QuietJourney Forums - Topwater poppers in the Spring

May 25^th, 2026 at 3:16pm (UTC)

QuietJourney Forums › Boundary Waters / Quetico Discussion Forums › Fishing Tips for the BWCA and Quetico › Topwater poppers in the Spring

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Topwater poppers in the Spring (Read 12387 times)

jaximus Senior Member Offline Posts: 343 Location: wisconsin Joined: May 12^th, 2010	Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring Reply #20 - Apr 8^th, 2016 at 2:23am	Quote Print Post
	i will see if i can locate some old photos, im going through a move right now so my canoe is at my moms and im not 100% sure where my rod holster tubes are... or most of my fishing stuff..


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jaximus Senior Member Offline Posts: 343 Location: wisconsin Joined: May 12^th, 2010	Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring Reply #21 - Apr 8^th, 2016 at 2:30am	Quote Print Post
	(You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) this was the only pic i could find in my photo bucket. since the time of this pic, i have flipped the tubes 180 degrees so that the reels are close to me and the tips are toward the center. this way it can handle one or 2 piece rods. it takes a little trial and error to get the reels in a comfortable place so they dont hit your knees, but are easy to remove.


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TomT Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1052 Location: Chicago Burbs Joined: Aug 26^th, 2007	Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring Reply #22 - Apr 8^th, 2016 at 11:23am	Quote Print Post
	That's a nice set up. Thanks.


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HighnDry Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1056 Location: Minneapolis Joined: Apr 29^th, 2013	Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring Reply #23 - Apr 8^th, 2016 at 11:52pm	Quote Print Post
	jaximus wrote on Apr 7^th, 2016 at 5:22am: as far as i know, gander mountain labled rods are still built on fenwick blanks. i have a large collection of gander brand rods as well as st croix and fenwick. based on my setups, most of my topwater fishing is done on my baitcaster which is a 6'6" gander 'vortex' rod ($19.99 on sale quite often and VERY much worth it) with sufix 832 braid. (832, IMO is thr best braid and ive used/use them all) the gander vortex rods are currently on sale now. the baitcaster version is 6'6" medium heavy action with a fast tip, one piece. great crank/spinnerbait rod. (i like a bit longer for trolling) the spinning version is 6'6" medium action fast tip, again one piece. great jigging rod and excellent for live bait and slip floats (not in the Q!) i own and love BOTH versions. as for carrying them on portages, i have golf club tubes (thin walled plastic pipes) built into brackets made of cedar that have velcro on them. they weigh only ounces. they velcro inside my canoe and hold the rods inside. they act as a holster of sorts. i find taking my 2 piece rods apart for portaging a hastle, so if you own a canoe and dont mind sticking a little velcro on the inside of the hull, i would use 1 piece rods. leftover velcro can be used to secure your plano trays to the front and rear deck lids as well Thanks Jaximus. Interesting setup in your photos. I kind of straddle the two worlds in terms of rods. I have a Shimano 6'6" 2 piece graphite spinning rod that I really like and a 7ft shakespeare ugly stick that feels like I'm waving a fencepost-- but I love it especially for trolling. The issue of where and how to stow the rods has always vexed me. It seems I'll eventually break them if left out of a case but breaking down a 2pc-er is a hassle. I like the 2pc rods though for tucking away in a tube and your golf tube idea with the velcro would be a great fix. I'm going to look at the Gander Mt. rods as an option. I'm also trying to weigh the advantages of a couple of reels. I have a Pfleuger President 6935 that I really like but only because I have never fished anything on the 'higher end'. I'm eyeing a Shimano Spirex 2500 but I couldn't say what the advantage might be except that I can probably load more braid onto it and it has a higher drag range whatever that means . Anyway I would love to hear your and Tom T's reel setups even though I'm sure it probably comes to personal preferences for how, when and where to fish!


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jaximus Senior Member Offline Posts: 343 Location: wisconsin Joined: May 12^th, 2010	Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring Reply #24 - Apr 9^th, 2016 at 6:17am	Quote Print Post
	pflueger presidents are what i own and use. gander mt brand reels are made my pflueger, but not quite as smooth. i have the size 35 president also. love it. i feel its the best performance for the money. they are smooth and drag is silky. i use the 'backreel' feature (the toggle switch) quite a bit when big fish make runs but i leave it turned to the 'lock' position until i know its a good fish. as for the spirex you speak of, shimano makes GREAT reels also, but for my use, i think its lacking a very important feature. the reel only stops backreeling when the bail is in the 'up' position(when the line is closest to the rod for casting). some people like that, i dont. i like the reels that are 'instant lock' on the backreel for trolling and one handed rod usage. the spirex is not instant stop


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PhantomJug Voyageur Inukshuk Offline Posts: 2855 Location: 1/2 way there Joined: Feb 12^th, 2003	Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring Reply #25 - Apr 11^th, 2016 at 11:15pm	Quote Print Post
	With reels it's about bearings; the more the better. At least 6 + a roller bearing for the rigors of Quetico. I like rear drag as well but that's just me. 40 IPC is also nice when fishing all day. The Shimano Stradic is a nice reel. It's about $160 but it will last forever.


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Old Salt Inukshuk Offline Posts: 4871 Location: Crossville, TN Joined: Jun 17^th, 2004	Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring Reply #26 - Apr 12^th, 2016 at 12:14am	Quote Print Post
	There's another thread about skirts somewhere...lures that have them generally do better than skirtless ones. Those bass are skirt chasers. That may explain PJs choice of a plaid skirt um kilt.


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HighnDry Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1056 Location: Minneapolis Joined: Apr 29^th, 2013	Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring Reply #27 - Apr 12^th, 2016 at 2:42am	Quote Print Post
	PhantomJug wrote on Apr 11^th, 2016 at 11:15pm: With reels it's about bearings; the more the better. At least 6 + a roller bearing for the rigors of Quetico. I like rear drag as well but that's just me. 40 IPC is also nice when fishing all day. The Shimano Stradic is a nice reel. It's about $160 but it will last forever. Yes, I like the Stradic however I had to keep myself within budget so I just picked up a Spirex 4000FG. I figure that I can use it now and in the future for salmon and steelhead where a backreel function will keep me from tearing the guts out of the reel! I also landed a Shimano Convergence Spinning rod, 7ft., medium-fast in graphite. I wanted a Compre but there was that price thing again to consider. I found a couple Rebel Pop-Rs and an X-rap PopR or two which more or less sets me up for the topwater action for my May ice-out trip into the Q. I'm still "lure-hunting" though and I prefer to call them "dressed trebles" rather than skirts.


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TomT Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1052 Location: Chicago Burbs Joined: Aug 26^th, 2007	Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring Reply #28 - Apr 13^th, 2016 at 12:28am	Quote Print Post
	Nothing like a new rod and reel to put a smile on our face. So Nanda, are you going with braided or mono or maybe fireline?


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HighnDry Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1056 Location: Minneapolis Joined: Apr 29^th, 2013	Re: Topwater poppers in the Spring Reply #29 - Apr 13^th, 2016 at 12:54am	Quote Print Post
	I've dumped the mono for spiderwire and fireline. My 'new' setup only set me back 60 and was a much needed upgrade over my old kit. I still hope to cross paths with for that September Q trip to see your setup and how it works.


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