fishordie79 Posted February 19, 2021 Report Share Posted February 19, 2021 (edited) Hey TU Folks! Last year I was with a buddy out at a lake that has a good population of Wels catfish. We were out there for pike and I was throwing a Westin Freddy the Frog in American Bullfrog decor. I had removed the bottom treble and only had the single hook mounted to the ass end of the frog because I was throwing into some really thick lily pads and was trying to avoid too many hang ups. That lure kicks up a pretty good wake and moves a lot of water. So on one cast I was retrieving the lure and just as it cleared the edge of the pads heading back into open water there is this loud sucking noise and the lure is gone. After a short fight I had my first topwater Wels catfish, maybe a meter (40 inches or so) long. Not a big Wels by any standard but first one on topwater so special nonetheless. That got me thinking. I have exclusive access to a small shallow lake that is ruled by four or five Wels, a couple of which are pushing two meters (80 inches or so). I'd like to get out there this summer with the GoPros rolling and some big hand made poppers. I haven't made any poppers yet so I think this will be my next project. I saw Mikko from Solarfall Baits make a big pike/muskie popper the other day so I have somewhat of an idea of what I might do but was wondering if you all would care to share your experiences in making poppers with me. Ballast, body shape, type of wood, etc. I'll definitely have to do a through wire on these because I lost one of these giants last summer and I'm not about to take any chances next time. I'm looking for something that will move a lot of water and make a lot of noise. So what do you all think? How would you go about a project of this nature? As always thanks to everyone! Edited February 19, 2021 by fishordie79 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Epp Posted February 20, 2021 Report Share Posted February 20, 2021 That would be awesome! Nice "little" fish there. Maybe you could look at some of the saltwater poppers for GT? I think they might be in line with what you're after. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastman03 Posted February 21, 2021 Report Share Posted February 21, 2021 I’ve made a few mega poppers for edict fishing. I’ve had some nice fish explode on it. Stupid Muskies like to explode on the popper, but often end up hitting it away. Lol. Crazy for me to think a catfish would go for one! Those are cool fish. anyway. They were a pretty standard popper shape, 10” long. About 1.25” diameter popper mouth. I’ll have to see what info I have on them. I added enough ballast roughly in the middle to make it sit slightly nose up in the water. With t he hook hanger just under the water when sitting. it made a pretty good pop when I give it a hard quick jerk. I’ll have to get more info once I go to the shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Epp Posted February 22, 2021 Report Share Posted February 22, 2021 Have you thought about making a large version of the Smithwick Devil's Horse? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4/0 Posted February 23, 2021 Report Share Posted February 23, 2021 Nice fish. Say's that they live 60+ years. I don't have any experience making poppers but I have an older one that I bought and used it to throw on the edge on weedlines offshore for Mahi. I can dig it out and get a picture for you if you'd like. Besides a popper, something that would run just sub-surface and leave a wake on top of the water might get them interested also and run it right along the edge of the lily's. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted February 23, 2021 Report Share Posted February 23, 2021 3 hours ago, 4/0 said: Nice fish. Say's that they live 60+ years. I don't have any experience making poppers but I have an older one that I bought and used it to throw on the edge on weedlines offshore for Mahi. I can dig it out and get a picture for you if you'd like. Besides a popper, something that would run just sub-surface and leave a wake on top of the water might get them interested also and run it right along the edge of the lily's. This bait wakes at low speeds, and runs slightly sub-surface on a faster retrieve: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Epp Posted February 26, 2021 Report Share Posted February 26, 2021 This post was inspirational... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishordie79 Posted March 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2021 Hi everyone and thank you for the responses. I apologize for not getting back on here sooner but work has had me occupied hardcore for the last three weeks or so. I'll respond to you all today at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishordie79 Posted March 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2021 @Big EppThanks for the suggestions brother! I'll check out the Smithwick's stuff tonight! Also, nice big bait man! I need to order some hardware to make something like that. Those propellers would likely get 'em interested:) @4/0 Sure thing man if you'd like to send a picture of that thing I will gladly take a look at it and see if it may be something I could incorporate into my deign! @mark poulson That is for sure something that would get their attention. I'd even think about putting some rattles in there for added noise. These fish hunt mainly on