So several of you have contacted me over the last couple of days with regards to what are the popper heads made from. Well they are just your average small bottling corks bought from your local supermarket. They weigh practically bugger all and are cheap as chips. I get 25 in a packet for Є1.50 which beats a pack of 4 Enrico Puglisi foam popper heads at Є4.25 from my local fly shop. They can be trimmed down quite easily with a sharp blade to suite the size hook you are using as well as cut grooves in the front of them for extra disturbance. They are also extremely durable if attached correctly. I'll show you how tomorrow with a small tutorial. Although I generally just paint mine black one could paint them any colour you desire. Not a bad tight arse top tip If I say so myself!
4 comments:
The question is, can you still cast them with a #7, 8 or 9 weight, or do you need a 12 weight to cast them nicely? The look nice but the ep poppers are much easlily to cast....this looks like a big problem with yours. Or you have to use a baitcaster :))
Edwin I use the Loop pike buster 9ft and am able to cast these 15-20m no problem. I have used EP heads many times and think they are great...I just like using cheaper methods that get the same results.That's whats great about pike fly development these days. new innovations. I have flies here over 35 cm long that weigh a damn site more than these poppers and I'm able to cast them 15m or more.One doesn't need to cast over 20 meters all the time. Maybe I should tie you up a couple and send them through to you so you can try them out!
James:
I go to the local hobby shop and buy colored high density foam "marshmallows" normally 3/4 or 1 inch buy about one inch and use these for my tube fly heads. They are generally more robust and do not need painting. I use a TCRi 8 weight with a 9 weight pike taper and can throw 60 feet on a calm day. The pike taper is 90 total.
Buy a round dowel rod and shape it to your needs. Ripping cork and foam through brush on a back cast tend to tear them up. My hardwood poppers are durable, but I think bigger models might get to be a bit heavy. I make them about an inch (2.5cm) long on a 1/0 hook + tail.
I've got pictures somewhere on my blog if you care to search for it.
Post a Comment