Photo: Yo-Zuri
The popper has been around for decades and continues to catch bass each and every year. While the basic design remains the same, there have been new advancements in color detail and anglers are finding more and more ways to use these topwater lures.
FLW Tour pro Braxton Setzer shares his favorite ways to fish a popper during the prime time, early summer.
READ RELATED: Year-Round Crankin’ With Braxton Setzer
Popper Selection and Gear
Setzer’s favorite popper is the Yo-Zuri 3DR Popper, a bait with great action and natural colors.
“The colors are very lifelike and subtle which is good for popper baits. I like the colors Real Bluegill and Real Gizzard Shad as those two will cover most of the situations I use a popper,” he says.
The bait comes in two sizes the 65mm (2-5/8”) that weights ¼ oz. and the 70mm (3”) that weighs in at 3/8 oz. Setzer uses both and fishes the 70mm on baitcast gear and the 65mm on spinning.
He will use a 7’1 medium Phenix Feather spinning reel for the smaller one and a 7’1 medium light baitcasting rod in the same lineup for the bigger size.
Setzer likes to fish the bigger bait on straight monofilament between 12- and 15-pound-test and will switch to 15- or 20-pound Duel Hardcore Super 8 braid with a short monofilament leader on the smaller bait when using spinning gear. Another key is how he ties the line to the bait.
“I like to use a loop knot because you can pop the bait and also walk it in place some because there is a little give there and it gives it the freedom to move left to right. I tie directly to the bait because using a split ring will drag the bait down a little and affect the action,” he adds.
What is 3DR?
The 3DR series is new from Yo-Zuri and in short, it is a lineup of baits with ultra-realistic colors. The 3DR Popper also feature’s Yo-Zuri’s patented Wave-Motion Ribbing, which adds subtle vibrations as the bait is moving on the surface.
READ RELATED: 6 Best Yo-Zuri and Duel Hard Baits for Cold Water
When to Pop
Many anglers immediately reach for a walking bait of some type when the topwater bite is on, but a popper can produce big bass as it is typically fished much slower and around can be fished right next to cover.
“The biggest thing that I look for are calmer conditions and when the bait is very small or if the bass are feeding on insects. I have also had some of my best days with the popper when it is lightly raining and not windy,” he shares.
#1 Mayfly Hatch
When mayflies or other bugs are hatching the bluegill know that an easy meal can drop to the surface at any time. This positions them near the surface and the bass are right behind them.
“This is one of the best times to fish a popper because the bluegill are looking up for insects and distracted and the bass know that. I look for overhangs from bushes, trees, and docks and you can usually see the bluegill waiting just under the surface for something to fall,” says the Alabama pro.
#2 Bluegill Spawn
Similar to the mayfly hatch, spawning bluegill will draw bass to feed as the bluegill have other things on their mind.
“The 3DR Popper can be popped and chugged slowly right around the beds and that is a great way to draw in big bass,” he says.
#3 Docks, Limbs, and Shade
When the sun is shining brightly, bass are naturally going to seek shade if it is available. This can be an excellent time to throw a topwater and a popper allows for better casting to targets.
“You can pitch it and skip it under anything that is overhanging and creating shade. Then once you are in there a slow, chugging, popping retrieve is best,” says Setzer. “I always want it to make that ‘bloop’ noise as you pop it.”
#4 Small Baitfish
When bass are keyed in on small baitfish, they will often ignore larger lures. This is one place that the popper shines.
“When the baitfish are really small the bass are keying on that. The popper is much smaller and the action of it makes it appear even smaller,” he says. “There are a few times of the year when the baitfish are very small, like right after a big shad spawn or a little later in the summer when bluegill and bass fry start to hit that two-inch size.”
There are a few times of the year when a popper will outperform anything else. When these situations arrive, Setzer is ready with his popper to catch the feeding window.
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