Kayak anglers don’t enjoy the benefit of a rod locker loaded with rigged rods or extensive racks of rod holders. Although some modern kayaks can carry quite a few rods, the most practical option usually is to carry a fairly small selection.
Tournament partners Todd Hart and Andy Rice of Texas, both of whom do all of their fishing from kayaks, normally carry three or four rods each during a day. Each rod has a primary function, but both anglers switch out topwater lures, wake baits, soft plastic lures on jigheads and assorted other offerings based on conditions, the tide, the time of day, the mood of the fish and more. The one thing that doesn’t change is that when they are competing, Hart and Rice ALWAYS have a Paradise Popper X-treme rigged.
“It’s just a great way to catch fish,” Hart said.
No matter what the weather brings, a Paradise Popper X-treme consistently calls in fish with its clacks and pops and presents offerings in an irresistible way for redfish, speckled trout or other predator species. A Paradise Popper also provides great diversity because it works well matched with various natural offerings but also for presenting soft plastic offerings like YUM Mud Minnows and Swurms.
Paradise Popper X-treme rigs also can be worked quickly and aggressively to prompt reactions and make fish chase or worked very slowly, with only occasional fish-calling pops and the bait left mostly stationary for the fish to find. Often, the best presentation falls in between, with series of two or three pops broken by short pauses.
A Paradise Popper X-treme comes in oval and popping configurations. The oval shape offers more streamline casting and a bit more subtlety and does all its fish calling with clackers. The popping version can be chugged to make a lot of sound and is especially effective when wind or stained water lessen visibility.
Paradise Poppers come in pink, yellow and orange. All are made to withstand major abuse.