The Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper has been a popular topwater lure for stripers for decades. It’s heavy-duty plastic construction and frantic dancing action made it a go-to plug for surfcasters and boaters alike.

Several years ago, anglers began experimenting with loading their Cordells with lead shot, mineral oil, or water. The hope was to improve their casting distance, and even create a new way to fish this plug. They quickly discovered that the loaded plugs were very effective when fished as jigs, on the bottom. The realistic profile, and erratic action on the drop created the appearance of a fleeing baitfish, and stripers couldn’t resist.

This video demonstrates how to load a Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper with bird shot to add weight and create different actions for big striped bass.