Paddled in to a remote Lake Erie connected Bass and Pike spot to test updated White 3/0 Slop Topper prototype(center fly). Steady small sharp strips, it stayed hook point up making small pops as the head plunged then curvimg back to the surface, nose high, tail low, repeat. It would run over the tops of submerged weeds on the surface, Stringy Moss, Lily Pads, fallen Cattail fronds.
Started the day trying other colors of Dive Bangers, getting nothing during the mid day skunk that happens here on bright summer days. At 5:30 PM, the White 3/0 Dive Banger(Popper on the right) started getting bass in not so great cover and went on to hook and hold 5 of them on its 3/0 barbless hook until the Bowfin encounter.
Center Right, just to the left of two uprooted Cattail clumps, a Bowfin played some Bowfin games with the 3/0 White Dive Banger. Saw a small surface disturbance with bubbles popping on the surface, Bowfin breathing air? Cast there, he instasntly waked to the fly, I stopped the retrieve, he stopped next to the fly, tried some creative twitches, he followed, gave it a crisp pop which seemed to trigger a reflexive sharp suck strike but the popper was going forward. I saw a flash of bronze but no hook contact. Paused, what now? Pop strip again and same result. Managed to get a hit on a followup cast and felt the hook catch but he was off instantly. I switched to the Slop Topper but he didn't come. Found no fish for the first 20 cast then we found fish and it's barbless 3/0 upward hook held the 4 Bass and a Pike that hit. Its strong suit is to throw it fearlessly over weed cover to any promising pocket, them march it back popping across the surface. For a weedless fly it hooks and holds hits flawlessly.
- Slop Topper Pattern
- Hook: 3/0 VMC 7250BN Preadator, front 1/2 inch of shank bent up 40* +or-
- Annealing, Retempering fore shank by candle flame, then plunge into water
- Tail: Long Bucktail tied in 15* down around the bend for Hook up stability
- Tail Flash: 3 strands Opal Magnum Flashabou folded long to each side of tail.
- Body #1: UV Chartreuse thread wrapped over shank
- Body #2. Any big pearl flash cheniille, here HareLine XL Cactus Hackle Pearl
- Tied in over tail wraps the gap facing rearwards, pulled forward
- Tied off 1/4 inch behind fore shank bend, (any big Flash Chenille OK)
- 1st Bucktail Shoulder: finger stacked 2 inches tied in Gap & on sides of shank
- 2nd Bucktail Shoulder: Finger stacked 1.5 inch, in gap and bulkier than 1st tie
- Shoulder Flash: 4 strands Opal Magnum Fashabou, folded, 2.5in each side
- Topping Flash: Pearl Ice Dub center tied on top & around sides of bucktail shoulders
- Cutting the Foam Head:
- River Road 15/16 inch foam cylinder cut into 1/3 about 3/8inch long.
- That disk is cut starting near the center diameter at a downward angle & taper
- A hole is poked through just below the edge of the curved side center.
- Optional Eye, stick on vinyl eye, Chartreuse with Black pupil or any color.
- Bending the VMC 7250BN Predator Hook
- Hold the front 1/2 inch of the shank over the tip of a steady candle flame, 10 seconds
- Bend the front 1/2 inch of shank up (into the gap) to 40 degrees
- Reheat the hook for 10 seconds and plunge it into a cup of water.
- This does not seem to damage the hook in any way.
- Grip the point just behind the barb and by hand bend the bend open 10 degrees +or -
- No annealing or retempering needed for the 3/0 hooks I have in stock.
- Optional, break off the barb. The long point of this hook is holding fish near 100%