Fun Foam Popper
Note: An easy and effective pattern. It was shown to me by a local tyer, whose name escapes me, about 5 years ago. I use craft store foam either 1/16 or 1/8 inch, I prefer 1/8 inch when I can get it. Punch various size circles out of it. I use expended brass, from .38 Special to 12 Ga. shotgun to punch my circles out. Put your hook in the vise. Wrap some thread behind the eye. I like to add a drop of super glue to the thread covered area. Pinch the foam circle at the bottom and slide it onto the hook shank just behind the eye. Then wrap it into place. If done right it should form a cupped popper head. Bring the thread to the back of the hook tie in your marabou tail. You can add some flash if you want. Then tie in your hackle by the tip and wrap forward to right behind the head. Tie off and trim excess. Then take your scissors and trim the hackle flat on the bottom. The eyes on this fly are pin heads, but a dot of fabric paint or no eyes at all will do just as well. I tie from size 12 to size 2. It pushes a lot a water when stripped. At rest, the tail end sinks and the fly will sit vertical until stripped. I tie it mainly in white, chartreuse and yellow, but it can be tied in whatever color combination that suits yours or the fish's fancy.