I lost my walmart special popper to a snag and even though it was so cheap, it caught a lot of bass and pike. Im looking for a name brand popper. Sooo, Rapala Skitter Pop, Rebel Pop-r or other?
I'm interested too. Going to watch this thread. I love topwaters, I've got a few that have caught bass (and some of the the same ones have caught jacks and mutton snappers and barracuda in salt water), but I'm always looking for more. These that I bought from BPS a few years ago have been good, but the exact style doesn't seem to exist any more. I don't know if the little slits around the mouth increase their effectiveness, but they do catch fish. The one in the upper right has caught quite a few bass for me.
Hula popper.
Get all of them. The have different popping sounds and one of them might be more receptive to the fish on any given day.
On 9/12/2017 at 12:46 AM, islandbass said:Get all of them. The have different popping sounds and one of them might be more receptive to the fish on any given day.
Yep.... gotta feed the bait monkey!
On 9/12/2017 at 12:59 AM, RPreeb said:Yep.... gotta feed the bait monkey!
Truth is Islandbass ain't kidding when he said to get them all, it's not BaitMonkey feeding, getting several of each in different colors is BaitMonkey feeding.
The original Pop-r gets my vote.
Skitter Pop is my favorite popper out there.
The new Storm Arashi popper is nice too. And if you're willing to drop a little more money, the Megabass Pop X/Max and Lobino Rico are top of the line when it comes to poppers.
On 9/12/2017 at 12:19 AM, RPreeb said:I'm interested too. Going to watch this thread. I love topwaters, I've got a few that have caught bass (and some of the the same ones have caught jacks and mutton snappers and barracuda in salt water), but I'm always looking for more. These that I bought from BPS a few years ago have been good, but the exact style doesn't seem to exist any more. I don't know if the little slits around the mouth increase their effectiveness, but they do catch fish. The one in the upper right has caught quite a few bass for me.
Those are Megabass Pop-x or Pop-max KO's. Great for walking the dog and not just straight popping. PM me if you cant find them.
I love the Strike King KVD Splash, and also their old Spit n' King. Dicks has the "Banchee" series for around $4. In my opinion, thats the best value popper.
I like the Pop R and Chug Bug. The latter can be walked or popped and has a deeper pop sound.
That said, I don't fish the Pop R enough.
The Skitter Pop is a great Popper since it has a unique popping sound which sounds almost identical to a bluegill. The Only thing about the skitter Pop is it is made of balsa wood and is lighter than most lures of similar size. I love the skitter pop cause it flat out works, but I mainly only throw it on lighter line/Rods unless using the biggest size which is probably 6" long, but it is a classic for a reason.
I use the Rebel Pop'r more than any other, but I also have a bunch of less expensive poppers I have picked up over the years that are Bass Pro, Strike king, and plenty of others which I throw to cover and if I lose one I don't care. Some days I think they all work the same.
I think if a topwater bite if on, almost any popper will catch fish. Those BPS poppers above were Made by Strike Pro, I believe it was the Goby Popper and owner also had a similar one in the cultiva line, but the Skitter Pop is the only popper I know of that is balsa, has that shape, and is as buoyant & light.
BPS has had alot of good topwater lures over the years, many are discontinued versions from other companies, many end up becoming part of other companies lines.
If you like the River 2 sea poppers which came out before the Megabass versions, check out the Strike Pro website and ebay for the Strike Pro $5 poppers. The quality and "Mouth Designs" will surprise you.
On 9/12/2017 at 3:30 AM, Comfortably Numb said:Those are Megabass Pop-x or Pop-max KO's. Great for walking the dog and not just straight popping. PM me if you cant find them.
Actually, I still have 4 or 5 of each. I bought 12 of each color when we lived in the Bahamas and took them down with me, as such things are non-existent on the islands I had easy access to. I sold half to a bonefishing guide friend down there, and kept the rest. They were very effective fishing the tidal channels between the bonefish flats for mutton snappers and jacks, with an occasional barracuda joining the party.
