I love the Pop R and the Chug Bug. They've both been killer for me this season. I don't like the magnum sized Pop R. Thus I bought the Chug Bug to fill that niche. Here's a tip. Use a snap or split ring on the line tie and you'll get a better walking action. It is true that most of the time you should wait for the rings to dissipate, but not always. Sometimes the action of the bait starting right up will turn them on. It's a great bait for when schools are busting bait on the surface. Then you'll need to make noise to attract their attention. You won't spook them in this case. The bigger size would probably be better for that situation. Just like the retrieve, you'll need to let the fish tell you if you should wait a few seconds before you start. Sometimes, they'll hit it on the stop. They just can't stand it sitting still.

On 9/5/2018 at 8:45 AM, TBAG said:

I just got a new topwater rod, and going to throw some poppers and 90 Whopper Ploppers with it. St. Croix Mojo Bass 68MXF. I'd rather not use braid, so what would be better 12 or 15 pound Big Game?  Or do you have another suggestion?

 

Also, great thread, thanks for the suggestions.

Bigger mono is usually better because mono floats. Therefore 15 lb is more buoyant. It also seems to me to be a better compromise between stretch and strength. I use 15 lb. Big Game. But the regular size Pop R can be a little tough to cast on a baitcaster with heavy line. I use a 6'6" M. But a longer rod can help.

On 9/5/2018 at 10:13 AM, Todd2 said:

Interesting... I ended up grabbing some cheaper H20 Xpress Poppers that look pretty good but the selection on Poppers at Academy wasn't great.

 

These is probably no way to answer this but I wonder what makes the Popmax that much better. Can the fish even see anything other than the bottom? Maybe the bubbles from the gill openings?

IMO, this is the type of bait that color matters the least. I think one reason is that I almost never catch a fish in direct sunlight with a popper. Even when they bite it during the day, it's in the shade. I think the action is way more important than the color.

H20 express bone popper is my favorite

On ‎9‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 1:16 PM, A-Jay said:

I am a a stout believer in the Megabass Pop Max ~ 

I've been wanting to show you this one @A-Jay. Been going through the man cave and finally found it. I carried this one to a tackle show in Japan few years back and had the man himself (Yuki Ito) autograph it for me. Think I better have a shadow box frame made so I don't misplace it again.

2 minutes ago, Harold Scoggins said:

I've been wanting to show you this one @A-Jay. Been going through the man cave and finally found it. I carried this one to a tackle show in Japan few years back and had the man himself (Yuki Ito) autograph it for me. Think I better have a shadow box frame made so I don't misplace it again.

Sweet Bait and the autograph definitely kicks it up a notch.

A-Jay

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Sweet Bait and the autograph definitely kicks it up a notch.

A-Jay

It is no longer a bait, it is a Holy Relic.

21 minutes ago, Harold Scoggins said:

I've been wanting to show you this one @A-Jay. Been going through the man cave and finally found it. I carried this one to a tackle show in Japan few years back and had the man himself (Yuki Ito) autograph it for me. Think I better have a shadow box frame made so I don't misplace it again.

Uhhhh, dayum!

They work better for me then other poppers. It’s like a bubbling walking bait the the way I use it. You guys are posting colors and boxes I’ve havnt seen yet. Pretty cool I might be grabbing another tonight. 

This year  Ive taken poppers seriously. Early in the season I used the Storm Cover pop to win me my first tournament. One thing  I liked about that popper was how thick and meaty the trebles are. 

 

Like everyone said varying the retrieve is good but my main one is the twitch, twitch pause twitch.  That retrieve on a megabass popmax helped me catch a  monster muskie last weekend. I only used it a handful of times but I think im going to retire it!

32 minutes ago, YoTone said:

This year  Ive taken poppers seriously. Early in the season I used the Storm Cover pop to win me my first tournament. One thing  I liked about that popper was how thick and meaty the trebles are. 

 

Like everyone said varying the retrieve is good but my main one is the twitch, twitch pause twitch.  That retrieve on a megabass popmax helped me catch a  monster muskie last weekend. I only used it a handful of times but I think im going to retire it!

You know what they say about no pics lol. 

6 minutes ago, Derek1 said:

You know what they say about no pics lol. 

 

That’s awesome, that must have been a blast thanks for the link. 

On ‎9‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 4:25 PM, Harold Scoggins said:

Listen to A-Jay. (top water box doesn't look this clean end of season)

Those MS Black baits in the lower right corner are big fish catchers around here. 

 

Allen

4 hours ago, Munkin said:

Those MS Black baits in the lower right corner are big fish catchers around here. 

 

Allen

You bet. I've had a lot of luck with the Gunfish. I wish MB would develop a Diamante with the same mouth.