So I’m really digging the Berkley bullet pop 70 and the storm chug bug. Im

catching fish. And belaying the retrieve. Pop pause pop. Or pop pop pause. Until I find what they want. But every so often I get a few of the really good bloop bloop. The rest of the time I lose rhythm and get good splashes. I’m catching fish. But what do you all usually look for in a popper retrieve 

I like to do a mixture of slow pops, walking, and fast chugs until I figure out what they want 

 

My lure of choice is the Popmax

Ok that’s kinda where I’m at. So I’m on the right track lol. I’ll have to look that one up! 

I normally do 3-4 fast pops then pause for a second. I also do a slow steady pop with about a second between pops.

 

I normally use a Rebel Pop-R, but I've used a ChugBug and liked it pretty good. I have an H20X popper that I've yet to try. I found it and put hooks on it. I like the size and shape.

The bullet pop is basically a Berkley version of the pop r. I like it a lot. I like the chug  bug for a smaller lighter presentation. Much smaller splash. But neither are as good as the old Choppo lol. 

When the wind dies off and the water flattens out,

it can be tough sledding here for big smallmouth.

Couple of years ago I started throwing a popper during this time.

A painfully slow Pop- Pause- Pop ended up being the most productive presentation for me.

It's an exercise in self-discipline fishing it that slow for sure, especially for this chunk & wind guy.

Had to get it in my head that a motionless bait is still 'fishing'.

#easymeal

That stupid long pause has drawn up some very nice brown bass for me, 

when NOTHING else would.   And I do mean nothing.

The Megabass Pop Max (already mention in this thread at least once) is my popper of choice.

A long cast can help get bites in the calm, super clear water here.

I go with Medium spinning gear which launches these baits nicely.

 

In the past, once the sun got up, the skies cleared and the morning moving bait bite died,

I used to go home.

Not any more.

https://youtu.be/sITpRNLz_04?feature=shared&t=347

A-Jay

 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

In the past, once the sun got up, the skies cleared and the morning moving bait bite died,

I used to go home.

Not any more.

How deep are the fish you’re targeting with the popper mid day?

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

When the wind dies off and the water flattens out,

it can be tough sledding here for big smallmouth.

Couple of years ago I started throwing a popper during this time.

A painfully slow Pop- Pause- Pop ended up being the most productive presentation for me.

It's an exercise in self-discipline fishing it that slow for sure, especially for this chunk & wind guy.

Had to get it in my head that a motionless bait is still 'fishing'.

#easymeal

That stupid long pause has drawn up some very nice brown bass for me, 

when NOTHING else would.   And I do mean nothing.

The Megabass Pop Max (already mention in this thread at least once) is my popper of choice.

A long cast can help get bites in the calm, super clear water here.

I go with Medium spinning gear which launches these baits nicely.

 

In the past, once the sun got up, the skies cleared and the morning moving bait bite died,

I used to go home.

Not any more.

https://youtu.be/sITpRNLz_04?feature=shared&t=347

A-Jay

 

Wow now that’s impressive. 

14 hours ago, JackstrawIII said:

How deep are the fish you’re targeting with the popper mid day?

More like mid to late morning.

I am still usually gone in those conditions before noon.  Boating traffic will pick up by then and that has never helped the bite.

Targeting isolated weed or open spots in weed beds on  Big flats in 6 - 12 ft depending on where the schools of perch are hanging out.

A-Jay

 

I fish my poppers three ways, and many times all three on the same cast.  When I cast it towards a target such as a tree branch, I try and keep it in the strike zone as long as possible.  The pops are subtle, and I quickly give slack after the pop in order to keep the bait from moving forward and away from the target.   When fishing this way I go by the old advice given on the old Arbogast package, let the rings all disappear before moving the bait both after the cast and after a pop.

 

My other favorite retrieve is to walk the popper just like I would a spook.  I will walk the popper until I get next to a target, then briefly pause and continue to walk the bait all the way back to the boat.

