How to Use Poppers in Fishing

Surface fishing is about making noise, and that is exactly what fishing with a popper will do. Poppers mimic prey chugging across the top of the water. If fished right, this can lure fish from far away and trigger explosive strikes. Fishing with poppers takes patience, but it can be exciting when something goes after your bait.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Use a heavy monofilament line. This will give more buoyancy to the lure.
   Cast the bait and wait a few seconds after it hits the water. Watch the rings on the surface of the water as they spread away from your lure. Let them extend 5 or 6 feet before starting your retrieve.

2. Pop the bait with a quick jerk, pulling it a few feet closer to you. The pop is what attracts the fish. The commotion on the surface of the water lets the fish know that food is nearby and that it may be injured.

3. Pause again as the rings spread and watch for a strike on your lure. If you see it twitch, something is interested in your popper.

4. Repeat Steps 2, 3 and 4 and watch the bait during the pause. As with other lures, fish will strike your popper during the pause. Always be ready to set the hook, or your fish might spit out your lure before you get a chance to snag it. Reel in a slack line between twitches so that you're ready to catch the fish when it strikes.

5. Make the popper mimic a baitfish fleeing a predator. Use a steady retrieve to pull the popper across the surface of the water, creating a wake behind it. This technique may work if your "pop and pause" technique doesn't.

6. Try different colors. Fish can see contrasts against the sky and water. If you're not getting bites, the fish might not be able to see your popper.

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