Best Popper Line

Matt S reported catching Largemouth Bass using the Hard Topwater (Popping) technique and PowerPro Spectra Braid on Lake Independence. Additional comments from this report: "Conditions were overcast with off/on rain and light wind. Water clarity was 7-8 feet. Caught a few fish with a Texas rigged stickbait, but most of the fish were caught on topwater poppers on the outside edge of the weedline. 16 fish total but most were small."

LipRipper_MN reported catching Largemouth Bass using the Hard Topwater (Popping) technique and PowerPro Spectra Braid on Lake Pepin. Additional comments from this report: "Focused on submerged vegetation in the 3-6 foot ranged, switched between walking and popping the bait. Early morning before the sun comes up has been the time I’ve had the most success! Tight lines everyone! "

Alex Yang reported catching Smallmouth Bass using the Hard Topwater (Popping) technique and PowerPro Spectra Braid on Mille Lacs Lake. Additional comments from this report: "The smallies were chewing topwater in around 6-10fow near high spots and edges of rock lines. I was mainly on the north side fishing poppers and ned rigs when it slowed down."

Ryan Brandel reported catching Largemouth Bass using the Hard Topwater (Popping) technique and Sufix 832 Braid on Woman Lake. Additional comments from this report: "Found an awesome topwater bite up in the north woods. Action was fairly consistent all day, but it really picked up in the evening. Fished shallow reed pockets with long casts, and caught so many I lost count. Fun trip!"

Jacob Bros reported catching Smallmouth Bass using the Hard Topwater (Popping) technique and Sufix 832 Braid on Pokegama Lake. Additional comments from this report: "Found smallmouth in 6-10' of water. Most fish came chasing baitfish on flats. "

Ways Raasch reported catching Largemouth Bass using the Hard Topwater (Popping) technique and Sufix 832 Braid on Arrowhead Lake. Additional comments from this report: "It was low light conditions and you would have to cast that popper right up next to the laydown right on the bank and just pop it a couple of times and let it pause. They would just crush it on the pause. I was using 30 lb braid to a foot to foot and a half of monofilament. That would allow the braid to not tangle around any of the treble hooks. I also put a Duolock Snap on that popper because it doesn't come with a split ring on the line tie, I feel it gives a little bit better action. I was fishing it on a 7' medium baitcasting rod with a 7.1. reel. The cast was extremely important, you almost had to hit the bank and the laydown!"

Kail’s Fishing Reports reported catching Smallmouth Bass using the Hard Topwater (Popping) technique and Berkley Trilene XT on Kabetogama Lake. Additional comments from this report: "Love the Top Water! Use your electronics or a lake map to find a shallow humps. Start casting the deeper edge and then work your way up that way you won't spook the fish as much. I like to use a braid mainline but you could use mono for a mainline as well, if you use braid tie a mono leader direct to the mainline about 6' to 8'. When the Smally hits wait 5 seconds for it to be able to get the bait into is mouth, don't set the hook immediately. Use a moderate action if you have one. You can use a snap or tie direct to the bait, most of the time I tie direct. The bigger the rocks the better! Good Luck"

Ocin_Outdoors reported catching Largemouth Bass using the Hard Topwater (Popping) technique and Berkley Trilene XT on Shabbona Lake. Additional comments from this report: "Early morning and just before sunset have been decent bite on topwater frogs and poppers around the Lilly pads. The north east end of the lake and around the overflow in the hot summer is best as they are getting some water flow as well as the shade from the pads."

Mitch Bradshaw reported catching Smallmouth Bass using the Hard Topwater (Popping) technique and Berkley Trilene XT on Lake Vermilion. Additional comments from this report: "We found a good Smallmouth bite during the mornings of 6/5 and 6/6. We got out early to beat the heat and fished until about 10:30am. The water temps in the main lake had gone up by over 10 degrees from 5/31 to 6/5. Main Lake was 68-69 to start the day and was up to 72 in the afternoon. Bays were reading 72-73 in the morning. This quick warmup seemed to put a wrap on the spawning activity as the fish we caught seemed post spawn (we found one fish holding to a bed but weren't actively looking either). My damage was done almost equal parts Popper and Hair but the nod goes to the Popper. Basically fishing topwater on the shallow shorelines or the ones with laydown structure and then slow retrieving the hair on the deeper shorelines. "