Pop and pause: The classic pattern for working a popping cork. This strange-looking rig, with a foam float sliding on a steel wire, isnโt glamorous but it is effective. Jerking the rod tip causes the float to splash on the waterโs surface drawing in predators. When a redfish, striped bass or speckled trout swims in to investigate the commotion, the fish finds a tasty meal suspended in the water. For these pro guides, the simple tactic scores big fish.
Pro Popping Cork Tactics
Tackle Box
- Rod: 7โ4โ medium-fast
- Reel: 3500 Penn Battle
- Line: 20-lb braid
- Leader: 30-lb AFTCO Saiko fluorocarbon
- Popping cork: Four Horseman Tackle Popper
- Lure: Savage Gear Manic Shrimp RTF
Brandon Barton | Pensacola, Florida
Guide, Emerald Waters Kayak Fishing
When do you use a popping cork?
Murky, choppy water or low light conditions when the noise and commotion attract fish.
Offer a tip for working a popping cork
Long cast and quick pops. Reel in slack and let the cork sit for five seconds and pop again.
How do you cast a popping cork?
Use an FG knot so the leader knot passes smoothly through the line guides.
Tackle Box
- Rod: 8 wt LOWco Marsh MX
- Fly Line:ย 8 wt Scientific Angler floating line
- Leader: 30-lb butt section, 20-lb tippet
- Popping Cork: Fish-Skull Pop-N-Fly
- Fly:ย Blind Chicken shrimp pattern, Bendback Clouser
Darrell Olson | Charleston, South Carolina
YouTube @DarrellOlson
When do you use a popping cork?
I use a variation of the popping cork with my fly rod. The rig consists of a foam popper tied on my leader 20 inches above my fly. The tactic is deadly on sea trout, especially in windyย conditions.
Offer a tip for working a popping cork
I pop the cork by strip setting the line. Then, I count to 10 or 15 between each pop. With a weightless fly I wait longer to let the fly sink slowly.
How do you cast a popping cork?
To get the line to roll over, 20 inches is the maximum leader length. The popper float tied into the leader acts as a hinge to transfer energy from the fly line to the fly.
Tackle Box
- Rod: 7โ heavy-action vertical jigging
- Reel: 5000 spinning
- Line: 50-pound braid
- Leader: 2โ 60-lb monofilament above popping cork. 5โ 80-lb fluorocarbon from cork to terminal rig.
- Rig: 5/0 to 9/0 circle hook or wire stinger rig with 1/0 J-hook and 1/0 treble hook
- Popping cork: 6โ red and white cork. Weighted with a light bait and unweighted for largeย baits
Bart Swab | St. Augustine, Florida
Guide, Action Kayak Adventures
When do you use a popping cork?
Tarpon, snook and offshore species will fall for a popping cork. When bait schools hold in the upper water column, the popping cork suspends the bait where predators hunt.
Offer a tip for working a popping cork
Tying a two-foot shock leader above the cork prevents the mainline from tangling in the cork.
How do you cast a popping cork?
Cast a popping cork like launching a catapult. Start with 18 to 24 inches of line between the rod tip and the cork so the rod casts the weight of the cork and the bait follows.
Donโt allow the bait to touch the water on the back cast.
Ring the dinner bell with a splash. | Feature photo: Patrick Hayes
