From The Vise By Brad Berlin

POPPERS
HOOK - Mustad 33903 kinked, 37187 stinger size 10 to 2
THREAD - 3-0 or waxed 140
TAIL- Buck tail, Calf tail or Fishar, Flashabou or Crystal Flash
2 Hackle feathers
BODY - Cactus chenille or wrapped hackle
HEAD- Perfect popper, foam popper, or cork
EYES - glue or stick on
LEGS - rubber silly legs
ACCESSORIES- Zap a Gap, Paint optional

TYING INSTRUCTIONS
Select the popper size and style you want to tie and match the hook size to the popper. Start the thread behind the eye and build a good base for the popper body, tie off and cut. NOTE: If you're using a 33903 Mustad hook skip this step.
Most popper bodies come pre-cut to accept the hook. If not, you will have to slice the popper bottom using a razor knife or small saw blade approximately.1/3 up and the length of the popper. Apply Zap A Gap to the hook. Place the popper over the Zap A Gap and slide it to the eye. Ensure the popper is centered to the hook and let dry. If you're going to do a lot of poppers, glue all the popper bodies to the hooks. Once the bodies are set you can paint the bodies to the color of your choice and let dry.
Start the thread behind the popper and out ¼" toward the bend.
Tie in a small amount of buck / calf tail or any synthetic tail material of you choice.
Tie in the Flashabou or Crystal flash over the top of buck tail.
Tie in 1 hackle on each side of the popper.
REM. Proportions. Don't make the tails to long. If you're getting good strikes and no hook ups shorten the tails.
Tie in the Cactus chenille and make 3 or 4 wraps covering the tail tie in up to the popper body.
You can also use a hackle feather for this.
Apply the eyes either stick or glue on.
You can add rubber legs to the body. Make a hole with a dubbing needle thru the body and push in legs, glue if needed.
Walla, you're done.

This may seem like a hard one to tie, but really it's not. Once you start you will see how easy it really is. There are many different popper body makes and styles on the market. If you use the perfect body style you can tie a popper or a slide/diver. Just reverse the popper body. Instead of the wide part toward the front use the tapered end. This makes it dive shallow and surface when fished.
Mix and match your colors and materials. There are standard colors like yellow, red, green and black. Mix them up, experiment, you just might find the perfect combination that works for the fish your seeking.
There is no wrong way to fish the popper. It all really depends on you and the fish. Slow retrieve, cast out let it sit, wait, and twitch the rod or fast short pull on the line. Listen for the pop or glug sound. Let it sit, wait and do it all over again. Or fast retrieve, pull twitch, pull twitch. Just be ready for the big swirl or the hit out of the water. If you have never taken a good size fish on top you'll be in for a thrill. What a rush!!! I guarantee you will be hooked and always looking for a place to fish the popper. Whether you're on a stream, river, lake or pond. Try the top and you'll be in for a great thrill.
Good Luck and Tight running lines.
Brad
Brad has been tying flies and fly fishing many of the local streams in Northeast and Central Pa. for over 20 years. He Occasionally guides on area streams and the Susquehanna River. Brad has taught classes in fly tying and casting. He currently serves as President of his local TU Chapter, (Columbia County Trout Unlimited).