[Kirk Dietrich]

A friend of mine got a little nostalgic with me and wanted some Round Dinnys instead of my poppers or divers. He is particular about his flies so I hope he doesn't mind that I didn't thread the head with the rubber. Got the cork whistle balls from a supplier in Canada.

Kirk

[NJ All Day]

Nice ties Kirk those will defiantly catch some gills and bass. Just some questions...

What company did you get the balls from?

Also what hooks did you use?

And was there any shapping of the body?

[tidewaterfly]

Kirk, first class work!

I've got some popper heads like that around here somewhere. Your post makes me want to find them & tie some up!

A few years back, the late Tom Eggler, who was the owner of the Gaines Company was selling stuff on ebay, and I picked up several batches of items from him, including some popper bodies mounted on hooks.

I had the pleasure of meeting him & Tony Accardo, owner of Accardo & Peck's back in 1989. Both were very friendly guys & had a lot of neat ideas!

Kirk, do you know if Tony Accardo is still living? He wasn't a young man back when I met him.

[kelkay]

Kirk, those flies are awesome looking.

[Stippled Popper]

tidewaterfly:

Mr. Accardo passed away a while back.

[Henry Franklin]

Kirk, Those are some great bugs Boss!!!
I've not seen round ones till now.
Gota put them on my list. Thats what I love
about makeing these things, so much you
can come up with. One thing I'm lucky to
have is a chance to use poppers in the salt-
warter. A hungry snook hiting one at day
break!! Its a beautiful thing.

Henry F.

[ridderbos3]

those look awesome. Did you paint the heads or buy them that way?

[smokinprice]

Very nice indeed. I havent seen one of those in quite a while. Well done.

[riffleriversteelheadslayer]

now them bring back some memories my dad swore by them and always tied them in green with white legs and belly now that I think about it I don't ever recall him getting skunked on them either very nice ties kirk and if your customer don't want them pm me

[BigDaddyHub]

Tony would be proud of those, my man! GREAT ties!

[Kirk Dietrich]

Big Daddy, thanks. I only met Mr Accardo once, amazing how he went from making and selling bugs to make a few bucks when he was young to having a business making so many bugs he actually bought a cork tree farm and processing plant in Spain.

Riffle, those were the days, glad I helped bring back some fond memories.

Smokin, thanks. I haven't seen these in a while and have been wanting to tie some, just couldn't ever find the right material till now.

Ridder, thanks. I paint the heads with acrylic paint and use a mascara sponge to feather the paint line on the blue/black back one in the clip.

Henry, thanks. I love the top water strike. I've never had a chance to fish Snook but I've caught a fair share of redfish on poppers. If conditions are favorable, I always fish the top. The guy I'm sending these to swears that in the spring time, Sheepshead will hit a bream bug.

Stippled, thanks for answering Tidewater. I was pretty sure he had died but wasn't positive.

Kel, thanks.

Tidewater, thanks. I'm not sure if any of his children have carried on his business.

NJ, thanks. I got the cork balls from corkstore.com. I used the Mustad 33903 kink shank hook, size 8. Only shaping was to flatten the bottom like I think the original was .

Kirk

[NJ All Day]

Thanks Kirk!

[DaddyO]

NJ, thanks. I got the cork balls from corkstore.com. I used the Mustad 33903 kink shank hook, size 8. Only shaping was to flatten the bottom like I think the original was .

Kirk,
Can you share which size cork ball? 6.4, 9.5 or 12.7?

Thanks

[Kirk Dietrich]

NJ, thanks. I got the cork balls from corkstore.com. I used the Mustad 33903 kink shank hook, size 8. Only shaping was to flatten the bottom like I think the original was .

Kirk,
Can you share which size cork ball? 6.4, 9.5 or 12.7?

Thanks

DaddyO, 9.5mm. When I ordered in the spring, they only the 9mm. Currently, the 6mm is in stock and I have an order in for some of those. The 9mm is on back order until Sept 6th.
Honestly, the 9mm is a tad large for the #8 hook I used but not to bad but it was a little small for a #6 besides, I didn't want to tie on a 6. I think the 6mm will be perfect for a size#10.

Hope that helps.

Kirk

[tidewaterfly]

Thanks for the reply on that Stippled Popper, I figured he may have passed.

I only met him the one time also. I remember he had said he started with $100, and built a very successful business.

Great post Kirk, and quite a tribute too!

Thanks for sharing!