OFFSHORE Poppers

[sage fly guy]

Was hoping to land some larger fish Offshore this coming summer season and just started tying up some large tube type poppers.

Nothing fancy, just your basic modified large style Deciever tied on a tube with a large popper head.

Looking through the new Finest Kind catalog I kind of tried to mimic one of their chugger type lures.

Any tip or hints from the Pro's.

[Jim Miller]

Hey Chris
lookin good! How big are those Babies? & hook size?
Are they going to be tossed w/ the 19 wt?

[Animal Chris]

Great looking flies, Sage Fly Guy. Here is a variation you might want to try that works good down here, althought it takes a little extra time. I will taper the front edge of the foam, similar to a Zara Spook or Top Dog, to make a darter type head (spin it in my drill and sand it down). There are times, like on slick calm morning, when this seems to do a little better than a chugger head. It still keeps it up on the surface, adds a little extra action but doesn't produce that loud plunk that a flat or dished out faces does. I have had good luck behind shrimp boats when fishing for blackfin tuna or bonito and the occasional kingfish that feels like sky rocketing out of the depths.
I'll try to get one posted this week. Tight Loops, AC

[sage fly guy]

Hey Chris
lookin good! How big are those Babies? & hook size?
Are they going to be tossed w/ the 19 wt?

Hey Jim,

They are about 8 inches overall in length.

For hook size I was thinking something in the 8/0 size range. I have a handful of some Gamakatsu Octopus hooks that I thought might work well.

I'm hoping in a few days, when this $hiite weather moves out to test them on the 14 weight. I think that would be alot of fun.

Hey AC,

I thought about making some tapered but was worried about how the heads would hold up to sanding. I have a handful of big Bass bugs bodies that are tapered and figured I'd just use them in reverse direction from the norm.

Look forward to seeing your pics though!!

Chris