
Silver season is fast approaching (ahem, we may or may not have already seen a few) and we’re currently experiencing the height of our mind-boggling run of chum salmon on our home river at Alaska West. That can only mean one thing.. It’s popper season!
We love tossing surface patterns for our ridiculous runs of chum, pink, and silver salmon and today Alaska West guide, Cole Cook, shares the details on how to tie one of his favorites.
Thanks Cole!
Cole Cook’s ‘Big Poppa’ – Tying Instructions
The Big Poppa first originated from the difficulty of finding a commercial popper with a trailer hook suitable for big salmon. Most commercially available salmon poppers and/or ‘wogs’ (often tied on traditional salmon style hooks) can result in tongue hooked fish which can lead to bleeding or further injury during hook removal, both of which can be detrimental to the well being of a released fish. A trailer hook on the other hand allows the hook to slide across the mouth as you strip-set, improving the chances of landing in a much more desired purchase point such as the corner of the mouth.
Tied with larger (6mm) foam that’s simple to work with, the Big Poppa makes for a quick and easy popper pattern that silver salmon can’t resist, but is also much easier to cast than most commercially available poppers. A long bunny tail rigged with a trailer hook helps to drape subsurface for an effective “wiggle” factor while also reducing short strikes as well.