How to Use a Popper Lure

Popper lures are a thrilling and effective way to lure fish to the surface and attract bites. Fishing with a surface popper is way more exciting than using your average lure because you can see a giant fish come up and trash it. If you’re new to fishing with popper lures, read this short guide to get yourself familiar with how to fish these fun and productive lures.

What is a Popper Lure?

Popper lures are a kind of topwater surface lure that skips across the water and attracts fish. Popper lures often have a concave or hollowed nose that is designed to pop and chug water as it is retrieved. This popping and chugging commotion simulates a wounded baitfish and gets the attention of hungry fish in the area. This is why popper lures are so effective.

How To Fish a Popper Lure

Here are a few tips to get the most out of your topwater topper

Choose The Right Lure For The Fish You Are Targeting

Popper lures come in a variety of sizes, colors, and materials. They can be made of hard plastic or wood and have either flat or blunt fronts. They work well for a variety of different fish species, but it’s important to make sure the popper you are using will work for the fish you are targeting.

Cast It Accurately

Some lures you want to place just outside the strike zone. Popper lures you will want to place directly where you think the fish are. Try to cast it as accurately as possible directly in the hot spot. If that doesn’t work, then you can experiment with casting just beyond the strike zone and retrieving it through where the fish are.

Change Up Your Cadence

It’s important to change up your cadence when fishing a popper. Most are designed to be fished with a moderately fast retrieve but some will work better if you try a “pop-and-stop”. Try waiting a few seconds between pops and you may find you get more bites.

Set Your Hook Properly

It can be very tempting to set your hook as soon as you feel a fish strike, but this will often result in a poor hookset. Instead, let the fish take your lure under the water and then firmly set your hook. This is how you properly set your hook when fishing a surface popper.

What Kind of Fish Do Poppers Catch?

Popper lures are known to work well for a variety of gamefish such as bass, stripers, pike, muskie, perch, panfish trout, and much more.

Related Posts:
How To Use Surface Poppers
Fishing a Rooster Tail Lure