The bass popper is a top water fly ideal for targeting largemouth and smallmouth bass. It imitates a maimed insect, baitfish, frog or critter scurrying across the surface.

Fly fishing for bass with dry fly patterns can work if there’s a hatch and the surface is teeming with insects, but most big bass will pass on a small fly in favor of a larger mouthful such a frog, small animal, or even duckling—when available.

Fishing Bass Poppers

Popper patterns don’t necessarily need to imitate a specific prey, they simply need to attract the attention of passerby bass with their size, coloring and most importantly their action. Anglers report catching big bass with some of the most obscure popper patterns while fishing at night by casting poppers onto the water with a big ‘splat’ and then following up with jerking motions.

Pause then Retrieve

When casting, let your popper fly hit the water, then pause for three to four seconds before starting your retreive. This pause is crutial. Pausing gives bass time to locate the fly popper and come take a closer look at what just landed on the water. If you lob your popper on top of a bass and immediately start stripping it, you’ll scare the bass off.

Often bass will strike the popper fly just seconds after it hits the water—or just as you start your retrieve. This simply casting technique works time and again for hooking lunker bass.

Retrieving The Popper

If the bass doesn’t take your popper fly during the pause, it’s time to focus on the retrieve. When you think retrieve, think action! The more movement you can impart to the fly the more bass you’ll draw in. But keep it natural and keep it consistent. If the bass aren’t taking the bait, mix it up a little. You can speed up your retrieve, slow it down, and pause longer or shorter.

It’s important to keep your rod low, with the point nearly touching the water, as you retrieve. This position will allow your popper fly to catch the maximum amount of water as it moves along the surface and create the loud ‘pop’ these flies are known for. For a bigger pop, give your rod a nice solid tug between each pause—but don’t over do it.

Types of Popper Flies

There are several popular variations for the bass popper fly. Each has it’s place, but the most important aspect to consider when selecting your fly is color. As a rule of thumb, use dark colored popper flies on overcast days. When the sun is out, and water clarity is high, go with bright colored popper flies.