My favorite is the Storm Chug Bug. It can make both a deep "chug" sounds and a light "pop" depending on the position of the rod tip, and it also walks very well. Megabass and LiveTarget also make good poppers, and don't forget the classic Hula Popper. It has caught me a lot of bass.
I'm in love with my Yo-Zuri 3DB popper. Walks likes a dream and pops with a nice deep "bloop"
On a slick calm morning with our clear mountain water, I favor the Rapala X-Rap Pop, it has a much more subtle noise and a gentler splash, especially when walking. If you do go with a Rebel Pop-R just change the hooks immediately. They will rust after one trip, and bend out on a stiff rod. Don't worry about feathering the rear, I've never noticed a difference when I've swapped.
Another vote for the Chug Bug.. just be sure to upgrade the tail hook to something sharper.
On 9/12/2017 at 12:19 AM, RPreeb said:I'm interested too. Going to watch this thread. I love topwaters, I've got a few that have caught bass (and some of the the same ones have caught jacks and mutton snappers and barracuda in salt water), but I'm always looking for more. These that I bought from BPS a few years ago have been good, but the exact style doesn't seem to exist any more. I don't know if the little slits around the mouth increase their effectiveness, but they do catch fish. The one in the upper right has caught quite a few bass for me.
The one i had was like the top right also. (The color). I will try out a few different ones
Thank you everybody, I will go with Hula popper, Rebel popper, rapala skitter pop, and maybe even rapala ultra light pop
On 9/12/2017 at 2:20 AM, Raul said:Truth is Islandbass ain't kidding when he said to get them all, it's not BaitMonkey feeding, getting several of each in different colors is BaitMonkey feeding.
That's what the bait monkey wants you to think
On 9/12/2017 at 12:46 AM, islandbass said:Get all of them.
I dont have enough room for all . A few Pop R's and Chug Bugs will just have to do .
On 9/12/2017 at 12:19 AM, RPreeb said:I'm interested too. Going to watch this thread. I love topwaters, I've got a few that have caught bass (and some of the the same ones have caught jacks and mutton snappers and barracuda in salt water), but I'm always looking for more. These that I bought from BPS a few years ago have been good, but the exact style doesn't seem to exist any more. I don't know if the little slits around the mouth increase their effectiveness, but they do catch fish. The one in the upper right has caught quite a few bass for me.
I ordered a bunch of blanks off eBay for a project I was doing with some students and all the poppers looked exactly like that. Slits and all. If you're interested, just let me know and I'll send you the link.
On 9/12/2017 at 12:28 AM, Raul said:Hula popper.
I saw a couple of those in my tackle the other day and was thinking that I need try them. I haven't thrown one in years for whatever reason.
Excaliber Zell Pop, now the Booyah Boss Pop. I have one with hundreds of fish to it's credit, no eyes left and not much paint, a damaged face from hitting a rock on the cast, but it just keeps on catching.
I have also been impressed with the Booyah Boss Pop. Effective, affordable popper, along with the Rebel and the Rapala. It is worth getting a few different kinds, as they all splash and pop and spit and chug a little differently.
On 9/13/2017 at 2:50 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Excaliber Zell Pop, now the Booyah Boss Pop. I have one with hundreds of fish to it's credit, no eyes left and not much paint, a damaged face from hitting a rock on the cast, but it just keeps on catching.
Ah! I didn't realize it was the former Zell Pop...
you cannot go wrong with the ole rebel pop-r. cheap, readily available, and they catch fish
Another vote for the Storm Chug Bug here. But I gotta tell ya, for a popper and a walking bait, it's hard to beat the "Popn' Image" by Bill Dance. This is the easiest walking bait I've ever used. And the sound it makes is incredible. Add to that the fact that they inexpensive and you have a winner!
Rebel pop R in blue/white to start off with and my 1-2-3 twitch n pause.
funny,,,,when my youngest son first started bass fishing. I wasn't watching him. He put on the pop r by the bucktail( backwards). I finally noticed it and told him to turn it around, as soon as he did he had a bass on. I wonder what the bass were thinking when they seen it backwards. Lol
Pick one; They're all good. Or make your own.