How to Fly Fish With Poppers

Fly fishing with poppers is a fun and exciting means of catching fish. Poppers are a top water bait which requires the fish to come to the surface to take the lure. Many times top water fishing produces explosive results as a fish breaks the surface of the water to take the popper. Fly fishing with poppers is especially productive when fishing for pan fish species such a bream, crappie and sunfish as well as large mouth bass.
Casting a popper is essentially no different than a fly with the exception that the popper may be slightly heavier. This difference in weight may require some adjustment to the casting motion to allow for the line to loop properly on the back cast before moving forward.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly rod and reel Floating fly line with leader and tippet Poppers Pond or small lake
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cast the popper to the target on the water remembering that poppers are a top water lure. Allow the popper to settle initially. Poppers are imitations of small frogs or grasshoppers. Let the popper rest initially as the impact will carry through the water and get the attention of fish.

    • 2

      Begin to move the popper in slow but sharp movements by taking up line. This motion will cause the recessed front of the lure to impact the water and pop along the surface. Take in small amounts of line slowly.

    • 3

      Allow the popper to pause between the retrieving motions. This is important as you will be attempting to imitate the actions of a struggling insect. Move the popper again and vary the direction in which you retrieve the lure. Remember, the more realistic the motion and action of the popper on the water the greater chance for catching a fish.

    • 4

      Resist the impulse to immediately raise the rod or haul back on the line when a fish hits the popper. Allow the fish to take the lure under the water and begin moving away. Then firmly set the hook keeping the line taught. Do not use a jerking motion when setting the hook. Be smooth and controlled in the motion. Work the fish toward you avoiding any structure in which the fish could become tangled.