vibration and smell so the louder/more wake the better. @eastman03 Sure thing man! Any info would be greatly appreciated. I'm definitely thinking of adding lot of rattles to whatever the final design is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishordie79 Posted March 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2021 On 2/21/2021 at 1:37 AM, eastman03 said: I’ve made a few mega poppers for edict fishing. I’ve had some nice fish explode on it. Stupid Muskies like to explode on the popper, but often end up hitting it away. Lol. Crazy for me to think a catfish would go for one! Those are cool fish. anyway. They were a pretty standard popper shape, 10” long. About 1.25” diameter popper mouth. I’ll have to see what info I have on them. I added enough ballast roughly in the middle to make it sit slightly nose up in the water. With t he hook hanger just under the water when sitting. it made a pretty good pop when I give it a hard quick jerk. I’ll have to get more info once I go to the shop. Yeah man these fish are nuts. You can see videos of them on YouTube hunting pigeons on the Ebro river in Spain. They swim up to the shore and wait for the birds to venture into the water for a quick bath and then with super speed they just suck them in. Nuts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Epp Posted March 4, 2021 Report Share Posted March 4, 2021 I cut the props for the bait out of sheet aluminum with tin snips, bunched the holes with a nail set, and used a belt sander and hand sandpaper to finish shaping and smoothing them. I think they should work pretty well. I used a through-wire for it, which is making the top coating process a little tricky, as I've got to keep the props clear. That video is crazy! Now to make a pigeon lure... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly voodoo Posted March 4, 2021 Report Share Posted March 4, 2021 If you want an aggressive top water check out the surface paddlers made for Murray cod. I built a version of surface paddler last year and so far it works for pike, musky, and bass I am still tinkering with my design and plan to calm the action down a little for this season and make a smaller version There is a thread on here where I first started looking into the build and a finished pic I have a video of the action on my phone but don’t know how to post it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly voodoo Posted March 4, 2021 Report Share Posted March 4, 2021 I actually have two painted bodies that have a bubbled clear coat from learning how to use KBS. If you are interested I could rig one up and send it to you. All I would want is some trophy pics I could use for a website pic is of the two bodies I am taking about 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Epp Posted March 4, 2021 Report Share Posted March 4, 2021 Nice looking mistakes @Hillbilly voodoo! Did you add weight to those or do the hooks and face cup thing keep them correctly oriented? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly voodoo Posted March 4, 2021 Report Share Posted March 4, 2021 1 hour ago, Big Epp said: Nice looking mistakes @Hillbilly voodoo! Did you add weight to those or do the hooks and face cup thing keep them correctly oriented? The cup/hooks, mold angle, body shape and resin/micro balloon recipe is how it’s balanced. The only ballast I use in my resin poured baits are layers of pure resin. But everything is roughly planned out before I design the body shape. Takes some thinking at the start and a little messing around but once I have a design figured out it’s fast to just follow the recipe to pour blanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Epp Posted March 4, 2021 Report Share Posted March 4, 2021 7 minutes ago, Hillbilly voodoo said: The cup/hooks, mold angle, body shape and resin/micro balloon recipe is how it’s balanced. The only ballast I use in my resin poured baits are layers of pure resin. Oh nice! I didn't realize these were resin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly voodoo Posted March 4, 2021 Report Share Posted March 4, 2021 1 minute ago, Big Epp said: Oh nice! I didn't realize these were resin. Majority of my hard baits are unless they are prototypes or one offs built for fun I find it a pain in the butt to replicate most of my designs out of wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4/0 Posted March 4, 2021 Report Share Posted March 4, 2021 fishordie, Here are a couple pictures of the popper ( one that I bought, don't know how to make them ). I have caught several nice Mahi off of it. Offshore on a weedbed I will throw it along the edge and rip it hard, popping it and then let it sit for a three/four count. The lateral line really shows up in the water. I don't if I like that or if the fish do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted March 4, 2021 Report Share Posted March 4, 2021 There are a couple of 'man-made' competition ponds stocked with catfish close by. The fish are generally 1Lb - 4Lb but occasionally much bigger. Cats are not my favorite, the standard bait is rotting fish guts. I never thought of using a crank or a popper, but the chances of me being allowed such a tactic is very remote. Competition fishing is very big here in Indonesia, ponds run at least two comps a day, sometimes 3 or 4, extending into the early hours depending on demand. Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
