Like all topwater baits, poppers are best fished during low light conditions. Early mornings and evenings as well as cloudy or rainy days are usually best.

Popping plugs which are made from plastic or balsa wood have a cupped lip and exposed treble hooks. As such, they won't work in heavy weeds because of fouling. The best places to throw them are near or under cover or along weed bed edges.

One of the advantage of poppers is that they can be fished slowly without moving the bait too quickly out of the strike zone. Short twitches with the rod can make the bait look intisive while keeping it virtually in one small area.