Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

Bass Fishing => Bass Fishing Tips, Techniques & General Discussion => Topic started by: karol on February 21, 2012, 09:49:43 PM

Title: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: karol on February 21, 2012, 09:49:43 PM
 hey guys, used to use a pop'r but since i tore it up i'm looking for ideas on a good popper.

also looking for a tailspin like a tiny torpedo that was trashed by a smallie in upstate new york. probaly throwing it on a 6-6 md-hvy rod with mono so it's floats better, what-da you think.. karol
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: djkimmel on February 21, 2012, 10:51:32 PM
Pop R's are still a great lure. I use the original and also brands that are quieter - don't scoop as much water. Some days one or the other works a lot better. Tiny Torpedoes are good too. Hardly ever see anyone throw them. Smithwick Devils Horse and other prop baits work good too but again, hardly anyone throws them. Been a while since I have also.

I'm going to try some topwater on P-Line Hydrofloat this year - treated floating braided line. I think it will be very interesting for some topwater applications.
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: thedude on February 21, 2012, 11:28:00 PM
i have a single lucky craft g-splash 65 that takes on water and has no paint left. it outperforms anything else in my box when it comes to top water.
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: Team houston on February 22, 2012, 07:08:50 AM
Yellow Magics and Splash-its, which are virtually identical have always been very good to me.
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: markgoetsch on February 22, 2012, 07:37:34 AM
I 2nd the G-Splash.
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: YpsiBass on February 22, 2012, 08:07:45 AM
I like the Megabass Pop-X, the Lucky Craft G-splash, but I think the Yellow Magic are my favorites. As for a tailspin, you might want to consider the Lucky Craft T-splash.

http://www.basstackledepot.com/lucky-craft-t-splash70.aspx
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: FishermanJohn on February 22, 2012, 07:19:36 PM
Lucky Craft G-Splash doesn't work!   ;D

As for tail spinners, I have yet to beat a Heddon Tiny Torpedo in Baby Bass (I think that's what it's original color was - it's hard to tell nowadays).  For a larger body, I'm still a fan of the Devil's Horse.
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: huston on February 22, 2012, 07:35:24 PM
I have all those but haven't used them in ages.
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: Jay-MadWags on February 22, 2012, 08:06:08 PM
Throw your topwater on 20lb. suffix braid.  It floats and has instant hook setting power.
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: TCook on February 22, 2012, 09:00:58 PM
Alot of guys swear by the rico's I tried em for a year and switched back and forth between that and my goto G Splash 80s when throwing poppers. The G Splash 80 outfished the rico every time. Now that might have been due to how I usually work my poppers incorporating a walk the dog retrieve with it. The bigger rico didnt walk nearly as well as the G Splash but if you wanted a straight popping retrieve might be more productive. I never played with prop baits I just keep it simple switching between G Splash 80 and Super Spooks. I throw these on a short handled 5' 10" rod (so I can twitch straight down) with 14lb mono because it too floats and stretches which helps keep the trebles from ripping out during the fight.
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: djkimmel on February 22, 2012, 09:12:50 PM
I think I have a Sugoi and a Splash-it that I use the most when I don't use a straight Pop'R. I've caught a ton of bass on the Splash-it. I have also had a little luck sanding a few Pop'Rs down on the sides and lip to create 'stealth' Pop'Rs. Haven't done that in a while though. Now you can just buy them that way if you want.
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: djkimmel on February 22, 2012, 09:18:08 PM
I've caught some big bass on the Optic Popper too though I did way better in Mexico on them than up here. They were brutal in Mexico! Muskie really like Optic Poppers too!

I wonder how many of you have tried the fast, spitting retrieve? That has worked really good for me sometimes. I like it a lot better than the bloop and wait a while retrieve though I can't argue that sometimes that isn't deadly.
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: Trux on February 22, 2012, 11:13:10 PM
I have caught lots on XCalibur Zell Pops. Both sizes.

For a tail prop bait, I really like the Rapala Skitter Prop, especially for smallies.
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: Durand Dan on February 23, 2012, 04:13:51 AM
Pop R's are the one. Bass colored and Hot Pink!!
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: bigmojet on February 23, 2012, 02:40:23 PM
I just bought a 3 pack set with 2 tiny torpedos and 1 baby torpedo in the so called hot colors.

Seen the set at Gander and Cabelas for $9.99

Had good succes with Pop R's on smallies early morning last summer.
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: djkimmel on February 24, 2012, 03:47:40 AM
Quote from: Durand Dan on February 23, 2012, 04:13:51 AM
Pop R's are the one. Bass colored and Hot Pink!!

You should get some video of you fishing with Hot Pink!
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: 5poundhooker on March 10, 2012, 04:49:40 PM
I usually use Strike King "Spittin' Kings", They work great in sexy shad color especially smallies. If those don't get the job done I will use a 3/8 oz. Rebel "Poppar" in baby bass or chrome and either black or blue back. Definitely mono. 14# gives you plenty of action and with the right rod and retied once in a while have never broken off, rarely lost one that I have hooked when using short shank triple grip treble in front (line is Suffix Siege). The rod I used past two years was a cheap Shimano Volteous 6'6" M/H tip is glass, But just made a new rod for this coming year.
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: Mojo on March 12, 2012, 03:15:48 AM
Ssssshhhhhh.  The G splash is supposed to be a double secret. For me - LSC near reeds- the wake tail is stunning. For large mouth, the subtle but noisy Rebel white twitchin minnow is unstoppable. At $2.99 at Dunhams - can't be beat

Anyone have a favorite color outside pink ?  :o. I need to pick up another wake tail. They come in archer bee - frog. - aurora black - charges shad and - ghost minnow ? What color largess ? What color smallies ? Your thoughts ?
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: huston on March 12, 2012, 07:06:29 PM
I saw torpedo at Wally world today for $4.00 and just picked up 3 G splashes on Ebay. I had only one G splash and a sm engulfed it and broke my line on St. Clair, then he spit it up and I trolled over to it , got it out of the water, tyed it back on and kept on fishing and catchin. That was a topwater day to remember.
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: Redbone on March 12, 2012, 08:38:49 PM
I always feel like I'm fishing for Peakock bass when I use a tail spin.  I think I always get to carried away. ;D

I have several differnt poppers all various sizes and colors.  I dont think it matters that much.  If there is a popper bite, Its going to get bit! 8)
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: djkimmel on March 13, 2012, 01:20:37 PM
The 'tail spins' are a 'little' bigger for the peacock bass...
Title: Re: popper and tail spin topwater
Post by: 5poundhooker on March 13, 2012, 06:32:52 PM
Just received my new Rapala popper and boy are they pretty. I'll have to see how they perform, but look like they may work quite well and have great finishes. There is also a new prop bait that I may check out. Always descent quality from them IMO. Yea the tail spins' for peacocks can be huge.