This morning I caught a good size fish (for my standards, 3 lb 4 oz) on a regular sized Rebel Pop-R. I really like the lure but I have trouble casting it very far. Anyone know of a similar size  popper that casts better on baitcasting gear?

River2Sea Bubble Walker 80, my personal favorite popper that is still in production. 

The Storm Chug Bug is a little beefier and casts REALLY well. Plus it has a very loud rattle. My only suggestion is to upgrade the tail hooks to something sharper. 

If you got some $$ to spend... the Megabass Pop Max is a heck of a popper and also heavier. It can be walked and popped. 

Heddon popper always cast good for me...Not pricey

I like casting the Iovino Splash It popper. We fish them in medium sized streams for smallmouth. The water's very clear and shallow, so getting a good long cast is essential in being successful that day. 

 

I would immediately switch out the hooks though, I've broken a couple in my couple years of using them.

Skitter Pop 09 and the Pop Max are both heavy enough for me to get good casting distance with them on baitcasting gear. 

The magnum pop-r is a little heavier than the standard size, and is very inexpensive.  It was my top producing topwater last year besides frogs.  The pop max is another good option if you as willing to spend that much, I have the smaller version of it (the pop x) and is it is a super versatile bait.  You can pop it, walk it, make it spit, it is like having three lures in one.

Why fish it on a baitcaster? Should be fine to throw on a spinning rod 

I can cast a Popmax on a 6'2" M/XF casting rod a country mile.  So far, it's my favorite popper.  Rico's are on the shelf the past two years.

Skitter pop.. spinning gear with braid..

The River2Sea poppers cast a country mile.  Also check out the 6th Sense Splash Back poppers.

Nothin' to talk 'bout

 

https://megabassusa.com/product/popmax/

 

 

Your Pop-R weighs 1/4 oz.

You can keep your Pop-R and double the weight

by moving up to a Magnum Pop-R (1/2 oz)  

 

Roger

Yozuri 3db popper. 3/8oz, A hair larger than the 1/4oz poppers(yellow magic and pop r) but considerably smaller than the 1/2 oz versions when the fish want a smaller popper. Cast great. Quality hooks. Really underrated popper imo

 

Yozuri 3db popper. 3/8oz, A hair larger than the 1/4oz poppers(yellow magic and pop r) but considerably smaller than the 1/2 oz versions when the fish want a smaller popper. Cast great. Quality hooks. Really underrated popper imo

 

I like these Yo-Zuri's too -- a good in-betweener size.

 

Another one that looks good and certainly feels castable (although I haven't tried it yet) is the 6th Sense Splashback.

Booyah boss pop in the 3/8 ounce size, it's still under 3" long.

PopMax.  Period.  I have One on at all mes of the season, as well as a Pop X.  Yellow magic  if you're after more of a chug.

Pop Max is my standard however two others that are in the quiver are.......... Deps - Pulsecod and Duo - Hacker Slaver Chug.

I cast all the usual suspect 1/4 oz poppers on a 6' or 6'6" med rod and 12lb mono a long way, never been an issue.

Most Pop-R type poppers are  2 1/2" 1/4 oz, several lure makers offer 2 3/4" 3/8 oz, 50% heavier should resolve any casting issues. The chug bug is both skinny and longer 3 1/4" weighting 3/8.

Tom

Even at a 1/4 I can cast a lure a long way on my 66mf st Croix.  There are four factors that contribute to this and you can control or change them all.  The rod your using does it load correctly for the weight?  Does your reel support casting down to this weight.  I use alphas for this lighter work.  There are many capable to include most of the SV reels. The line, small dia line like braid helps a lot, and finally lure weight.  If the smaller poppers are what you like you can change any one of these things to help or just shift to a spinning rod.  the DUO poppers are 1/3 oz a little more, which is noticeable that low, and as said the popmax is 1/2 which you can cast no matter what.  The bulbble walker is more of a spook bait as it sits on top of the water.  I love it but I would not classify it as a popper.  R2S does make a good popper which TT gave great reviews, I have no particular love for it but some do.  On a side note you can tweak them a little and add 2x hooks and stronger rings to up the weight a little.  I switch my popper hooks out with owner st-41's and my hook up ratio is out of the park.

I'll second the rapala skitter pop.  I use both bait casting and spinning gear, but when working top waters, working the bait seems more "comfortable" so to speak, using spinning gear.  I use both reel types for topwater, and don't have issues casting 1/4 oz lures with casting gear.  However, I have noticed with all things being equal, (line weight, rod power, etc.) the lure's aerodynamics influence castibility with casting gear, particularly when it's blustery, when the wind's effects on the lure can slow it down such that you'd better be able to thumb the spool before a nest appears, lol.

Also, for some odd reason, I've never considered 1/4 oz as light, but normal, especially for casting reels in the curado class and up.  I consider light less than 3/16oz, lol.

one that always amazed me with its castability for its size is the heddon poppin image jr.main complaint was windmilling and hooks tangling with line. Otherwise this little monster cast like a rocket

Check out the Lunkerhunt popper.

 

Its 2.5" and weighs in at 7/16. Smaller length with some weight, casts great.

 

Stocks hooks are just ok, but at $4 each you can replace if so desired.

The Strike King KVD Splash is a good one and it weighs twice as much at 1/2oz.