Temperatures are slowly rising and the underwater world is starting to come to life again. You can see the first tiny creatures moving around on the surface of the water and small fish grabbing a snack or two before diving down again. This marks the beginning of one of the most exciting times of angling for me: topwater fishing for all the local predators. Brutal bites, adrenaline-filled drills and lots of beautiful fish are the aim of this ingenious technique.

It is possible to pursue the predators in this way until the first cold months, with the months of July-September proving to be the best in recent years.

Variants

There are many different types of bait for topwater fishing: Small frogs, propbaits with small propellers, stickbaits and many more...

However, there is one type of lure that puts them all in the shade for me: The popper! At first glance, it looks very unspectacular and creates quite a storm in the water, which most predators really like. Pike, perch, asp and chub are probably the most fished comrades in our local waters and deliver spectacular bites and drills. Due to its so-called pit (concave = curved inwards) in the front area and the round body shape, a semicircular or arc-shaped upward water movement occurs when the rod is pulled. At this moment, a sound is created which we as anglers perceive as a "plop" or clap. Hence the name popper. With a small eyelet, with or without a carabiner, in the middle of the pit, it is even possible with some models to create a zigzag run like a stickbait and at the same time conjure up a "plop". Colors play a subordinate role for me, as the predators always start against the light to attack the bait. However, certain color reflections are useful in some cases or situations, e.g. metallic colors that flash seductively in the sun make sense in bright sunshine. Much more important to me with a popper is a treble or single hook, in the rear part, with an attractive feather or fringe, which creates a certain additional attraction and makes the bait easier to suck in. A nice dull rattle, a good split ring connection inside and a perfect long-casting system make the lure perfect.

The Ikiru Pop 65 and the E POP 80 from SPRO combine all of this. As detailed replicas of small fish, these are two perfectly crafted poppers that leave nothing to be desired or required. They are excellent to cast and run even in rough conditions. Both are equipped with sturdy treble hooks that grip securely in the fish's mouth. With two sizes and corresponding weight classes, 6 and 14 grams, you are well equipped. Those who value a play of colors are well served with the Ikiru Pop 65 with six colors and the E POP 80 with seven colors.

A little tip: If you are sure that there are no or very few pike in the water, you can fish without steel. This gives the surface wobbler maximum freedom of movement. The best way to do this is to tie your topwater lure directly to the fluoro. In my case, this is done with a loop knot or loop knot, also known as a Rapala knot. You can also use a knotable steel or titanium piece. Here again, the strength plays a very important role: if the diameter increases, the knot also becomes heavier. In this case, less is more.

With this in mind - be inspired by fishing with topwater lures and give it a try, because the action and adrenaline rushes when the predator brutally pounces on your lure are just as indescribable as when it spectacularly spirals out of the water in front of you!

With this in mind, tight lines.

Your Focki