Poppers and Walkers Choice 2025
deep reply :
I'm sure ya'll have your favorite conditions for throwing a certain brand.
Specifically, when you would start with a Pop Max over a Yellow Magic over a Rio Rico; or a Vixen over a Sammy over a Dog X? Or whichever few baits are in your box.
(Conditions = Cloudy/ sunny/ windy/ calm etc.)
I don't want to know what your favorite topwater is, or even when to fish a popper vs a walker.
Thanks,
P.S. Yes, I know the deal about letting the fish tell me what they want!
Jigfishn10 reply :
Low light, calm and clear water I'll take the dog walk. Low light is dusk and dawn.
Pop when the water is as above, maybe a little more stained and when the dog needs a nap.
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 1/4/2016 at 8:27 AM, Jigfishn10 said:Low light, calm and clear water I'll take the dog walk. Low light is dusk and dawn.
Pop when the water is as above, maybe a little more stained and when the dog needs a nap.
He said he didn't want to know Pop v. Walk.
68camaro reply :
I use Pop-X or Pop-X Jr. and Giant Dog-X in cloudy and/or overcast days preferably morning or early evening or just am or pm on clear days. I only fish ponds so both get the job done. Of the two my most productive is a Pumpkin Seed Giant Dog-X on 10 lb fluoro with a fast action tip rod, casting parallel to shore.
The action you can get with the Giant Dog X is short of fantastic, and being larger I think you attract bigger fish. The Pop-X Jr. is for when bite is tougher and downsizing to get smaller to offer smaller meal.
Both work great
Jigfishn10 reply :
On 1/4/2016 at 8:51 AM, HoosierHawgs said:He said he didn't want to know Pop v. Walk.
You're right...not sure why I replied to this thread now... What the hE11 was I thinking!
Bluebasser86 reply :
I usually go for the walking baits that sit higher in the water when I'm going to fish a faster retrieve, or in choppy water.
For poppers, I like the bigger chugging type baits in darker water, especially if the fish are chasing gills. I reach for the smaller spitting or skittering baits in clearer conditions, or when fish are feeding on shad/shiners.
iabass8 reply :
I use the yellow magic on cloudier days or when targeting smallmouth.
pop-x for largemouth on sunny days
cant comment on walkers. Im pretty much sammie or bust
buzzed bait reply :
i don't go by brands....
usually go by size, sound, color
florida strain reply :
My specialty is making topwater hardbaits and can build something for just about any condition. I like smaller lures with subtle action on calm water or when casting to a specific spot, without making a large splash and spooking fish. I use larger lures with more action and noise as the wind picks up and to cover more open water.
fisherrw reply :
I really like Megabass Popmax and dog X.
J Francho reply :
This past year I mainly threw a walking popper. Did really well with it. Never seemed like there was a bad time to throw it.
Fisher-O-men reply :
On 1/4/2016 at 8:51 AM, HoosierHawgs said:He said he didn't want to know Pop v. Walk.
Truthfully, it is hard to tell what he wants!
J Francho reply :
QuoteSpecifically, when you would start with a Pop Max over a Yellow Magic over a Rio Rico; or a Vixen over a Sammy over a Dog X? Or whichever few baits are in your box.
Not really hard to tell what he wants to know, if you read the posts thoroughly.
PennBass reply :
I fish a small reservoir and a pond, and a Duo Realis Walking Pencil seems to work 24/7 during the late spring and summer, no matter what the conditions are.
Scarborough817 reply :
seem to catch them well on the sexy dawg so i mainly throw that. for poppers its the xpop or kvd splash
EvanT123 reply :
I throw whatever is easiest to untangle. 
Jigfishn10 reply :
On 1/5/2016 at 4:50 AM, Fisher-O-men said:Truthfully, it is hard to tell what he wants!
I just read it too fast, Francho is correct, the OP does tell you what he's looking for.
my mistake....
...I'm out
Bankbeater reply :
I look for a bait with a black bottom that will stand out against the sky. Around here I have better luck with poppers than with walkers, so I usually start with a popper.
Mumbly reply :
On 1/4/2016 at 3:22 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I usually go for the walking baits that sit higher in the water when I'm going to fish a faster retrieve, or in choppy water.
For poppers, I like the bigger chugging type baits in darker water, especially if the fish are chasing gills. I reach for the smaller spitting or skittering baits in clearer conditions, or when fish are feeding on shad/shiners.
