Popper
Also called chugger, chug bug
A topwater lure with a cupped or concave face that spits water and makes a loud pop when you twitch the rod.
The scooped nose is the whole design. A sharp downward twitch of the rod tip drives the cup into the water, which throws a spray forward and leaves a bubble trail behind. The sound imitates a feeding fish, and it pulls bass up from a surprising distance in calm water.
It is the most forgiving topwater to fish because it works sitting still. Pop it, let the rings spread out and disappear, pop it again. Long pauses catch fish that a constantly moving bait would not, and they let a bass that has come up to look at it commit.
Poppers shine on calm mornings around cover: dock edges, laydowns, weed lines, anywhere a fish can sit under something and watch the surface.
Slow down. Most anglers pop it twice as often as they should. Let the ripples flatten completely before the next twitch.
Related terms
Where this comes up
The guides that use popper and show it on real gear.
Popper is one of 206 terms in the glossary.
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