Recent Patterns

[Philly]

The kinked shanked hooks are really intended for balsa and cork poppers, though you can use them for foam. If you're spinning deer, you're better off using a straight shanked hook.

[chemprof2001]

Kink-shanked popper hooks are meant for gluing into popper bodies of cork, foam, plastic or balsa, the idea being that they won't rotated, and provide a larger surface area for gluing. If you are spinning or stacking deer hair poppers, you should use a straight-shanked hook of the appropriate length and wire thickness. A kink-shanked hook will gain you nothing while spinning and stacking (except perhaps an unusually challenging trimming job!!)

Mark Delaney

[smokinprice]

Right now I am tying only cork and balsa poppers. I guess I should have mentioned that.

[Stippled Popper]

For Cork poppers and sliders I find the Mustad 33903 is fine for Largemouth Bass and Panfish and sometimes use a smaller hook then suggested as sold. Even with a weed guard on the larger ones, this has seemed to work OK once I learned not to go overboard with the materials tied behind the head. I believe it helps to leave as much gap as possible without the kink showing out the bottom.

I've considered switching to another hook only because the 33903 just doesn't look a pretty as some of the other appropriate hooks.

For the #10 and #12 hard foam micro poppers I use the #12 and #14 Orvis 4641 Big Eye Hook. Since there is no kink, more care is needed to properly align the hook. The other problem I have with the micro poppers is removing them without damage to the Bluegill's mouth. They frequently swallow them whole.

[purolohi kalasta...]

Ok, so now that I've firmly established myself as a knucklehead for trying to tie a deer hair popper on a kink shank hook (Thank You, Thank You)

Any suggestions as to the APPROPRIATE hook to use (i.e. a 2x long, standard streamer hook?)

[chemprof2001]

Depending how long you want your deer hair popper body, a streamer hook is fine. In fact, I use 2x long Limerick size 12 streamer hooks for my panfish poppers, whether deer hair or balsa or cork. Just make sure you trim your deer hair enough along the bottom of the popper so that you are not obscuring much of the hook gap. That way you'll be much more successful at getting hookups (That goes for any style popper, one reason why I prefer longer shanked hooks.) I prefer the hook point to be well away from the body.

Mark Delaney

[Pops Poppers]

Jeff.

Try wraping the Kink Shank #33903 with thread. then put on whatever popper body you are using (#8, #4, #1 etc.) I use a Cupped, Tapered, and Slotted body. After you get the body on the hook, make sure it is stright and in line. Mix up some epoxy and insert into the slot where the hook wrapped in thread is and set it aside to dry. After drying, do your art work. Finish the popper and go fish.

The epoxy makes a strong bond and you can catch a lot of fish with no problems.
Jerry.

Pops Poppers.

[dkidd]

I use the 33903 for hard body poppers and have found that by sharpening the hook often (several times in a day) I have reduced the number of missing by half.

[june]

I use Mustad 3366, Eagle Claw Aberdeen,i like it!

[bowfin47]

smokinprice,

For years, I have successfully used 33906s.

I'm not sure if this is your problem or not, but by far the most common error that I see with cork or balsa poppers is the utilization of a hook that is too small for the body.

The 33906 is a somewhat long shanked hook, and when the popper is finished, the hook doesn't extend well past the end of the body, then you are probably using the wrong hook size.

Remember, there should be enough hook shank entending past the body for a tail, complete with palmered hackle and that palmered hackle shouldn't be too heavy. If is is too heavy, it will add too much air resistance and effectively cover the hook gap and point to such an extent that the ablity to make a "hook-set" will be impeded.

Bowfin47

PS

Keep 'em sharp!

[crappie]

I tie poppers with aberdeen hooks.
With foam offset the hole toward the lower part of the body.
This gives you more gap.
I drill a hole with a 1/64" bit with a dremel took and the wrap the shank with thread. A drop of zap-agap and they are set.

Rick