Hodgey Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 (edited) G'Day all Saturday produced another bumper session, with Dene and we managing to land 25 bream for the morning. (Including Dene's PB bream on popper of 42cm ... top fish! ) Even the very high tides did not deter the fish, thanks to an overcast day. (None of the 25 were kept. All fish were released to grow a little bigger! ) These 20+ sessions are exceptions to the rule. We have experienced many days where we have been struggling to get 12 fish between us, but weather and water conditions have been ideal for the last three weekends, thus the increase in the capture quantity. I have included below a very basic 'how-to' guide. It works well for me, but as I have stated in other posts in the past, quite often techniques become location specific, so this method may not work in your favourite stretch of water. Give it a go, and I hope it brings you success and enjoyment! Equipment similar to: Rack Raider rod (or similar), 6'6" - 7', 1 pce Suitable 2000-size reel 4-8lb braid, 80cm of 10-14lb flurocarbon leader 55 - 65mm Popper of your choice Where to target the fish: 1: Dense weed beds covered by a minimum of 6" of water 2: Lone snags or broken/disused oyster racks 3: Oyster leases 4: Shadowed areas around submerged timber How? Cast the lure to the selected target area. HINT: Try to halt the lure in flight before it lands on the water. This will generally produce a softer landing for the popper and will be less likely to 'spook' the fish. If the lure lands with a pronounced 'splash', leave it motionless for 3-4 seconds before commencing retrieve. To achieve the appropriate action from the lure, I use short, sharp down-strokes of the rod tip. You can achieve similar results by using a sideways movement of the rod, or by lifting upwards. I prefer the down-stroke as it ensures the cup-face of the lure remains in touch with the water, maximising water displacement (the 'bloop'). I retrieve the lure using a downstroke every second, for 5-6 seconds, let the lure pause on the surface for 3-4 seconds, then repeat. Each 'bloop' of the popper should result in a forward spray of water that is projected approx 10-15cm. The reel is wound continuously during the down-strokes to ensure contact with the lure. This retrieve style is maintained all the way back, then re-cast and repeat process. A pair of polarised sunnies is essential for this type of fishing as you will often see the fish 'stalking' your lure. 85% of my fish caught on popper attack the lure during the retrieve. They either pluck it under water subtly, or smash it on the top of the water in an explosion of water. The hook-up rate for poppers is quite low, but you can improve this by not striking on the initial attack. Allow the fish to turn with the lure in its mouth before you strike and commence battle! Fishing conditions will dictate how you modify your retrieve. I have had numerous days where the fish will only strike the lure when it is moving. If this is the case, simply remove the 'pause' from your technique. Sometimes, they will take it while it is sitting stationary on top of the water for a prolonged period! The ideal conditions seem to be when the water is 19-24 degrees, and there is a 'wind ripple' across the water surface. Overcast days is definitely an added bonus!!!If you observe a fish hovering under your lure, and it won't attack on the pause or the 'bloop', try winding the lure in slowly, so that it creates a 'v' in the water. This will often trigger the fish into committing to your lure. Well, there you go. I hope you found this easy to follow and , most importantly, informative. Best of luck to you all! Hodgey Edited March 27, 2009 by Hodgey 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bream Mad Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Thanks for that mate always good to get detailed techniques Do you always use poppers or have you tried 'dogs' such as PX45 or Towadi's, sammy's ect in my experience these are very effective BM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vipernut Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Thanks Hodgey Terrific information,i have only recently started using poppers in salt water(have caught bass on them previously). Now armed with some new poppers and your info, I hope to have some success in the salt. Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Hi Hodgey Fantastic information there!! Many thanks. We should all be hooking up BIGTIME now!! Can't wait to try them in the leases - will tighten the drag up with pliers first tho Some guys have been getting into terrific bream & whiting on the flats here at Pipers Bay - sometimes, as you say, in really, rfeally shallow water, that you would otherwise not even bother targetting! I have caught average size bream & nice sized whiting in the creek. Now that I have some of the 'secret weapon' my confidence in hooking up will increase!!! I must go back to the little creek that I fished with some buddies earlier in January! Lots of fun there. Cheerio Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewgaffer Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 All gold Hodgey. This is the one that needs to be kept on members' file. The gear, the where and the how to are meticulously presented and the results certainly show. This is close enough to the method used up north when needed for sales top up. Like your style mate Cheers jewgaffer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmoshe Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Thanks Hodgey for taking some of the mystique out of poppering. I sort of had the general idea after watching others use them, but to see it in black and white...it makes it more easy to understand the technique. I might head down to the lake this arvo and throw one around using your method. Nice weed beds with 6 inches of water covering them. May even raise a flattie on them at the same time. Thanks again for the very informative post. Cheers, Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Iceman Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Thats pretty good Other areas I like to target are mudflats where there is standing weed(the brown weed that looks like xmas trees which often have cockles attached) and the edges of points where there is a reef coming off The gear I use is a 7ft fishfinder proseries rod 1000 stradic 2lb stren magnathin line and some 10lb leader If I was to get another rod for poppering it would be the same but the guides setup for a 2500 size reel to aid in even longer casts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregL Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Nice one Hodgey Sharing is caring! A couple of things I have found. Leader Long leaders work best if running braid in clear water.