SBS For A Frog Popper

From time to time, we get requests to do a step by step of our poppers.  I did a very basic one here a while ago regarding the stippling of eyes and spots on the body.  This time around as I was tying for Christmas presents, I decided to do some quick shots as I added material to the size 10 Fish Foolin' Frog popper. Sorry about the lighting.  Best I could do.   All materials used, aside from the popper bodies, are from Hareline Dubbin, Inc.  Please feel free to comment or ask questions.  There are no secrets here and we are always willing to help others.  Why reinvent the wheel if you don't have to?  Not that I am an expert but I have learned some stuff through trial and error.  Mostly, I have learned what not to do!

First up, the finished popper body is placed in the vise

Next thread is added.  I use size 8/0 for all of our poppers.  After the thread comes the calf tail.  This is tied in right behind the popper body and then the thread is wrapped back to the bend of the hook. 

Next up is the hackle.  I personally like the hackle to match the body and tail as much as possible.  For this one I use dyed olive grizzly saddle hackle.  The hackle is secured right at the bend of the hook.  The thread is advanced right to about the midway point of the hook which is usually just over the point of the hook.

After the thread has been advanced to above the hook point, the legs are added.  Again, this is really up to the tier as to what they use.  We like the grizzly barred rubber legs by Hareline.  I have found that other leg material such as Sili legs tends to (a) break easily and (b) weigh the fly down.  The rubber legs actually help with balance and buoyancy as well.  The legs are added to each side in an X.  The right side is added first and then the left.  Well really that's how I do it but not sure it really matters.  After the legs are secured with some wraps of thread, the thread is now advanced to right behind the body of the popper. After that is done, the hackle is advanced to right behind the body of the popper where it is tied off.  A few turns of the whip finisher tool and you are done.  

The finished product: