Feathers or Bucktail for poppers ?

For the rear treble on my Rebel Pop-R's I tied some white bucktail with pearl flashabou on a Mustad ultra point hook. I was told that buck tail isn't going to atract bass like feathers will. Is this opinion or fact ? Do the fish even care ? I remember haveing 'gills tear off my feathers on original hooks and still catching bass with bare hooks. Any thoughts ?-Thanks

I use kip, buck, feathers, and even used some maribou once. Great action when sitting still but not very durable. I add a few strands of flash or Christmas tree tinsel to juice it up a bit. Length is sometimes an issue as too long makes for short strikes. Tie some of different lengths and change up to a shorter one when the short strikes occur. I have never tried it but was told to tie some in black with some tinsel. If you want to try different colors of bucktail, keep your eyes on ebay. I found abot 8 small pieces of bucktail in different colors for about $6 to my door. Not a lot but enough to experiment with. Kiptail seems to be the most durable of the natural fibers to me so far.

to answer your ? yes it is opinion and no the fish do not care .
tie what is durable or what you like. personally i like plain hooks so i am not bothered by little gills.

I'm with Yodi, I tie em with whatever I feel like trying. Makes it more fun when you try different things

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Originally Posted by kyron4

For the rear treble on my Rebel Pop-R's I tied some white bucktail with pearl flashabou on a Mustad ultra point hook. I was told that buck tail isn't going to atract bass like feathers will. Is this opinion or fact ? Do the fish even care ? I remember haveing 'gills tear off my feathers on original hooks and still catching bass with bare hooks. Any thoughts ?-Thanks

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I remember reading that Zell Rowland liked to add feathers to all his Pop-R's. He thought the bass liked 'em better.

As for poppers, I don't tie my own. I buy mine at Bass Pro, and they all have feathers -- no bucktail.

what about rabbit zonkers?

I'm thinking you're talking hard body poppers? With 2 treble hooks? If so, they all work just remember less is more whether it's white hackle feathers with 1 red one and some flash, or bucktail.

i like to put feathers on the trebles,but thats only because the feathers are easier to work with compared to bucktails.i catch plenty of bass on cranks without any feathers or anything on the trebles.i don't think it makes or breaks a fish wanting to eat it.

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

I remember reading that Zell Rowland liked to add feathers to all his Pop-R's. He thought the bass liked 'em better.

As for poppers, I don't tie my own. I buy mine at Bass Pro, and they all have feathers -- no bucktail.

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Absolutely right and Zell even takes his Pop_R's and sands down the sides and paints them again. I have a couple of his and they look awesome, but cost a good bit for a popper, but signed and numbered too and just to collect.

Feathers all the way. What he says is that even sitting still the feather is moving and looks like it's breathing. Drives the fish crazy and they have to hit it!

Click on the links for a few I painted & tied...
http://thumpitjigs.com/images/DSC00552B.jpg

http://thumpitjigs.com/images/DSC00639B.jpg

http://thumpitjigs.com/images/DSC00514B.jpg

http://thumpitjigs.com/images/DSC00531B.jpg


Skip

Those are nice poppers Skip. :)

fantastic job you did skip on your poppers.

Thanks guys! I tied them a couple years back and they were some of my first ones I ever made. I wanted to get some balsa wood for the heads, but just never followed through. Have a guy that I can get the wood in dowel form from.

Skip