Which walking baits do you find sit higher in the water? I mostly fish Super spook jr's and the H2O TWS.
the reel ess reply :
Last season I compromised between the two styles and used a Chug'n Spook Jr with decent success on very humid evenings, a couple times after storms passed. Also, the frog was kind to me in mid/late summer, but that wasn't asked. I just volunteered that info free of charge.
I don't have any data to support this, but the Poppers seem to work better for me in spring/early summer and the walkers work better in mid/late summer and fall. I guess that's due to bait size.
Also I've had better luck with poppers in the AM and walkers in the PM. Just anecdotal info.
Oh, and overcast helps extends the period during which bass will bite topwaters. I've even used a Torpedo all day when it rained on and off.
deep reply :
On 1/8/2016 at 3:58 AM, the reel ess said:Last season I compromised between the two styles and used a Chug'n Spook Jr with decent success on very humid evenings, a couple times after storms passed.
Also I've had better luck with poppers in the AM and walkers in the PM. Just anecdotal info.
Thank you. The Gunfish 115 used to be my favorite topwater, caught a few nice ones. Not sure why I haven't fished them in a while...
Thanks again. That might just explain why I almost never catch anything on poppers, but am fairly successful with Sammys..
the reel ess reply :
One other thing I just thought of. Walking baits are better in clear or calm water as they can be seen from further away. I think that's why the Chug'n Spook Jr works for me. It's never CLEAR water around here. Maybe I should use the Pop'N Booyah Pad Crasher for more bites.
Whereas poppers make more commotion, so they're more easily located in dirty or slightly choppy water. If it's a real chop, go to a spinnerbait.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 1/8/2016 at 3:36 AM, Mumbly said:Which walking baits do you find sit higher in the water? I mostly fish Super spook jr's and the H2O TWS.
The Spooks and Super Spook Jr's both sit very high in the water and walk over waves very well. The 128 R2S Rover sits pretty high also and does well in rough water, but I take off the feathered back hook to help remove the drag. The Heddon Spit-N-Image sits high in the water and probably doesn't get fished a whole lot. The Rapala Skitter Walk is another one that sits high in the water, not sure you can still find the bigger ones but they were a good bait that cast a mile and was very loud.
Justin Donaldson reply :
I've caught fish at all times of day on a popper this year, a new one I tried... I can make this popper walk, spit, or pop, and it looks good and catches fish like crazy! This popper is... Drumroll... The Academy H2O popper! Yall need to buy a couple, well worth the money, I'm not kidding!
Scarborough817 reply :
On 1/8/2016 at 11:54 PM, the reel ess said:Whereas poppers make more commotion, so they're more easily located in dirty or slightly choppy water. If it's a real chop, go to a spinnerbait.
a buzzbait would work as well since it is a top water spinner
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 1/8/2016 at 11:54 PM, the reel ess said:One other thing I just thought of. Walking baits are better in clear or calm water as they can be seen from further away. I think that's why the Chug'n Spook Jr works for me. It's never CLEAR water around here. Maybe I should use the Pop'N Booyah Pad Crasher for more bites.
Whereas poppers make more commotion, so they're more easily located in dirty or slightly choppy water. If it's a real chop, go to a spinnerbait.
I actually prefer there to be at least a little chop for walking baits, especially if I'm fishing for smallmouth. Even when there's waves crashing into an area, a walking bait gets bit for me. I think they see too many spinnerbaits around here though, they're just not as effective for me as they use to be. Now I use swimbaits in their place most of the time anyways.
Felix77 reply :
Popper - Strike King - KVD Splash Jr.
Walker - River2Sea rover
the reel ess reply :
On 1/12/2016 at 4:16 PM, Bluebasser86 said:
On 1/12/2016 at 3:44 AM, Scarborough817 said:
On 1/12/2016 at 3:44 AM, Scarborough817 said:
On 1/12/2016 at 4:16 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I actually prefer there to be at least a little chop for walking baits, especially if I'm fishing for smallmouth. Even when there's waves crashing into an area, a walking bait gets bit for me. I think they see too many spinnerbaits around here though, they're just not as effective for me as they use to be. Now I use swimbaits in their place most of the time anyways.
We have no smallmouth within one hour drive of here. I don't have that good of luck regarding topwaters. It could be the water usually being off-color here. There are days the topwater doesn't get me anything even if I start at dark. I usually try it anyway.
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