Skip to content
The Woolly Gentleman logo

The Woolly Gentleman

Every Fly Has a River · Every River Has a Tier

ShopSubscribeOur TiersJournalFind Your FliesThe CraftThe Story
Home/Shop/Smallie Popper
Smallie PopperTopwaterbeginner

Midwest & Driftless

Smallie Popper

$5.95

Available Sizes#4 - #8
Color Variations
Chartreuse/WhiteBlackNatural FrogYellow

There are few things in fly fishing more satisfying than watching a three-pound smallmouth annihilate a popper on the surface of an Ozark river at dusk. The pop echoes off the limestone bluffs, the water explodes, and for one glorious moment, you understand why people drive four hours to float a river in ninety-degree heat. This foam popper is designed to make noise, push water, and generally cause the kind of commotion that smallmouth bass find irresistible and trout anglers find vulgar.

Quick Facts

TypeTopwater
Difficultybeginner
SeasonsSpring, Summer, Fall
Target SpeciesSmallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass
Sizes#4 - #8
Best LocationsCurrent River, MO; Eleven Point River, MO; Spring River, AR

Where to Fish It

Current River

MO · Ozark River

Eleven Point River

MO · Ozark River

Spring River

AR · Spring-Fed River

Map unavailable. Locations for Smallie Popper: Current River, MO; Eleven Point River, MO; Spring River, AR

Related Reading

species science

The Bronze Back: Smallmouth Bass on the Fly

Smallmouth bass fight harder than trout, eat more aggressively than largemouth, and live in some of the most beautiful water on the continent. From Driftless spring creeks to Great Lakes tributaries to Appalachian smallmouth rivers, the bronze back demands respect and rewards understanding.

You Might Also Like

Smallmouth PopperTopwaterbeginner

Smallmouth Popper

$5.95

Southeast & Carolinas

#4 - #8

Hard-foam popper for New River and Appalachian smallmouth. Cup face creates a loud pop that draws fish from deep ledge rock.

Chartreuse/WhiteBlackNatural FrogYellow

Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass

SprSumFallWin
View Details →
Desert Bass PopperTopwaterbeginner

Desert Bass Popper

$6.50

Southwest & California

2-8

A foam-bodied popper for warm-water bass in desert reservoirs and rivers. The gurgling surface commotion draws aggressive strikes from largemouth lurking in structure.

chartreuse/whiteblackfrog greenred/white

Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass

SprSumFallWin
View Details →
Boogle BugTopwaterintermediate

Boogle Bug

$8.95

Great Lakes

#2 - #6

Hard-bodied popper for warm-water species. Concave face creates a satisfying pop-and-gurgle on the strip. Designed for bass but effective on anything willing to hit the surface.

Chartreuse/WhiteBlackFire TigerFrog

Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass · Northern Pike

SprSumFallWin
View Details →
Deer Hair PopperTopwaterintermediate

Deer Hair Popper

$9.50

Gulf Coast & Emerald Coast

#1/0 - #2/0

Spun and clipped deer hair popper for shallow water action. The classic topwater for everything from redfish to largemouth bass.

Chartreuse/WhiteRed/WhiteNaturalBlack

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Largemouth Bass · Snook

SprSumFallWin
View Details →
Deer Hair MouseTopwaterintermediate

Deer Hair Mouse

$7.95

Midwest & Driftless

#4 - #8

Tied by Rich Osthoff

Spun deer hair mouse pattern. Fish it after dark along undercut banks. Large brown trout cannot resist.

Natural Deer HairGrayBlack

Brown Trout

SprSumFallWin
View Details →
Woolly BuggerStreamerbeginner

Woolly Bugger

$4.50

Midwest & Driftless

#6 - #12

The most versatile fly ever tied. Marabou tail, chenille body, palmered hackle. Imitates leeches, crayfish, minnows, and whatever else you need it to be.

BlackOliveBrownWhite

Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass

SprSumFallWin
View Details →

The Woolly Gentleman

Every Fly Has a River · Every River Has a Tier

America's curated artisan fly marketplace. Every pattern hand-tied by the people who fish these waters.

Join the mailing list. We will tell you what is hatching.

The Shop

  • Browse All Flies
  • Our Tiers
  • Find Your Flies
  • The Collection
  • Monthly Delivery
  • The Journal

Fishing Regions

  • Gulf Coast & Emerald Coast
  • Florida Keys
  • Northeast & Mid-Atlantic
  • Rocky Mountain West
  • Pacific Northwest
  • All 10 Regions

The Gentleman

  • Our Story
  • Nationwide
  • hello@thewoolygentleman.com

© 2026 The Woolly Gentleman. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy|Terms & Conditions

Curated with conviction. Tied with pride.