any suggestions for substitute foam popper heads?

[spoof85]

hi guys,
i think i finally found something that makes me want to break my, "no foam," tying.
did anyone ever hear of a articulated bottoms up?
(here is a brief description of a bottoms up, assuming you haven't heard of one)

2 large hooks (#2)

1st hook
marabou tail, little flash, foam popper head, large soft hackle, popper head, hackle, tie off

2nd hook
extra large lead eyes, mono (to tie hooks together) beads to separate hooks, marabou, some more flash, chenille, large hackle, wrap forward like a woolly bugger, long dangling legs on both sides, tie off, done.

when pulled, then allow to settle through the water, it produces a "gallop," tail points up, jerk it, and it will arch beautifully...

my problem is the foam poppers, i don't have any, and don't want to spend 10$ for 4.... i am going to guess there are alot of substitutes, any suggestions?
always learning,
spoof

[ScottP]

Back in the day, cork and balsa poppers were standard. You can get a good assortment of shaped cork poppers here:

http://www.tackle-craft.com/product/ST-3423/Cork-Assortment/

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Scott

[Fred H]

http://www.realisticflytying.net/id12.html

Here is a link that shows a substitute.
Fred

[Buddy Sanders]

Fred,

Those little marshmallow shaped foam cylinders are becoming harder to find now..used to be everywhere.

Spoof,

For your articulated fly, try punching foam plugs out of cheap foam sandals (flip flops). You can get them at any WalMart or Target. You can get a set of punches from Harbor Freight that let you easily make several different sizes. One 'large' sandal will make about seventy 1/2 plugs..more smaller ones. For your application you probably wopuldn't even need to shape them.

Good Luck!

Buddy

[salmonriversavage]

I cut mine from a wine cork using a piece of copper pipe chucked in a drill. I colored the cork using marking pens. Seems to work just fine.

[CoachBob]

Try this:
http://www.rainysflies.com/foamproducts.php

[chewydog]

Not my flies and not my pic, but these articulated poppers are core drilled on edge from heeled flip flops.

[spoof85]

thanks for the input guys, im trying a flip-flop now....
here it is...
DSCN1576.jpg
(the rear hook it sitting between the jaws)

.... big fly......
spoof

[chewydog]

Looks good, spoof. Now you just need a 12wt rod to toss is with...

[spoof85]

lol, you ain't kiddin'!!

i think im going to see it i can cast it on a spin rod tonight! lol
(i only have float line right now)
i have a 4wt and a 8wt rod, i think the 8 wt could handle it lol

thanks for the comment,
spoof