SBS Foam Popper

[RichS]

I have been tying up some poppers using foam strips lately. They work work well and are economical , but they take some time to produce. I’ve learned a few things along the way.
1. Glue your foam pieces together. I use 3m Super 77 for this and it works great. It can make a serious sticky mess if you are not careful though.

Now cut the foam piece into strips and then individual popper bodies. I use a razor knife, other tools might be easier.


Shape the body with dremel or equivalent tool.


I live to make insets on the front and back of the popper body. The one on the back will cover the thread ties for the collar and the one on the front is useful with a weed guard and with keeping the body forward on the hook shank which helps maintain hook gap.


Finally at the vise tie in tail. In this case three rooster hackles on each side splayed outward. Preparing the feathers as shown with the attachment point feathers on the stem trimmed short helps to secure them solidly.



Tie in some more rooster hackle and wrap as a collar. Wrap and solid thread base for the body on the hook.


Prepare the body by heating a bodkin and making a hole for the hook shank.

 

[RichS]

Part 2

Use a generous amount of your favorite superglue to the hook shank and add the body. Make sure it is straight
Decorate the body as you see fit with markers. Add legs by pushing a needle through the body and glue on some eyes.
Finish the fly by tying the weed guard (if used) forward and tying it off.
There are easier ways to make popper body. This works well and makes a nice finished product.

 

[Kinigit]

Great write-up. What is the foam thickness and source? Thanks!

 

[RichS]

This one is two 6 mm sheets and one 2 mm. I get this from JStockard. Blocks of foam in one color would be easier. Then again I fish heavy leaders for bass and rarely lose any flies so it doesn’t matter if it is inefficient.

 

[Eastside]

Thanks Rich! Great SBS.

 

[Draketake]

Nice tutorial. If possible can you add a picture taken from the front? Id like to see how you tie off the weedguard. Do you just pull it forward and tie off or do you make a slit in the foam to seat the weedguard, pull it into the slit and then tie it off at the eye?

Thank you in advance.

Bob