The Rebel Pop-R

Rebel Lures • 3601 Jenny Lind Rd • Fort Smith, AR 72901
(800) 531-1201 • www.rebellures.com

by John D. Silva

Fishing with light tackle is not always as easy as it sounds. Most of the time, it takes place in shallow water loaded with structure, both natural and manmade, in the form of rocks, docks, piers, weeds, trees, plants and boulders. Baitfish instinctively know to gather in these congested areas to feed and to find shelter, and the gamefish are not far behind. In turn, we anglers are forced to follow. But in order to fish effectively in these productive yet challenging areas, we need to carry the proper tools. Considered to be one of the most universally productive, must-have lures for staying above snag-laden structure and drawing fish out of heavy cover is the surface popper. And when it comes to surface poppers, the Rebel Pop-R is one of the most popular and widely recognized among all the classics.

    The Pop-R is a product of Rebel Lures, founded by George Perrin in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 1961. At the time, Perrin was working for a private company that molded plastic parts for use in a variety of commercially sold finished products. Being an avid fisherman, Perrin began tinkering with plastic molding to see if he could create a plastic minnow-shaped lure, one that would be durable and versatile and produce a consistent swimming action. His first successful lure was a 3½-inch plastic minnow. As demand for the minnow lure grew, it became necessary give it a name. Perrin decided to use the name of the local high school team mascot, and thus “Rebel” Lures was born.
    As the Rebel Minnow grew in popularity, requests began to come in for lures that could cover a variety of uses, such as jointed minnows, deep-diving crankbaits and, of course, surface poppers. This demand eventually led to the development of the Rebel Pop-R. Perrin designed and field-tested his hand-carved prototypes in Lake Ouachita, Arkansas, where he made adjustments until he was satisfied with the size, shape, and action of the lure. The first successful Pop-R model was the P60, introduced in the mid-1970’s. The P60 was actually a reworked version of the original P4050, one of the first prototype poppers Perrin had designed.     Although the bodies of the two lures were essentially the same, the P60 Pop-R featured a reshaped mouth that produced a superior popping action. This made the P60 the best choice for production, and it remains the basic design used today. Once the Rebel Pop-R was introduced to the market, it quickly became popular among freshwater bass anglers. Over time, additional models, sizes and color schemes were developed and added to the Pop-R lineup, meeting the demands of a variety of different angling persuasions. 
     Although the Pop-R always sold well, the model was eventually discontinued. No one seems to know why. But after a number of years of dormancy, the Pop-R vaulted back into the mainstream fishing consciousness when Bassmaster magazine suddenly dubbed it the “Secret Lure of the Pros” in 1992. At the time, top bass-angling pros such as Zell Rowland, who was widely renown for his skill and tournament successes using topwater baits, were fishing discontinued models of the Rebel Pop-R in tournaments throughout Texas and the Southeast – and winning with them. After such a ringing endorsement, it didn’t take long before the Rebel Pop-R was reintroduced to the market, where it continues to be among the top-selling lures annually.
    Today, the Rebel Pop-R is available in several different freshwater models, ranging in size from the 2-inch (1/8-ounce) P50 panfish-size models, and the classic 2½-inch (1/4-ounce) medium-size poppers (P60, P61 and P60E), up to the 3-inch P65 Magnum (1/2-ounce) versions. Recently, the 3 1/8-inch, 5/16-ounce P66 Super Pop-Rs, which have become very popular among saltwater anglers, were transferred to the Bomber Lures’ Saltwater Grade lineup. Renamed the Bomber Pop’n Minnow, the new and improved poppers have been upgraded with VMC Perma-Steel hooks and heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant hardware. This allows anglers to use the poppers in salt water without the need for replacing hooks and hardware.  Color varieties for the Pop-R (and saltwater Pop’n Minnows) vary, depending on the model. Examples include classic colors such as Tennessee shad, fire tiger, bone and silver, as well as reflective and holographic finishes that include perch, bluegill and rainbow, just to name a few. Skirted treble hooks installed on the rear end add to the lure’s fish-attracting characteristics while stabilizing it as it sits and moves through the water. Some Pop-R models also feature internal rattles for further enticement.
    The Rebel Pop-R has been proven effective over the years first and foremost with largemouth and smallmouth bass. Other freshwater species that can be fooled with the Pop-R include white perch, northern pike, chain pickerel and rock bass. The Rebel Pop-R is also very effective on inshore saltwater game fish such as striped bass, bluefish, bonito, false albacore, redfish and spotted sea trout.  One of the best things about the Rebel Pop-R is that the action is built in, which makes it very user-friendly. It does not require a lot of expertise to use a Pop-R to catch fish. Under most conditions, employing a simple stop-and-go popping technique (holding the rod tip low, giving it a short, hard twitch) or using a slow, steady chugging-and-spitting retrieve (light sweeping motions and a level rod tip) is all that is needed to trigger a strike.     In addition, leaving a little slack in the line after each twitch will cause the Pop-R to slide slightly to the side, right and left. Because the target appears to be trying to get away, the action entices the following fish to strike. When fishing for saltwater fish species with either the Rebel Pop-R or the Bomber Pop’n Minnow, cast the lure out far and retrieve it quickly, using firm twitches of the rod tip, often without any pauses. This action mimics a panicked, fleeing baitfish and will attract aggressive saltwater species. As with other types of lures, the best techniques to use will depend on conditions and quarry, so experimentation is recommended.
    Lure colors are more important to some anglers than others, but when it comes to surface poppers, most anglers believe that that the size and action of the lure are the most important aspects – at least at the outset. Then, once a predator fish identifies the lure as a potential meal, color can become a factor, especially under certain conditions. For example, when fishing in stained or tinted water, rattling Pop-R models in bright colors such as silver or fire tiger can help a fish home in for the final attack. In clear water, where the fish can get a better look at your offering, natural colors such as perch and shad can help close the deal and elicit a strike. In conditions of low light and at night, darker colors such as “baby bass” form a darker silhouette on the surface, helping fish locate the source of all that curious commotion in the darkness.

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