Like Dr. Frankenstein’s creation, it was stitched together from many parts — poppers, pencils, walkers — all fused into one hybrid body and jolted to life.

Based on survey votes, launch colors include translucent two-tone bodies, contrasting belly stripes, and red or pink popper faces. These finishes are designed to match bunker, squid, and herring, while still offering universal appeal in bone and olive.

Its wide body makes it a natural bunker imitator, while the tapered belly and walk-the-dog glide let it double as squid or herring. Those were the top forage species cited in the survey.

It’s balanced for 7’–9’ medium-heavy spinning rods with 30–40 lb braid. On the boat, a 7’ MH rod offers accuracy and control. In the surf, a 9’ MH rod provides the distance to reach outer bars and rip lines.

Standard poppers are loud callers, while walkers are finesse search baits. The Franken Popper is both — its hybrid head throws classic chugs but transitions easily into a walk-the-dog glide. It saves you from switching plugs when conditions change.

Skip it when predators are keyed on micro-forage like sand eels or bay anchovies. In those cases, smaller plugs or soft plastics match the hatch better. The Franken Popper is a macro tool built for larger forage and broader surface presence.

Use it when you need a versatile surface plug that can both make noise and fish subtle. It shines in surf and open beaches when bunker are present, in rips where squid sweep through seams, or when you need distance casting from boat or shore.

This is the first crowd-sourced lure in saltwater fishing. In January, 757 hardcore anglers filled out a detailed survey, voting on size, shape, finish, and action. Their input became the blueprint, and every design choice — from weight balance to eye placement — traces back to that community data.