 

My third retrieve is a faster than the walking retrieve.  I try and make the popper splash more than pop, and I don't give any slack after I jerk the rod.  This makes the popper almost skitter across the surface.  Quick short jerks all the way back to the boat.

 

Many times I cast to a target and work the bait slowly in place, once I am a few feet past the target, I start waking the bait  until I get about half way back to the boat, then I pick up the speed with a skittering retrieve.  Of course if one retrieve starts to out perform the others, I will switch to fishing the productive one exclusively.

 

I use mostly Pop R's in different sizes and models.  I also use a Storm Cover Pop and a Chug bug.  I have had both the Pop Max, and Yellow Magic poppers in my Cart on Tackle Warehouse more than once, but  when check out time comes, I never pull the trigger.  I catch plenty of bass on the cheaper poppers and am afraid if I catch a giant on an expensive one, I may end up with pricy lures of all types.  An expensive popper will probably last a long time, but starting down the $15 a bait road, could mean disaster for a lure addict like me.  

 

 

8 minutes ago, king fisher said:

I fish my poppers three ways, and many times all three on the same cast.  When I cast it towards a target such as a tree branch, I try and keep it in the strike zone as long as possible.  The pops are subtle, and I quickly give slack after the pop in order to keep the bait from moving forward and away from the target.   When fishing this way I go by the old advice given on the old Arbogast package, let the rings all disappear before moving the bait both after the cast and after a pop.

 

My other favorite retrieve is to walk the popper just like I would a spook.  I will walk the popper until I get next to a target, then briefly pause and continue to walk the bait all the way back to the boat.

 

My third retrieve is a faster than the walking retrieve.  I try and make the popper splash more than pop, and I don't give any slack after I jerk the rod.  This makes the popper almost skitter across the surface.  Quick short jerks all the way back to the boat.

 

Many times I cast to a target and work the bait slowly in place, once I am a few feet past the target, I start waking the bait  until I get about half way back to the boat, then I pick up the speed with a skittering retrieve.  Of course if one retrieve starts to out perform the others, I will switch to fishing the productive one exclusively.

 

I use mostly Pop R's in different sizes and models.  I also use a Storm Cover Pop and a Chug bug.  I have had both the Pop Max, and Yellow Magic poppers in my Cart on Tackle Warehouse more than once, but  when check out time comes, I never pull the trigger.  I catch plenty of bass on the cheaper poppers and am afraid if I catch a giant on an expensive one, I may end up with pricy lures of all types.  An expensive popper will probably last a long time, but starting down the $15 a bait road, could mean disaster for a lure addict like me.  

 

 

Thank you. I generally try  to let the rings disappear. But I do get antsy lol. I’m gonna try that method and keep the bait in place longer! 

If the bass targeting shad the ‘Spash-It*  fast retrieve that Zell Roland made famous works good. The tradition pop and pause like a dying bait fish or critter can and does work. Walking the dog makes lots a surface disturbance with a lot of forward motion can e the ticket. Try them all.

Tom
PS, feathered rear table adds more strikes with poppers.

* trade name Iovino uses for the Japanese modified Pop-R.

@king fisher Yellow Magic poppers & Lake Baccarac are legendary together. Lots of success on that bait. Just saying in case the bait monkey is still lurking. 

I prefer the pop r but usually the p65 or on pressured fisheries the p60.  The retrieve varies but usually pop pop pause or if walk it. The few times I change is when they are dirt shallow in the Spring and I usually move it with short pops and long pauses. 

 

It works. I have many folks tell me I'm crazy until they fish with me. I will caution about this: yes, you can spook shallow fish. Be as still as you can. Be ready as explosions will come out of nowhere, usually on the pause.

Alot of great info. Thanks everyone. It’s super appreciate. I’ve found a lot of effective baits this year for being in a new part of the country.