I went kayak-hiking today!! my first popper bass.

[Darth-Baiter]

got to test some new gear.  new water shoes from Astral.  the Rasslers, recommended by a member here.  and a new Megabass Popper.  I got all involved with the recent popper thread and ordered THE WRONG Popper.  I clicked on the PopX, by Megabass and not the POPMAX.  the popX is tiny.  1/4 oz,  I only had heavier rods so I casted it with my spinning set up.  They ignored my drop shot anyways.  

 

I hiked in half a mile and up a gentle hill (uphill both ways :)).  dragging my Hobie Outback.  I had the lake to myself, but noticed a guy in a belly boat wearing all camouflage, later on.  the bass were HUNGRY.  got one on the first cast.  a 2lb.  then I fished thru the bass nursery.  I noticed one tiny splash, so I flipped out the PopX.  it was insane.  I would throw it out into 15 feet of water and the bass would rush up out of the weeds and slam it.  I saw them herding shad out deep and I raced out there, and casted as far as I could.  the water calmed, and I thought I was too late.  KABLOOSH!  a 2.5 sucked it in.  I saw bigger bass darting around.  I was a hot mess, but I managed a few more cast and got hits on all of them.   I have 2 PopMax in my wishlist.  I will get the python and another shad looking one.  it is so fun, anticipating a top water hit.  

 

I had a good day, fishing a local regional park lake.  far enough hike to keep most kayakers out of it, but by 8:00 am, there were five of us.  the lake is an old quarry, so it is very bathtub shaped.  flat as a pancake for the most part.  deep throughout.  I'll crack the code there one day, for the bigger fish.  

 

the pic is my FIRST popper bass.  I didn't bring any other topwater, since I thought I should lighten the load for the hike in.  I didn't even have a frog.  I think a 4" walking bait in bone would have been great today.  

[Boomstick]

The PopX is a great lure. So is the PopMax but I catch more on the PopX. One of those expensive lures that is completely worth it - I don’t lose them often and they can be popped or walked so it’s the only popper you need.

 

I usually throw mine on casting gear - a 6’8” Mojo Bass Topwater M/XF rod but a ML or M spinning rod works well too.

 

The popper bite is addictive.

[schplurg]

Heck ya it's addictive! Caught my first LMB on a popper and was hooked (as bad as the fish!). Before that I fished mainly for Delta and river stripers. Was a BPS brand popper I think. I'm cheap.