Bodkin / Patterns

Saltwater Popper

Topwater · Striped Bass · Bluefish · Jack · Tarpon · Snook · Redfish · False Albacore · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook saltwater stainless popper/kink-shank hook, 1/0-2
  • Thread white flat waxed nylon

Materials

  • Bucktail (tail) White/chartreuse bucktail (1 clump)
  • Saddle hackle (collar) To match saddle hackle (2-4 feathers)
  • Flash Pearl flashabou (6-8 strands)
  • Foam or cork popper body To match closed cell foam cylinder (1, pre-slotted)
  • Stick-on eyes To match eyes (1 pair)
  • UV resin or two-part epoxy Clear uv resin (as needed)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a thread base over the rear third of the shank and tie in a bucktail tail one to two shank lengths long.
  2. Add a collar of a few splayed saddle hackles and several strands of flash around the tail base.
  3. Whip finish and cement the wraps. This is the seat the body glues onto.
  4. Open the slot of a pre-slotted foam or cork body with glue and slide it onto the front of the shank so the face sits behind the eye.
  5. Glue the body in place with thick UV resin or epoxy and let it cure.
  6. Stick dome eyes on each side of the face and lock them with a drop of UV resin.
  7. Finish with a thin coat of resin over the eyes and body seam and cure hard.

Tying videos

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