Tail: Strung neck hackle feathers and Flashabou or Krystal Flash
Body: Krystal Chenille and closed cell foam strips
Legs: Rubber silly legs
Hook: Variable bass bug hooks, average is size 10 Tiemco
Thread: 3/0 or monocord of color matching patterns
This pattern can be tied in a combination of colors to reflect such things as frogs, perch, and baitfish. It is meant to be fished as a traditional popper and with the addition of a weedguard is an excellent pattern for fishing lilly pads.
Step 1: Wrap thread to back and tie in four feathers (two per side). Then spread the feathers and tie in the center of the hook a liberal amount of Flahabou or Krystal Flash (6-10 strands)
Step 2: Cut two foam strips of appropriate width and give one end a short taper. Secure the two strips in at the tail one at a time with the desired color for the top of the pattern tied in first. For added buoyancy the strips should be started 3/5 of the way to the eye and then wrap the thread and material all the way back to the tail.
Step 3: Tie in the Krystal Chenille and wrap the body to the end of the foam (3/5 length of the hook shank).
Step 4: Bring the foam forward, creating the arced back, on strip at a time and secure with a few wraps of thread.
Step 5: Secure a few rubber legs per side, then wrap the thread under the foam the front of the hook.
Step 6: Finish the knot with Zap A Gap and trim the foam from appropriately.
Fly pattern by Mike Schmidt
URL for this web page is http://centralohioflyfishers.org/closedcellfoampopper.htm