Megabass PopMax and Pop-X

[MiceNReets]

For those that are using the Popmax and pop-x, how are you fishing these?  What reel, reel gear ratio, rod, line etc.. are you using? 
 

digging around all this tackle I have and realized I’ve never once caught a bass on either of my pop max and pop-x lures (Megabass Gong Jr. is next).  I’ve caught bass on poppers just not these and I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong.  I find they don’t walk good at all and pop well but reviews say otherwise so it must be me or my gear lol.  
 

Tried them last night on a 6’8 LTB jerkbait rod with a zillion sv 7.1 and 12lbs mono.   Just didn’t get any good action from them at all.  Thinking I’ll go back later with a different rod probably an evergreen combat stick 7’1 M jerkbait/topwater rod and see if that makes a difference.  
 

anyways curious what everyone else is doing different?  
 

[Peacedivision]

pop max on a dobyns champ xp 704cb with 10lb yo-zuri hybrid

pop x on a cashion icon bfs 610ml with 6lb trilene xl

[Phelptwan]

PopMax is getting fished on a 6'10" Expride MH, Metanium 8.1, with 40lb braid and a 17lb P-Line CXX Leader.

 

The P-Line CXX is pretty much the stiffest floating line I could find, and it helps a great deal from getting the hooks tangled in the line.  I really only have about 10-12" of leader.

 

PopX is actually getting fished with the Baby PopX on a BFS setup;

Megabass P5 F1-63x, Aldebaran BFS 8.1, 10lb Daiwa J-Braid, 7lb Maxima? Leader

[Shadow1]

I have had much more success with the Pop X than the Pop Max.  Don't get me wrong . . . the Pop Max is great, I just get bit more with the X.  I use a St Croix Victory 6'10" m/l rod with a Shimano Miraval reel.  The reel is spooled with Sufix 832 15lb braid and 6lb McCoy's Mean Green as a leader.  The thing I love about the Pop Max and X is, you can pop it, splash it, or walk the dog with them.  I can sit the Pop X, and with a slack line, make it walk and hardly ever move forward.  It is a great great bait.

[LrgmouthShad]

I fish the PopMax on a 6’6” medium spinning rod with 15 braid to 15lb big game which is basically 22lb. The PopMax is an insanely versatile bait. I have never fished the Pop X. I struggled to get topwater bites for years until I tried the Popmax. It is making a run for the best topwater bait I have ever tried.

[A-Jay]

Although I have a few different makes & models,

(but no Pop X's)

when it's popper time, I reach for the Pop Max quite a bit.

And I get a few.  

 

Much of my topwater smallie fishing up here happens in open water.

Long casts are mandatory. 

Currently these baits are being presented on the set up pictured below.

Diawa Tatula MQ LT Spinning Reel (3000D-CXH)

mounted on the newest St. Croix Avid Series 7 ft Medium Fast Spinning Rod.

I go braid to a fairly long mono leader.

Replacing hooks & hardware is standard ops for me.

I do usually leave the stock dressed treble until it starts to show wear.

A-Jay

 

[Columbia Craw]

Pop Max for me. Champion 705CB, Tatula Elite with 12 Sunline mono.  The 6th Sense Splashback 60 is no slouch either.

[Jar11591]

The 2 best poppers on the market are the Pop Max and Pop X in my opinion. I fish them on a 6’6” medium power, fast action rod with a 8:1 reel with 10lb nylon line. 
 

I have found that both are easy to walk, but the larger Pop Max is definitely easier. The thinner the line, the easier it should be to walk, theoretically. Apart from that, I don’t worry too much about the action of a popper, and I don’t spend much time walking them. I’ll switch to a skitterwalk if I’m looking for a fast walk-the-dog action. 
 

Not sure about the action of those rods you listed, but i definitely recommend something with at least a fast taper. I know some people fish topwaters on moderate or moderate fast rods, and I don’t know how. I don’t recommend it. The faster the tip, the more feel and control you’ll have. 
 

 

[J Francho]

Popmax, Avid AVC62MXF, Daiwa Alphas Type F, Tufline Supercast, usually a walking retrieve.  As long as your line doesn't sink, none of the rest of the gear matters, so long as it's reasonable within casting and catching parameters.

[MiceNReets]

3 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

 

Not sure about the action of those rods you listed, but i definitely recommend something with at least a fast taper.
 

The St Croix LTB is the newest version jerkbait model.   6’8 M XF,  I also have an Avid X 6’6 M F and my evergreen combat stick 7’1 M F.  I’ll have to give those last 2 a try and compare.  I thought the LTB jerkbait rod would be a good rod for jerkbaits and topwater but I couldn’t get that pop max moving properly to save my life half the time lol but also I’m not very good at using a jerkbait either so maybe it’s me and not the rod.    
 

now I quickly just tossed on a zillion sv 7 speed that already had 12lbs mono on it so I didn’t have to change line, however I plan to toss fluorocarbon on that reel and was going to put the mono on my tatula elite 8.1.   I’ve seen a couple mention a faster reel for poppers.   Would this be an ideal move to just use an 8.1 reel since I’d like to use this rod for walk the dog style baits as well as buzzbaits and other topwater? Or would going to a lower or middle of the pack speed be prefer?  

 

But I’m sure I’m just over thinking all of this.  lol

[zell_pop1]

I use Avid 6'8" MXF on poppers like the LC G-Spash and Pop X with Pro Qualifier reel 6.8to1 and 12 lb Pline topwater copoly. You can use a faster reel but no real need for it.

 

[newapti5]

I fish smallmouth mostly, and I didn't have much luck with the larger Pop Max, despite its great casting distance and action. 

[LrgmouthShad]

You can walk the PopMax fast

You can walk the PopMax slow

You can reel the PopMax and it creates a wake

You can chug the PopMax slow

You can chug the PopMax fast

You can barely twitch the Popmax

You can cause the Popmax to skitter super fast

You can let the PopMax sit and the realism of the lure will not deter fish away

 

I like the PopMax 

 

As far as the hooks go, yes they are light but with a spinning rod and looser drag, you will be okay with the stock hooks. I caught a grass carp that probably went about 8-10lbs on the stock hooks and only one hook was bent very slightly. I’d rather let the popper stay buoyant than weigh it down with heavy aftermarket trebles sorry Ajay

 

[killobet]

I sold all my Popmax and x a while back. Never had luck with it 🤷  Iovino 

Splash it and rico is the one for me.

I used Megabass p5 cyclone  with 15lb braid on a shimano scorpion.

[Phelptwan]

On 8/28/2024 at 6:09 AM, Jar11591 said:

The 2 best poppers on the market are the Pop Max and Pop X in my opinion.

 

You should give the Shimano FlashBoost popper a try.  It fishes a lot like the PopX, but there's times when you kill it in the water and fish just go wild.  It's my clear water go to while the popx/popmax are my stained/dirty water baits.