Bodkin / Patterns

Bass Popper

Terrestrial · Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass · Panfish · Intermediate · 4 versions

Bass Popper fly

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Bass bug hook, 2-8
  • Thread White or yellow 3/0

Materials

  • Body Foam or cork popper body (1)
  • Tail Marabou, saddle hackle, or rubber legs (full)
  • Legs Round rubber legs (2 pairs)
  • Eyes Stick-on 3D eyes (1 pair)

How to tie it

  1. Slide the pre-formed popper body onto the hook, cupped face toward the eye, and seat it with super glue on a thread base.
  2. Behind the body, tie in the tail: marabou for pulse, 2-3 splayed saddle hackles for kick, a few strands of flash.
  3. Tie in or thread rubber legs through the body, two pairs, splayed.
  4. Stick on the 3D eyes.
  5. Seal eyes and thread work with cement or a thin coat of UV resin.

Substitutions

  • Body instead of Foam or cork popper body: Surface Seducer Double Barrel Popper — Pre-made foam, very easy; Howitzer Popper Head — Loud pop, aggressive action; DIY foam cylinder (trimmed) — Custom shapes, cheap; Balsa body (carved) — Traditional, lightweight
  • Tail instead of Marabou, saddle hackle, or rubber legs: Rabbit strip — Maximum movement, Rabbit Popper variant; EP Fibers — Baitfish tail profile; Schlappen + flash — Full, flowing tail

Other versions

3 more in the app: Classic No Legs, Red, Yellow.

Tying videos

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