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Surface fishing!
If there is one fishing technique that all anglers agree on, it is surface lure fishing?because of the excitement and ferocity of the strikes, as well as the sight of the fish taking the lure.
Many species are targeted by this type of fishing (sea bass, pollock, tuna, etc.), and the variety of lures available in stores is just as wide. It is generally practiced once the upper layer of water is warm enough that predatory fish tend to rise to the surface to hunt prey found near the surface. In the Brittany and Normandy regions, this corresponds to a period ranging from late May through October or November, depending on the water temperature.
The popper... In any situation
The popper is a surface lure with a concave head that causes it to spray water with every rod jerk, the amount of which varies depending on the amplitude and intensity of the retrieve.
It differs from traditional lures that have a "walking the dog" action?that is, swaying from side to side on the surface in time with the angler?s rod tip movements.
This technique requires a certain level of skill in order to properly coordinate the rod's movement with the reel's retrieval.
While ?walking the dog? lures are more in style these days, I?ve been using surface poppers almost exclusively for the past three years, and my results mean I?m not going back to the old ways anytime soon. However, when you?re standing in front of the tackle section at your local store, you might feel overwhelmed by the choices available to you.
From the wide variety of poppers available, I chose the "Feed Popper" model from Tackle House, a well-known Japanese brand distributed in France by Ultimate Fishing and available in most stores.
Available in a variety of sizes (70, 100, 120, 150, and 175 mm) and in a wide range of colors, this popper features a through-wire construction, meaning a single piece of metal is used to connect the line-tie eye to the hook eyes. This through-wire construction allows it to be used on large fish despite the lure?s small size, without the risk of the entire setup breaking off.
Under what conditions should this lure be used?
Well, whenever the mood strikes?or almost! There are no set rules for using a popper. Whether you're on the hunt or when things seem quiet, a popper can liven up an area all on its own.
Its tapered shape toward the rear makes it cast very well, which is a significant advantage when used while trolling or from the boat. I don?t hesitate to use it even if the water is 15 meters deep beneath the boat, as long as I know there are active fish in the upper water column?either thanks to the fish finder or by watching birds showing interest at the surface. This also applies when fishing from shore. A bird hovering or diving is never a sign to be ignored!
How do you run it?
Because it's so easy to work, beginner anglers will have no trouble using it?which isn't necessarily the case with other lures. The Feed Popper can be worked in several different ways.
Long, low casts will send it beneath the surface, leaving a long trail of bubbles behind without making any real "pops."
A more direct retrieve?keeping the rod low throughout?which is more typical of popper fishing, with sharp tip movements, will cause it to shoot out a stream of water of varying intensity depending on the force applied. Remember to pause for 1 to 2 seconds between pops. Very often, the strike occurs when you resume the retrieve.
Retrieving it quickly and in a straight line with the rod held high will make it skim across the water and trigger spectacular, violent strikes. The closer the lure gets to you, the lower you should hold the rod to prevent it from lifting out of the water.
Choose a color
There are probably as many opinions on this subject as there are anglers. I like natural colors (greens and blues), but I also like yellow backs, especially in low-light conditions.
Personally, I use mimetic or natural colors when the activity is visible, and incentive colors when I don't perceive any activity. But that's just my opinion!
The base of a fishing tackle box
The Feed Popper is a must-have in your tackle box. With 2 or 3 lures in varying sizes and colors, you?ll be prepared for just about any situation you encounter. Consider rigging them with single hooks to minimize injury to the fish. This won?t result in any more missed catches or fish coming off the hook.
For size 175 hooks, used for tuna, an assist hook?a single hook connected to a split ring by a high-strength line?is a good idea to prevent large catches from coming off the hook.
Strengths
- Ease of Use
- Throwing Distance
- Variety of sizes and colors
- Through-wall reinforcement
Cons
- The price. (Expect to pay about ?30 for size 120 and ?50 for size 175.)