( my line is bright orange) I run at least 7ft at the start and replace once down to 4.5-5ft long Mono is a better leader as it floats, so it won't sink the really light lures. Lures If there is wind, poppers are the key. No wind or chop, walkers and pencils are the guns. Ass down lures have better hook up rates. Poppers with a "tail" on the rear trebble seem to get bit more. Areas I love rock walls and points. Look for submerged rocks sitting just out from the main wall. Cast past it, pop the lure to the edge of it and sit it there, they will come out if any are there..... Have fun guys and go out and give it a go while they are really on the chew! I'm off tomorrow up to the Hawkesbury for 5 days. I have rented a house up there with a private jetty and all so I can leave the boat in the water for the whole trip. The topwater lure box is now restocked, camera on charge, man I can't wait....... Till next week! Greg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewgaffer Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Nice one Hodgey Sharing is caring! .........A couple of things I have found. Lures If there is wind, poppers are the key. No wind or chop, walkers and pencils are the guns. Ass down lures have better hook up rates. Poppers with a "tail" on the rear trebble seem to get bit more....... .........I'm off tomorrow up to the Hawkesbury for 5 days. I have rented a house up there with a private jetty and all so I can leave the boat in the water for the whole trip. The topwater lure box is now restocked, camera on charge, man I can't wait....... Till next week! Greg Hi Greg It should be a great five days mate and the timing for next week should be near perfect Especially having such good stealth structure as a private jetty right at your doorstep with the sun going down and the tide going up!! A private jetty's a great spot to set up a deck chair and a few rods with big tough baits on!! Better make sure you tie lanyards to your rods tho Hawkesbury jew certainly didn't become known for their inactivity, that's for sure. I'ts real handy to have a boat in the water ready for action for any time of day. You will be able to do some good exploratory and surveillance work and drop out a few of your best samples in the burley first off and, not you being governed by any clock, you'll find the jew are very good after hours customers, especially in the up river sections, and I say sections because they are what has to be located. Whereabouts in the river will you be staying Greg? A five day break and good consistency would give you an excellent chance of getting among the bigger Hawkesbury jew, that's for sure. Cheers jewgaffer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregL Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 G'day Jewgaffer We are staying in the Little Wobby area. Nice and central on the river, this way I can fish Pittwater, the Hawkesbury and Cowan. Will be mainly in Cowan as I want to chase the surface bream that we have been getting into of late. Looked at house boats and other houses, the house way just seems alot nicer than the house boat plus it worked out about the same price with alot more thrown in! Here is a link for any that are thinking about it. http://www.hawkesburyriver.com/ I have done this a few times now, Fan bloody tastic! You can even organise food hampers, so the only thing you need to bring is your clothes, fishing gear and your supply of your favorite "tea" If anyones out there and see's the black and blue Skeeter, pop over for a chat! GL225N Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich P Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Binga I will see you out there on Sunday as im working on Saturday.Give us a buzz. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylo Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 This needs to be a sticky thread. Great reading and excellent tips - can only be topped by adding a video of you doing your thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnno Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Hodgey Thank you for sharing so much information Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roffo Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Jez makes you want to out and buy poppers. What type of poppers are we talking about?? Cheers Roffo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justinp Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Jez makes you want to out and buy poppers. What type of poppers are we talking about?? Cheers Roffo River 2 sea buggi pop, bubble pop, Mebepen Mebaru, smith towadi, ecogear px45, luckycraft sammy65, daiwa td zero, stiffy, surecatch, all these work on a given day, Just follow what Greg said fish the conditions and make sure that when you fire in a cast get it as close to the structure your fishing, if you aint getting snagged you aint getting close enough, cheers Justin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Rock Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Onya Hodgey - very generous and community minded of you to share your knowledge! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roffo Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 River 2 sea buggi pop, bubble pop, Mebepen Mebaru, smith towadi, ecogear px45, luckycraft sammy65, daiwa td zero, stiffy, surecatch, all these work on a given day, Just follow what Greg said fish the conditions and make sure that when you fire in a cast get it as close to the structure your fishing, if you aint getting snagged you aint getting close enough, cheers Justin. Thanks for the heads up, can't wait to give them a go........... Cheers Roffo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulg Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 top stuff Hodgey. MR RB Thanks for the heads up, can't wait to give them a go........... Cheers Roffo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve07 Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Great info & tips on popper fishin hodgey, well done mate! cheers steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnno Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 This Topic is now pinned and has been moved into the Lure & Fly Chat section Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squizy Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Mate All you need to do now is get your ass to SEQLD I have a few good reds and a few places to pick up bass on popper for you. The re-vamped 1-3kg struddy 2lb braid 6lb fluro leader or the poppers on fly all combine for fantastic action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatty hunter626 Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 thanks hodgey just bought 3 stiffy poppers and a few river to sea poppers so will be giving them a god shortly:P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh88 Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Can't wait to have a crack at some of the Cowan Bream GregL has told me about. Good tips from both of you Cheers Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adzzy Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Equipment similar to: Rack Raider rod (or similar), 6'6" - 7', 1 pce Suitable 2000-size reel 4-8lb braid, 80cm of 10-14lb flurocarbon leader 55 - 65cm Popper of your choice Hodgey Hey hodgey i would love to see the size of the bream you have been catching on these moster poppers 55-65cm popper Adzzy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodgey Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 Nice pickup! Measurement has now been corrected Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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