This is the Fire Shimmy Size 10 "popping bug" as we Southern boys call them but we'll let you call them poppers if it makes you happy. Sorry for the rushed photo quality and poor lighting but these are chartreuse and as some have already attested, it really is the primary thing you need for fly fishing for panfish and you'll get a few bass while you're at it. The two companies that I know are making them are Betts Tackle, Ltd. and Falls Bait Co. There may be more but those are the brands that I commonly see and use. I shop online and sometimes direct will actually get you the best price, especially if you buy a full card (dozen). As you can see they come with a much fuller 'head of hair' and I trim my down for three reasons. (1) They are much easier to cast and much less wind resistant after trimming (2) They're a smaller bait and less intimidating yet still plenty visible to fish underneath. (3) I see many folks who cast a popping bug and then strip it like a streamer to make a disturbance in the water, hoping to attract a hit. That's all well and good but it make too much disturbance and spooks fish sometimes and also just a few strips and you've taken the Shimmy out of zone so to speak. By trimming the bug like in the photo you shorten the rubber legs - and make them much stiffer - which if you will lightly wiggle your rod tip side to side, will recreate the action of something like a cricket swimming on the water . . . plus because it's not being pulled forward, maximizes the time in that little pocket you went to so much trouble to cast to.
A few more suggestions:
a. get size 8 or size 6 - both work well
b. carry with you both skinny needle-nose pliers & long forceps - it will surprise you how 'bream' as we call Bluegills can suck down a popping bug that seems bigger than their little jaws can open.
c. when you first cast let the bug land and do not disturb it - sometimes this seems to draw strikes better than making any movement at all.
d. a straight strand of 6-lb or 8-lb mono is all you need for a leader - a tapered leader is unnecessary - a long (normal) leader causes more trouble than you would think. Some guys I know go as short as 4-ft. I think your rod length minus 1-ft is a good place to start; for instance if you use an 8-ft rod, tie on a 7-ft leader. As you change bugs, you won't have to change leaders for at least two re-ties - I change if it gets shorter than 6-ft..
I hope this is a little help for those of you who haven't fished with popping bugs, poppers, or whatever the hell you wanta call 'em. As always YMMV
