info or photos that you could share?

Windshield wiper motor, junkyards are full of them.
Motor speed control - Speed control http://www.ebay.com/itm/370962506627?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName= [url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/370962506627?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT][/url] STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

are you sure the OP was not looking at a splasher instead?
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I googled a splasher and you sir were correct. I didn't realize that was what I was looking at. I think he must have had the shaft off of the trolling motor and had mounted only the motor in the box on the transom. Pretty ingenious.

Thank you sir.

Don't get less than a 55 lb motor if you expect it to last very long.

way easier and more effective to mount tactile transducer speakers on your boat. Works well for me.

But then wouldn't you need an amp and a source for the audio to playback? What's your setup?

It's called a splasher. Another annoying, wet, loud, fishing gadget that doesn't work. Lol