How To Fish Popping Corks 101 [Spots, Retrieves, & Gear]
- By: Richard Thomas
- on
Welcome to how to fish popping corks 101!
In this video, we’ll be talking EVERYTHING popping corks from the best spots to use them in, to the right gear you need, and more.
If you want to catch more fish on popping corks, then keep scrolling!!
Popping Corks 101 [VIDEO]
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Featured Equipment:
- Four Horsemen Popping Corks
- TFO Pro S 7’6″ Medium-Heavy
- 15lb PowerPro
- Ande Monofilament Leader
- Power Prawn USA Junior Gold Digger
Types Of Spots
The very first thing to decide is where you’re going to fish!
My absolute favorite areas to fish with popping corks are flooded flats, especially ones with structure.
The ideal depth is anywhere from 2-5 feet.
Flooded flats near creek mouths, oyster bars, or similar structure are the indicators of a great popping cork spot.
The popping cork will keep your hooks away from invasive structure and you have the option of fishing along the grass line banks.
Personally, I don’t fish with popping corks around docks, or deep holes and bends in creeks.
The reason why is that those are ideal conditions for fishing with a slip float rig.
Popping corks provide a fixed depth of leader line while a slip float moves up and down.
Moreover, flooded flats also commonly have good current flow.
It can be advantageous to fish a flat adjacent to a wider body of water with ledges.
Rod, Reel, & Terminal Tackle
My setup starts with the 7’6″ TFO Pro S Medium-Heavy.
You could bump down to a Medium but I would lean toward the heavy in this case.
Popping corks can get heavy and you want enough backbone in your gear to handle that.
The issue with using lighter tackle is when a fish goes to strike your hook, the weight of the cork will also interfere with your hook set and you could miss the fish or not stick the hook in their mouth as well as you could have with a heavier rod.
Also, keep in mind, you’ll be popping the cork all day and it can take a toll on you.
The reel I’ve got paired up to this rod is the Daiwa BG 3000 but I would recommend any kind of 3000 series reel for this outfit.
Lighter reels just won’t balance well with the entire system.
As far as braid goes, 15lb braid is what I recommend and you’ll have no issues launching the cork out with a slightly heavier line.
The Popping Cork System & Retrieves
Right at the top of the entire system is the FG knot connecting the braided line to the leader line, with one exception.
I have a 30lb monofilament leader after the FG knot running into the cork.
The reason for this is to avoid tangles and issues with braided lines and popping corks.
When the braid gets wet, it’s then so easy for it to wrap around your rod tip or the cork and become tangled.
The cork itself is a Four Horsemen Popping Cork, and in this case, it is the oval shape.
If I am targeting redfish, then I may lean toward using the cup-shaped cork.
Moving down the system, the cork already has a swivel underneath it to attach your leader and then hook.
I use a 20lb monofilament leader and the length typically varies based on the area and structure.
An 18 to a 30-inch leader at most is ideal.
When it comes to baits and lures, you can use anything under popping corks.
You can fish live bait, shrimp, or even artificial lures.
My favorite is any type of shrimp presentation both live and artificial.
I tend to get more hookups on smaller shrimp presentations like the Power Prawn USA Junior underneath corks.
When it comes to the weight of your hook or jighead, I found 1/8 oz. to be the sweet spot.
You should always pay attention to the current speed and make adjustments if needed.
As far as retrieves go, popping corks are designed to mimic a shrimp or bait bouncing up and falling back down to the bottom.
Most of the strikes happen on the fall.
Give the cork a quick pop and then let your lure settle down and repeat.
Another retrieve is called the dead drift which is just letting the cork flow in the current or wind.
Conclusion
Fall is one of the best times of the year to fish with a popping cork!
What’s your favorite type of popping cork?
Do you have a favorite area to fish with popping corks?
Please let me know down in the comments!!
Finding The Fish Help
In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.
1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)
These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.
2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)
This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.
3. Community Reports (live feed)
The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.
Related categories:
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- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
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- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Fantastic info. I use popping corks a lot, thanks for sharing. Buzz
Anytime Buzz! Glad it was valuable to you!
Richard,
As always, great info, especially the tip on heavy mono at the top and the dead drift. I’ve been using a popper with gulp shrimp over a big oyster rake at high tide with mixed success. I’ve tried the creek mouths when the tide is moving with virtually no success…..have the current and see a good bit of bait movement but haven’t been able to generate fish. I’m trying to figure out whether it’s my presentation or whether I’m just fishing where the fish aren’t….. My last trip I found a great creek outlet that drained a very extensive flat with an extensive series of lakes and oyster reefs…..fish gotta be there. I’m gonna head out tomorrow at bottom half of the tide and also incoming using a popping cork with gulp shrimp and try some more dead drifting and also shortening up my leader to about half water depth (a tip from another short SS video…). Will let you know.
Thanks again for all the great tips.
Frank
Absolutely Frank! That sounds like a killer area. Great idea to fish the incoming as well- there are a few flats that I fish and on incoming I can fish 3 hours or so, but only 1 hour on the outgoing. Once you get it dialed in though you should have it!
Great video. I never thought about the dead drift approach on windy days. I love the cork!
Oh yeah the dead drift works great- it’s also a killer presentation under dock lights at night using artificial shrimp!
Great tutorial! I have yet to try a popping cork and can’t wait until I get to Murrells Inlet next fall!
Man definitely missing out Glenn! They’re a ton of fun and super effective!
Great tip using 30# mono to braid to stop tangling up
It definitely helps a lot with those tangles Robert!
Great tips Richard. I’m thinking most should be common sense but I have to admit I never thought about the heavier line at the top I usually keep two rods designated for popping corks but I don’t always have them with me but I keep two o e for me and o e for a guest or a back up but I don’t use them as often as I should I suppose. …. Now I gotta change up my set ups 😊
Definitely Greg! I always have at least one on a rod somewhere!
My biggest issue is casting it. Wish you would have addressed it.
Might be able to do a video on that soon Pamela!
Thanks for the tips
Thanks William, glad you liked it!
My favorite popping cork is the Harper’s Super striker because it is a combination rattling cork and a slip cork. Fishing depths up to 8’ to 10’ you can work it like a popping cork to get the beads to rattle and attract Trout. I fish the edge of docks and deep bends of creeks with structure like fallen trees due to erosion.
I’ve heard from a couple people that use those and really like them Dan!
Thanks for the tip on adding the 30lb leader between the cork and the braid. I did experience the tangling at the cork. I’ll change the setup next time out.
Anytime Alan! It’s definitely a great trick that helps with that!