Popper with Metallic Fishscale Finish

Hook: Eagle Claw 66NR 2 to 2/0 (or Mustad 92611) with offset straightened
Thread: To match body color
Body: Balsa wood covered with textured aluminum foil, top painted, with top coat of 5 minute epoxy
Eyes: Painted
Tail: 6-10 strands of Krystal Flash and 4 saddle hackles, tied splayed

Cut a balsa wood plug of the desired diameter and length using a tube sharpened with a file so that the long dimension is with the grain of the wood. Cup out a circular face using a rotary tool. Split the plug in half using a knife. File a space in the split halves for the hook shank using a needle file. Glue the two halves around the hook shank using 5 minute epoxy. Shape the popper body using knives or files to the desired shape. Sand. Paint the cupped-out face with a paint pen. Coat all of the body, except the cupped face with contact cement. Coat the dull side of a piece of aluminum foil (or other foil or foil gift wrap (for gift wrap use the water based neoprene contact cement) 1 1/2 time the length of the popper and 1 1/2 to 2 times the diameter of the popper with contact cement. When the contact cement is dry carefully wrap the aluminum foil around the popper body so the center of the aluminum foil is at the bottom of the popper. Join the foil along the back of the popper. Trim off the excess aluminum foil. Texture the foil using a tool with cross hatching (knurling) on the handle by pressing the knurling into the foil and rotating the tool on the surface. Paint the back with a high quality spray paint such as Krylon. Paint on eyes. When paint is dry, coat the popper with 5 minute epoxy and rotate while curing. After epoxy has completely cured, apply desired tail material.

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