Are there any preferred retrieve techniques to using the Pencil Poppers for the Stripers? Fast rip, stop and go, walking the dog, etc...

Anything happening at the big three Striper haunts (Castaic, Pyramid, Silverwood)??

Thanks.
Tony

There are a few factors that can help determine which retrieve will work best.
1. Is there any activity in the area? birds, boils or any other possible indication of active Stripers.
a) Obviously actively feeding fish- throw 8-12' ahead of moving fish or 2-4' to the side of, and well past stationary boils. DO NOT cast into the center of a boil. This will either put down the boil (very bad) or get you a small Striper and put down the school (still pretty bad). Putting the lure around the edge of the school will generally get you the bigger fish in the boil. The retrieve here is fast and furious, the more splash and speed the better, especially if your leading the boil. Strikes will be SMASHING.
If you do F***-up and throw into the middle of the school, all is not lost, if they aren't put down immediately, just wait for the school to move and give a wounded/half hearted retrieve after they've move 4-6'. This has resulted in my 2 largest Pencil caught fish, both 20#+, and the strikes are just slurps.
b)Activity, but no boils at the moment- use an active but injured retrieve, if you see a follow try to halfway take it away from them. You won't be able to.
c)Activity, birds in a limited area, either sitting or flying and looking for a meal but no boils within 30 min.- very the retrieve with lots of half dead retrieves and lots of high speed & splash retrieves.
d)Deadsville, blind casting to waste time- very retrieves with a lot of moderate speed & splash retrieves. KEEP an eye on the horizon looking for activity of any kind.

Tight lines,
Wade

Hey Wade:

Thanks a bunch for the tips! Will put to good use doing this Striper thing! I've actually been tossing one a lot as of late in an attempt to learn how to work it. I picked one up last week (~10#'er) using one, and have gotten boiled on it a few times on it as well. Just wanted some confirmation that the way I've been bringing it in is legit and my bites have not been by accident! Lol!

Thanks again!
Tony

I use Pencil Poppers all the time in the American river. I retrieve it fast and erratic through the ripples. The more splash the better. I've caught a lot of Stripers on them in the American. One night my buddy and I landed 13 stripers between 10 and 27lbs. You might also wan't to try a Strper Strike, this is a sinking bait so you have to work it real fast to keep it on top. Lately this has been my best choice for the Stripers

The Striper Strike 2000 from Creek Chub lures is another great bait. The fact that it sinks can be a help at times. It'll sink with a school that has gone down or can be killed to get the bigger fish that stay behind and to the bottom of a schooly boil. If you have a rod big enough and can find one the Blues Buster (6+oz) can be good too, I think it's made by Cape Cod Lures. I make a wood copy of the Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper with enough lead in it's butt to make it neutrally bouyant that casts like a missile. If you want to make one I suggest a hardwood like Maple, Pine just falls apart to quick. It's also a good idea to sharpen or change out all of the hooks on any Popper.

Tight lines,
Wade

Great...more poppers to check out! I've got two in my box, the classic Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper and a more recently acquired one called a "Striper Special". Very slick piece of wood! This one is about 8" in length, is weighted nicely in the back end (it sits straight up on the bottom), enough for a good sink, and a great paint-job. I believe there was a shorter version of this same lure too. I've seen some other stubbier styles fished, but I really like the action of this one.

Building one would be a kick too... Hmmm...something to think about in the near future...

Tony