Kirk Dietrich 0 Report post Posted February 7, 2015 Some old style bugs I worked on this past week. Sometimes simple is best, at least according to Lefty. Here are some Lefty Poppers I did with a couple little harmless tweaks. The center top is tied by Lefty that he gave me last year. The other three I did and decided to cup the face but to keep it to his design of having a flat face for easy pick up, I removed the lip at the bottom of the cup so the face is still flat and angled just moved a little farther back giving a lip around the sides and top of the cup to catch some air/water for hopefully a easier pop. Also, I rounded off the edges of the bottle stopper for better top coat coverage. Can't wait to fish them. Common cork bottle stopper used to make his bug. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
feathers5 0 Report post Posted February 7, 2015 Real nice job on those, Kirk. Making poppers is fun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirk Dietrich 0 Report post Posted February 7, 2015 Feathers, it sure is. Allows your woodworking side get a fix without having to pull out the table saw...haha. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted February 8, 2015 Real purty poppers, Kirk. I'll be waiting to hear how those do. Simple sometimes out-fishes ... and sometimes it takes those legs to get hit. Those do look good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ditz2 0 Report post Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) Very nice poppers Kirk. I believe that Lefty usually fishes SMB which usually like a lot of movement and legs are not so important as they are for LMB IMO. I usually like a hackle between tail and body but not always.. I sometimes will use a bright color of chenille or estaz such as Lefty has done. I have several of his books listen to his thoughts very closely. Almost all of my hair bugs have a straight hair tail with chenille in between.......Have a question there Kirk. I can't tell by the photo....is lefty's bug face back slanted or is it vertical? I am just getting ready to make a few poppers with the round on the bottom and the flat on top. Just a cylinder cut in half or a cork stopper cut in half  I like cork for poppers and then balsa..I also like deer hair bugs trimmed like a Taps hair bug..  I can't believe I forgot foam. I guess foam would be my second choice only because I am old and set in my ways. Edited February 9, 2015 by ditz2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirk Dietrich 0 Report post Posted February 8, 2015 Yeah Mike, legs or no legs is always what I wonder when fishing. Â Ditz, thanks. I believe Lefty created that bug for SMB but told me he has since used it for many other species including offshore. Yes, the face is slanted just like I show in the red background photos. However, he doesn't cup the face. I decided to cup the face but ground down the bottom lip of the cup so it is still a flat slant face on mine, just pushed back into the slight cup. Always did like the simplicity of the Tap's bug too. Â Kirk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tim Shovel 0 Report post Posted February 9, 2015 Nice poppers, what are you using them for? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirk Dietrich 0 Report post Posted February 9, 2015 Bass and the little blue one I throw with a 4 or 5wt for bream but down here in south Louisiana, bass will eat that size six as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tim Shovel 0 Report post Posted February 9, 2015 Definitely will catch fish, might I suggest making a green or chartreuse with black or brown mottled pattern. Would be nice to work around the pads. Just a thought. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirk Dietrich 0 Report post Posted February 9, 2015 Tim, that is one of my favorite colors, but I didn't have enough blank heads to do that, was trying to stay traditional to send these to Lefty and just threw in a blue as that has come up alongside chart/mottled back as one of my top choices, especially during summer when we have the big blue dragon flies. Thanks for the input, now I have to make another batch! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tim Shovel 0 Report post Posted February 9, 2015 No problem, was thinking of making a similar popper in that color, figured I'd mention those colors. Good luck with your poppers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chuck McFarlane 0 Report post Posted April 21, 2015 Lovely poppers! Your tutorial gave me the confidence to give them a try. I love simple patterns. These look basic but effective. Thanks for sharing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ditz2 0 Report post Posted April 21, 2015 Kirk...Sorry for the late comment but I forgot to mention that the popper that Lefty gave you is my favorite color.....Yaller.....I do lots of yaller and I have done a few copies of those bugs. The heads are done but the tails have not yet been added. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blackwater Virgil 0 Report post Posted April 28, 2015 Good work, and classic designs and colors. You ought to have seen some of the bugs I used when first starting to try to tie my own. It's refreshing sometimes to "go back" to some simple and traditional designs. It keeps us moderns humble ... or at least tries to. ;^) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jacktjl 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2015 Great stuff as usual Kirk. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites