What is everyone's thoughts on thumping splashing vs hyrdro wave. Do you thump sometimes and splash others, or a combination. Also I thought the Hydrowave was suppose to mimic feeding fish as well? If was going to buy just one - what would it be?

Thanks.

I learned about these when I started fishing. I fished with a guide who had a hydrowave and a splasher and bought both with the thump chip for the hydrowave. I never really felt the hydrowave worked so I sold it. I had decent luck with the splasher but not when the fish was deep.

I did a guided deadstick trip with Wes Campbell from Bend a Rod. He used a stick to tap the bottom of the boat and I could see the fish show up on his graph. Problem was when he stopped to help someone the fish left so I started picking it up.

Later I built my own thumper and much later I started selling them. I always use my thumper and I use my splasher in the spring through fall when fish are feeding in 20’ or less. In winter my splasher is in my garage. They are all tools in the tool box but I use my thumper unless I am trolling at 3 mph...

Here is a video I did a while back...

https://youtu.be/Xv43xPXKCsE

I have fished with guides who have used all you mentioned. One Texoma guide, used a splasher and a thumper. The thumper gets my vote, but I do believe the first and most important is learning and locating bait and fish with your electronics.

hydrowave = joke
SPLASHER #1
THUMPER #2

Too many of my customers have told me that they tried the hydrowaves but they bought a thumper from me and reported the thumpers performed better. Thumping mimics the sound of the fish when they are eating. It’s like a dinner bell calling others for a meal. Splasher mimics bait or fish on top. Fish relating to the surface will respond more when splashing. Hydrowaves are more beneficial to those fishing shallow water like bass fishermen. They all are tools to be used according to what the fish want at different times.

I am not a guide nor do sell thumpers. I have been thumping for over 9 years. The first 6 were manually with pvc and rubber on bottom, very effective until you hook up and use your hands to land said fish. Putting said fish in well causes TM to be unmanned and therefore losing boat position. Enter I-pilot and automated thumpers. What a game changer, spot lock and fish coming to feed via thumper, game on. I have used both splasher as well as thumper simultaneously , have turned one off while running the other etc... thumper is by far the superior fish attractor .

Hydrowave = snake oil

I personally use my thumper when the water temps are 60 degrees or less. My thumper has seen better days so I may be rebuilding it soon. its gone through hell and back.. I prefer to use a splasher in warmer water when the fish are more aggressive and covering more ground. It works for me.

I had a hydrowave, Not only did it not work for me, I believe it actually scared the fish off. I now have both a thumper and a splasher, there are times where one will work better than the other. It is just trial and error. Both thumper and splasher have routinely put fish in my boat. I have fished areas for up to an hour with hardly any fish on the screen, then turn on either the thumper or the splasher and huge groups of fish show up. I have shown skeptical friends this over and over. Not only do they show up they are more likely to bite. I have also had times where I find fish and they won't bite, I turn the darn things on and all the poles go down almost simultaneously. I find that the thumper and the splasher work better in water over 30 Ft deep.

Thank you all for the responses. I am leaning more toward a thumper for right now, and thinking of building my own.

The thumper is a legit tool, as is the splasher. Different lakes fish different, the fish will tell you what you need to use. I pondered building one, but decided to call Bobo and get one of his and spend my time on the lake rather than diddling around with a project. It’s a good unit.

I remember when I built my first one own, it took a few hours and a bunch of scrambling to find parts. I used a proven design that a a friend had made and he helped me weld my motor arm. It was so effective I ultimately decided to start selling them... I thinks TCK73's advice is good... If I only needed one, and I wasn't working from plans, I would buy one and spend the extra time fishing!

I was personally with a friend that bought a hydrowave at a tackle show from the owner and got a 100% REFUND POLICY I heard it myself and after many trips our catching went down and a refund was obtained but was a nightmare to get, forget them, go splasher & or thumper they work, I heard the company sold to another but run from it rather than buy from it. All this I was actually present and heard it all myself.

I am curious I use a Thumper along with a Livescope. It works fantastic in deeper lakes but when I try it in Creeks during the Spring it does not seem to work at all. The Creeks are about 6 to 10 ft deep. I noticed that some advertisements say the bump from the Thumper is adjustable. Mine is a Bobo's Thumper. Is it adjustable for the strike, and if so would a Softer hit work better in the Spring in Creeks?

Usually it is not helpful in creeks. You can adjust the hammer handle pivot point up to the top hole to make a quieter thump or down to the bottom hole to make a louder thump. In water that is less than 17 ft deep the fish may form a perimeter around your boat. At times I’ve seen an occasional fish break the surface in water that is 10 ft or so while thumping, allowing me to cast to them. Deeper than 17 ft they will move under your boat. Thanks sir!