Despite the fact that poppers for catching predatory fish appeared relatively recently on the modern fishing market, the high efficiency of this artificial bait was quickly appreciated by fishermen. Fishing with a spinning rod using a popper not only brings the fisherman a rich catch, but also gives him an incomparable sensation.
Pike Poppers
The fishing popper is a volumetric artificial surface bait made of wood or plastic and used primarily for catching predatory fish species, mainly pike and perch. A distinctive feature of the popper is the concave leading edge, which begins to emit gurgling sounds when the bait is immersed in the water column.
For spinning pike, you need to choose the largest poppers. The best option for fishing in Russian reservoirs is considered to be a bait, the length of which reaches 10-25 cm. As for the choice of the color of the popper, it depends solely on the time of day at which you plan to go fishing, and the state of the water of the reservoir chosen for fishing pike. Red, orange and black lures are recommended for pike fishing in muddy waters, as well as in the morning and evening hours. If you went fishing during the day or the water in the river is relatively clear, choose poppers in natural colors, for example, imitating the color of roach or perch.
Choosing equipment for fishing pike with a popper
A spinning rod for fishing pike with a popper must necessarily belong to the "ultralight" category, ie. be as light as possible. The minimum length of the tackle is 2.4 m. Only such fishing equipment will allow you to perform long casts and easily control the bait during the posting process. Make sure that the center of gravity of the tackle is exactly where you are holding the spinning rod.
An excellent addition to a spinning rod for fishing pike with a popper will be a spinning fishing reel with a worm gear and a braided line with a diameter of 0.1 to 0.16 mm. This design will certainly make pike fishing tackle easier, and popper fishing more comfortable and interesting.
Popper pike fishing technique
The classic method of catching pike with a popper is a combination of some simple actions. Cast the bait and wait for the moment when the water surface at the casting site has calmed down. Then just drive the popper near the intended place, from time to time making small jerks with the rod, thereby achieving the appearance of a kind of "chpoka" sounds.
This method is considered to be very effective. The pike, located in the deep parts of the reservoir overgrown with vegetation, hears sounds coming from the upper layer of the water column, takes them for the movements of a small fish or a diving frog and rises up. The slightest movement of the popper at this moment leads to an instant attack of the bait by the predator.
When fishing at great depths, "play" the popper more actively, jerk it harder, achieving the appearance of loud and distinct sounds that can be heard even by a pike located at a decent distance from the bait.
