DrippingSprings330 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2017 I don't want to use a kinked shank "popper hook" but a fine wire xlong hook to allow me to pull the bugs out of deadfalls. Any suggestions please! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickZieger 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2017 Wrap thread on the hook, several layers. Put superglue on the thread and lightly clamp the cork on the thread. Make sure the cork is all the way around the hook. Rick. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flat Rock native 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2017 Wrap thread on the hook, several layers. Put superglue on the thread and lightly clamp the cork on the thread. Make sure the cork is all the way around the hook. Rick. Rick, What kinds of clamps are your preference? Dripping... welcome to the forum and keep posting, all questions are good ones here AND as you see AN expert, will always ring in to help out. Carry On... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flat Rock native 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2017 I don't want to use a kinked shank "popper hook" but a fine wire xlong hook to allow me to pull the bugs out of deadfalls. Any suggestions please! Welcome to ftf! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickZieger 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2017 The few I did were with clamps to hold pages of paper. Enough pressure to hold the cork together, but not to deform it. Did this as I was to cheap to buy the kinked hooks. Rick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flat Rock native 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2017 The few I did were with clamps to hold pages of paper. Enough pressure to hold the cork together, but not to deform it. Did this as I was to cheap to buy the kinked hooks. Rick Thanks, Rick, I have many of the rectangular binder clips, with two folding "handles." Looking foward to firing up the Mini-Lathe soon! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellevue.chartreuse.trout 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2017 I've had limited success with 'roughing up' the hook shank and then lashing mono on top of and/or bottom of the hook shank - soaking in crazy glue or equivalent - then (number 2) allowing for cure - THEN (number 3) tying popper body to hook assembly. BCT Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shoebop 0 Report post Posted March 11, 2017 I don't know where you are buying your hooks but J Stockard has popper hooks at a pretty good price compared to a similar sized straight shank hook maybe even cheaper.http://www.jsflyfishing.com/mustad-classic-33903-fly-hook http://www.jsflyfishing.com/j-stockard-j2-245-streamer-fly-hook I see no reason to go through all trouble when the easiest solution is also the best and least expensive. Just get popper hooks and bada bing...bada boom! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted March 11, 2017 $8.95 for 100 kinked shank hooks. http://www.jsflyfishing.com/mustad-classic-33903-fly-hook?child=HK-049903-G004&%2Fitem%2Fhk-049903-g004%2Fmustad-classic-33903-hook-size-4%2F1_html=&utm_source=google_base&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=gbase_feed&gclid=CLDmwbHJztICFQqRaQodECAJSg&p=1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stippled Popper 0 Report post Posted March 11, 2017 I don't want to use a kinked shank "popper hook" but a fine wire xlong hook to allow me to pull the bugs out of deadfalls. Any suggestions please! a fine wire hook? I believe a stronger hook with a proper weed guard would serve better for your stated purpose. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hatchet Jack 0 Report post Posted March 11, 2017 I don't want to use a kinked shank "popper hook" but a fine wire xlong hook to allow me to pull the bugs out of deadfalls. Any suggestions please! DrippingSprings, I think I know exactly what you're getting at. Deadfalls = panfish, especially crappies. Don't laugh but here goes - jig hooks! Might be a tad dodgy because of the 90º bend but many light wire jig hooks are made specifically to bend with a strong pull and thus tear free of snags. You'll have to play around with the design and your tippet size, but I think it's workable. Just be sure to wrap a good thread base on the shank, as others have mentioned. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kentuckysteve 0 Report post Posted March 11, 2017 I have used eagle claw cricket hooks on poppers to be able to pull them free easily.The hooks are long and very thin wire,They will bend like a crappie hook if you hang them but strong enough to land a fish. Eagle claw also has an aberdeen hook in gold that is thin and bends easy.Have not used them for poppers but they would work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Philly 0 Report post Posted March 11, 2017 I like to use straight shank hooks for my poppers and sliders. I don't like messing with cork. I do use the Eagle Claw Aberdeen style crappie hooks both for my poppers and also for Woolly Buggers. Eagle Claw does make them in bronze color. I use the same method that Rick does for attaching the body to the hook. I'll put of coat of super glue on the shank and wrap the thread over it then build a thread body so that when I slide the body on there's a bit of resistance. I tie in the tail and hackle. Coat the shank with thick slower curing super glue and slide the body on. Before the body comes in contact with the hackle I clean up any excess glue being pushed by the body. When I first started tying poppers, I wanted pencil poppers. I bought a bunch of the cricket hooks in various sizes to make them. Despite thin wire they're pretty tough. I've got a couple I saved that survived three dozen snapper blues that I caught on them. Here's a couple that I tied on them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Poopdeck 0 Report post Posted March 12, 2017 Anytime I want a bendable hook I reach for your standard gold Aberdeen hook. I've determined the kinked hooks are worth the money for cork poppers. I've used wine and champagne corks for floating jig heads for decades and poppers for years. In fact I've never used anything else. I never clamp the cork because it's to easy to crack the cork and not notice it when trying to wrap the cork around the hook. I cut a slot in the cork with a hacksaw blade. Wrap hook in tying thread and place in slot. I then fill the slot with slightly thickened epoxy without squeezing the cork. I do it this way because I usually have a bit of time in shaping the cork up to this moment and it's really disheartening when you crack the cork by squeezing it around the hook shank. Again, I really like the kink shank hooks for cork. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrippingSprings330 0 Report post Posted March 12, 2017 I have purchased 200 size 4 Mustad 3193 hooks. The shank is xlong and the strength of the hook is a little ore than I wanted. I will be cupping a large amount of cork blanks I bought at a farmers market close to Austin, TX. I appreciate the tips on the binder "clamps" and will be using a mix of Liquid Nails and Elmers to seal the cork bodies. I am lucky enough to have a neighbor with a drill press for a rotary tool to help with cupping the face. I am looking now online for a set of templates for tapering the bodies. My choice on my poppers is a flat bottom. I replicate some old Weber bugs by using craft pin heads for the eyes. Thanks for the help y'all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites