[VFB] Making bass poppers

[Jimmy D. Moore]

Hi Gang,

I have a little something I'd like to share with those of you who fly 
fish for bass, perch, bluegills, etc. We were discussing foam bass 
poppers, etc. in the chat room, when one of the guys mentioned making 
them out of balsa and basswood.  I think he was using a dremel tool to 
shape them.  This got the old brain in gear and since I'd recently 
bought one of those mini-wood lathes from Harbor Freight to turn reel 
seats, I tho't why not turn a basswood popper. Worked like a charm.  I 
bought a two foot long 1/2"X1/2" stick of basswood and cut it off every 
2 1/2" inches.  Took the 2 1/2" long piece and chucked it up in the 
lathe and was able to turn two poppers at a time.  After getting the 
piece rounded, I proceeded to turn the left hand part into a 1/2 elipse 
and at the 1" point started cutting straight down to form the head of 
the popper, but not all the way through the wood.  

Then I turned a second 1/2 elipse just like the first one and at the 1" 
point cut straight down again, but not all the way through. The result 
was two 1/2 eliptical popper bodies, one right after the other, but 
still fastened together.  At that point I took a piece of 100 grit 
sandpaper and cut it into a 3" strip about 1/4" wide and sanded the two 
poppers.  When I got them smooth, I cut through between them and 
separated each and chucked them, one at a time back into the lathe and 
turned/scooped out the head so that it was concave which would enable 
it  to make a little "pop" when slightly jerked in the water. ( You can 
use balsa also, but I think basswood is easier to work and is not as 
adsorptive when priming and painting, i.e. you can get it smoother and 
thus get a slicker paint job.

All that was left to do was to cut a groove for the hook, epoxy it in 
and when dry, paint with primer, let dry then put on what ever color 
enamel I want.  When dry, tie in deer hair or feathers at the back of 
the popper and add eyes.  You can get stick-on eyes at any hobby shop.  
I couldn't believe how easy all this was. After a couple of false 
starts getting the lathe pressure just right, I was able to turn 6 
popper heads in about 5 minutes.  I'm sure as I get more used to the 
process, the time will be less.  

The upshot is that my popper looks as good as any I've seen in a store 
that sells bass poppers.  I will also probably turn some big chugger 
spook type Chunking and Winding lures for bass.  I really liked tying 
with foam, but after the success I had this afternoon with basswood, the 
majority of my future bass, crappie, perch and bluegill flies will be 
made from basswood.

JIMMY  D

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Jimmy D. Moore - Retired Scout Executive, BSA,  Moderator Fly Fishing 
World Email List,Member VFB, HCFF, GRTU, FFF, NAFC - Life Member. 
Contributor - Texas Fish & Game Magazine. Outdoor Humor Writer. 
Author of "MOON HOLLER MISFITS" Click URL for info.

http://home.earthlink.net/~rayado/rayadoflyfishingflypatternstips/index.html

"Being able to read trout streams is just as valuable to a 
fly fisherman as the ability to read a defense is to a Quarterback."
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