I'm sure there is a lot of truth to that.  However I've been using a LT frog popper, which has a very unique sound, right next to my dad who is using a hula popper and he is not getting bites, and I'm getting fish on some days when they are not active.  I'm just guessing the unique noise is what is getting me bites b/c there is so much fishing pressure, and the LT frog is just something the fish haven't seen before.  (I'm not getting any bites when the lure is paused, except from bowfin, and again I would attribute this to it's unique sound). I would like a larger popper that works as well though, just b/c I want something I can cast further.  

 

Just wanted to let you know that the Live Target Frog popper is also available in a 3" long 1/2 oz which should cast much farther than the smaller size I assume you are using. I will have to try this one .

 

That said my favorites are the Heddon Pop n' Image when I want to fish it slowly and get that " bloop " sound .

 

The Yellow magic & Excalibur zell pop ( now known as the Booyah boss pop ) are the poppers I use when I want to fish them more aggressively by either walking them or a quick stop and go type of retrieve . For the stop and go I will usually quick walk it about 2 or 3 feet, then pause for a second or 2 and give it one or 2 quick pops . Not sure I explained it well but I know it when I see it and in the heat of the summer when there is a light chop on the water the bass usually destroy it . 

Just wanted to let you know that the Live Target Frog popper is also available in a 3" long 1/2 oz which should cast much farther than the smaller size I assume you are using. I will have to try this one .

 

That said my favorites are the Heddon Pop n' Image when I want to fish it slowly and get that " bloop " sound .

 

The Yellow magic & Excalibur zell pop ( now known as the Booyah boss pop ) are the poppers I use when I want to fish them more aggressively by either walking them or a quick stop and go type of retrieve . For the stop and go I will usually quick walk it about 2 or 3 feet, then pause for a second or 2 and give it one or 2 quick pops . Not sure I explained it well but I know it when I see it and in the heat of the summer when there is a light chop on the water the bass usually destroy it . 

 

 

I saw LT has a larger popper and I may get one at some point.  I got a River2Sea bubble popper since it was $9, and Megabass is selling one that looks exactly like it for $20.  It seems nice so far, I took it out once and got some nice smallmouth with it.  I'll be interested to see how it does with largemouth, since I think it's a little too big of a lure for smallies.  

 

I actually decided, since we finally found a nice spot at the river, to put some 10lb braid on a lighter pole and next time I go out I'll try a couple of very small hula poppers, and rebel poppers I grabbed from discount bins at wal-mart and thought I'd never be able to use.  I imagine the smallies and rock bass will have an easier time grabbing those.   I had a couple of big strikes from smallies on my bubble popper, but I think it was just too large for them to grab every time.