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25 Topwater poppers in the Spring (Read 12630 times)
HighnDry
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Topwater poppers in the Spring
Apr 2nd, 2016 at 10:21pm
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I recently read a BWJ article on early season bronzeback trips. I have a lucky heddon 13 in the bullfrog and a few others such as the Pop n Image with the dressed bucktail treble. But their are so many others.....what is everyone's go-to topwater lure?

Stu mentions (if I remember these correctly) these:

Excalibur Z pop

Rebel Super Pop R

Heddon popper in Bullfrog

Rapala Skitter Pop

Pop N Image

Any others?
  
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Old Salt
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Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring
Reply #1 - Apr 2nd, 2016 at 10:33pm
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Jitterbug.
  
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HighnDry
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Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring
Reply #2 - Apr 2nd, 2016 at 11:26pm
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Colors? Size? How/when to deploy? I need convincing to leap in and buy a heap of them Smiley
  
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Old Salt
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Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring
Reply #3 - Apr 3rd, 2016 at 1:15am
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I wouldn't suggest buying a heap of them. I have green frog, yellow, and black. One of each. Not sure of size, whatever seems normal. Those are the only topwaters I have. They do the job. Cool

I use them early/late in the day, low light, little or no wind. If your buddy is breaking wind, it's too much. Grin
  
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HighnDry
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Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring
Reply #4 - Apr 3rd, 2016 at 1:42am
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HighnDry wrote on Apr 2nd, 2016 at 11:26pm:
Colors? Size? How/when to deploy? I need convincing to leap in and buy a heap of them Smiley


I suscribe to your opinion on this OS. I already have the three that I mentioned plus  (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) that I inherited from my uncle in southern Illinois ages ago.

I don't think I need a lot more, just maybe one or two more that produce a different sound or vibration. The jitterbug or a skitter pop might be do that.
  
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Wally13
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Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring
Reply #5 - Apr 3rd, 2016 at 3:38am
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Skitter Pop is my " go to" smallmouth top water bait. I have begun to use Heddon 13 in bullfrog color the past 2 seasons ... An excellent topwater lure but not quite as effective as a Skitter Pop.
  
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Jim J Solo
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Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring
Reply #6 - Apr 4th, 2016 at 3:48pm
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Sometimes when it seems too early for them to hit the top water poppers I've gotten smallies by ripping them hard n fast.
  
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HighnDry
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Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring
Reply #7 - Apr 4th, 2016 at 4:51pm
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I've read about that technique and tried it as well. I've also used spinners, in-line spinners with bucktail trebles and the occasional floating rap. Jigs with plastics have worked in early morning in Quetico with proper color (usually yellow jigs, black plastic leeches and tipped with grey/white minnows). I'm always looking for ideas on how to fish SM because I don't usually target them.
  
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TomT
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Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring
Reply #8 - Apr 4th, 2016 at 10:57pm
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I use Skitterpops and Rebel Pop R's. Also have mini torpedos and jitterbugs.  A 3" floating Rapala is very versatile as you can retrieve just under the surface then let it float up and sit.  Caught many a fish this way.

I read that BWJ article and Stu has demoted the Skitterpop saying it's a bit hard to "work".  You do have to finesse them that's for sure.  He also mentioned the Z-Pop is discontinued.
  
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jaximus
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Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring
Reply #9 - Apr 5th, 2016 at 7:32am
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its not a popper, well neither of the 2 topwaters that i use are, but i like the heddon torpedo and the xrap prop. the xrap prop is my favorite, its a better casting version of the smithwick devil horse. its a long skinny bait with 2 propellers.

ive bring them both with every trip to the Q, and use them some, but it seems that the times where it is really good topwater, dawn/dusk and glass calm, i would rather be trolling for trout(mornings) or for walleyes(evenings)
  
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