Popper and Diver If you’ve never had a smallmouth blow up on a topwater fly, you’re missing out—it’s pure adrenaline. Poppers and divers are my go-to for those heart-stopping moments.

I personally always carry at least one popper fly as well in case a topwater blitz erupts, but rarely is the popper the pattern that makes the most plays. Even if the surface is boiling with bass, ...

Popper flies are fun and effective fly patterns. Learn which style of these surface patterns will get the job done on your home waters.

The 4 Best Styles of Hair-Fly Patterns 1) The Classic Popper A Popper calls in big bass with enticing surface noise. Ralph Smith Back in the day, spinning hair to create a popper was practical.

Hook more smallmouth bass on the fly. Learn the top 6 fly patterns for smallies, from topwater takes to bottom crawling crayfish.

It was ugly, but it did, in fact, catch fish at the base of cattails. Fly Fishing Gear for Bass A 7 or 8-weight rod is perfect for throwing air-resistant poppers.

Four years ago, I wrote a column about fly-fishing for smallmouth bass on the John Day River in Oregon. I mention this because some of you may actually be able to remember something that h ...

Years from now, those who participated in the 32nd annual CITGO BASS Masters Classic will likely look back upon Jay Yelas' dominant victory as an aberration of sorts. Not the talented Texan's ...

Fishing fly-rod poppers, you are in it for the fun of the strike, not the cash of the tournament win. I have caught bass to five pounds on poppers there in front of my house.