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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Flyfishing BWCA :: What is your favorite smallmouth popper?
 
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jeroldharter
12/15/2011 11:58PM
 
Mine is a Clouser crippled minnow for topwater in June.

A second choice for effectiveness is a Todd's wiggle minnow but they don't cast as well.

What do the rest of you like to use?
 
CrookedPaddler1
12/21/2011 11:54AM
 
Those look like an awesome bass fly. I am going to tie some up over the holidays!


Here is the recipe for anyone that is interested.


Moorish Mouse Recipe
 
jeroldharter
12/21/2011 10:13AM
 
Moon man,


What size are those Moorish Mice? They look like a load to cast. I like the looks of them, kind of like a gurgler. I bet is is fun to fish it slow.
 
jeroldharter
12/19/2011 10:05AM
 
I see. That is some nice fly tying then! Hard to get foam so perfect.


The Clouser crippled minnow has action like that. The tail drops down, it moves a lot of water, but is not so noisy as a flat faced popper. And it is just large enough to be an adequate pike fly as well. Casts pretty well too.
 
Moonman
12/21/2011 12:33PM
 
I throw 'em with an 8 weight usually. Sometimes a nine as I usually have 2-3 rods with me and I like a 9wt for pike and muskies. Usually the body is about 1 1/2" long and the tail another 2 inches or so. A mouthful but not compared to a jitterbug or similar. One tip if you are tying this fly (or almost any deer hair type pattern for that matter) is to make sure your hair tips are even. I like the look of the thin pointy hair tips so ensure you stack your hair and get things nice and even. If you don't the bug will spin on the cast and twist your leader like crazy....alternatively you can just trim the tips even. I'm sure it would work just as well, I just prefer the look of those slender, pointy tips.


I also tie up smaller versions, about 2 inches long inc tail. They cast like a breeze on a 7wt. But these are big fish flies so I like them in the larger size. Use a good hook on them with a nice wide gap and sharp thinnish steel.


Moonman.
 
CrookedPaddler1
12/16/2011 09:04AM
 
Had some good luck with this one.
 
AtwaterGA
08/16/2013 06:23AM
 
This summer I fished in Canada with my traditional popper flys but found tht the smallest of the Hula Poppers was the most effective on SM. I found an old one among some of my father's old spinning lures. The skirt had rotted off so I replaced it with olive marabouf. The popper is at least 40 years old. It is a little big to cast but had no problem with my 8 weight rod. It was much more effective than the other poppers. We are back home now and I will try it with Southern large mouth.
 
CrookedPaddler1
12/19/2011 12:33PM
 
They are eyes that are glued on. I also covered the eyes and foam poppers with some nail polish to help keep everything in place. I had good success with them on crab lake last spring.
 
Bones
12/19/2011 07:49AM
 
I think the eyes are foam tied perpendicular to the hook shank with prismatic eyes on the foam ends. I could be wrong though. I sometimes use a similar popper setup to let the tail (hook) sink lower in the water for a different presentation. They don't "pop", but sure do move water.
On to my favorite. That would have to be a Clouser E-Z Popper. They float forever and take a beating and simple to tie.
 
jeroldharter
12/16/2011 04:41PM
 
Are those lead eyes? Does not look like it would float!
 
Moonman
12/21/2011 08:54AM
 
I like a lot of poppers - dahlberg diver and similar, but favorite is the Moorish Mouse. Floats forever with the foam back, deerhair gives a nice soft landing and feels real to fish, and the rabbit strip tail works well and looks real when you move it. For big smallies I like subtle lifelike movement when the popper is sitting still. Also, I don't like poppers that are too 'loud', a wake and vibration is all thats needed and the Moorish Mouse works well for that. Still everyone has their favorites and in most cases almost anything will work, presentation is usually most important.




 
Kunuter
08/16/2013 08:26PM
 
Those look nice! I think I may try some on my next trip.