I’ve never owned or tried a pencil popper style lure and am curious as nothing beats a good topwater slam. It seems the very hard to find evergreen shower blows are regarded as the best of this type of lure (perhaps just hype?) Would love some recommendations for good alternatives, thx!

It's a good lure, but yeah, there is a lot of hype with it. Try a standard spook, and thread a bead and a bobber stopper on the line, and leave the tag long.

Ark TB115 has been a pretty good inexpensive alternative for me.  

Is there a sportsmans Warehouse near you? My local one has them. You can order online from them too. 

The Lucky Craft Gunfish has been more productive for me, a little more subtle than the Shower Blows. They are both great additions to your topwater arsenal. 

4 hours ago, Deleted account said:

thread a bead and a bobber stopper on the line, and leave the tag long.

Come again?

31 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Come again?

I described something similar, but a bit more complicated to a guy for a spanish mackerel trolling daisy chain, and he built it with no questions asked, he lived and went to school in MD though, just saying...  

47 minutes ago, Primus said:

The Lucky Craft Gunfish has been more productive for me, a little more subtle than the Shower Blows. They are both great additions to your topwater arsenal. 

In my experience, the gunfish attracts smaller fish. Maybe because it doesn’t throw as much water. YMMV

Berkley Cane Walker is my go to pencil popper/walker style bait. I prefer it over the SB. They just seem to kill that thing.

 

Ima Little Stick is 135mm long. It causes quite the disturbance on the water and the rattles are loud.  If the fish are active, it has given me many fun mornings.  

13 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Berkley Cane Walker is my go to pencil popper/walker style bait. I prefer it over the SB. They just seem to kill that thing.

 

?This?  
 

If you want something similar, this is a good choice and cheaper to boot.