This article was originally published during the spring of 2017, and has been updated for the 2024 season.
Hello everyone! I hope the spring run is treating you well, and that you're able to spend some time on the water. The bass are certainly here, with the bigger ones beginning to show up too!
The Super Strike Little Neck Popper casts like a tin, swims like a metal lip, spits water beautifully, and should definitely become part of your topwater arsenal.
When thrown with a rod rated 1-4oz, the Super Strike popper absolutely flies. It's more compact than a pencil popper of similar weight, and cuts through wind extremely well.
Because of it's heavy weight, the Super Strike popper sinks the moment it hits the water. However, this shouldn't discourage you from using it even in flat calm conditions. When you're retrieving this lure it planes right to the surface, ready to pop and splash water.
Super Strike makes these lures in 3 different options.
I only have experience with the black-eyed sinking plugs. They've been effective in dead calm waters, as well as high wind and surf.
The sinking models swim like a metal lip swimmers on a slow, straight retrieve. This action can be mixed in with popping for some great results.
How to Retrieve the Little Neck Popper
In all, this is a lure that swims, pops, and can reach fish that are holding far off the beach. It's certainly worth taking the time to learn how to fish it!
Below is a video from my YouTube channel "Seven Stripe Fishing" that demonstrates the style of retrieve that is effective in most surfcasting situations.
It boils down to keeping contact with the plug, and matching the intensity of the popping action to the conditions you're facing.
Even just a few nice "pops" in a row can get a fish to commit!
Modifications Anglers Can Make to the Super Strike Popper
This lure can really excel when there's herring around, especially when you replace the back treble with a 5/0 dressed siwash hook.
This modification has a knack for culling out keeper-sized bass from large numbers of schoolies. It really helps match the long profile of adult herring.
Additionally, it accentuates the swimming action of the plug. The bucktail wiggles seductively behind the already-wobbling plug. Often times, bass will simply slurp the plug of the surface from behind!
If you choose to add a dressed siwash, there is a very important modification you need to make to the plug itself. Out of the package, the wire loop of the plug is lined up vertically. With the addition of the split ring and and hook, the hook point will ride sideways, which is not good for your hookup ratio.
To get the hook point to ride down (or up if you prefer), simply take a pair of pliers and rotate the wire loop 90 degrees. This way, the hook point is in an optimal position to get a secure hookup.
Most of the fish I've landed on the Super Strike Little Neck Popper have came off the back hook after adding the siwash. With a crushed barb, it's a great catch-and-release plug!
The hook point penetrates and holds fish well, but is easily removed when unhooking the fish.
Give The Super Strike Little Neck Popper a Try!
This lure has quickly become one of my favorites.
Gaining confidence in new lures is a fun and exciting way to "challenge" yourself on the water. Although, sometimes it's that new lure in your bag that outproduces your tried-and-true plugs!
Next time you venture out in the surf, boat, or kayak, try a tactic that's new to you. You may end up surprising yourself, as I did when I first tied on a Super Strike so many years ago.
Tight lines! 
Thank Andy, Ive been making some of my own plugs and cant wait to try them here as couple i love fishing the poppers
Nice video. Thanks. Where were you fishing. Looks like a jetties in Cape Cod Bay.
Thankyou for passing on this information
My pleasure David! Thanks for tuning in!
Definitely an under-used plug on the Cape, often taking a back seat to the pencil….and while I still prefer a pencil by a small margin, there have been more than a couple occasions where the presentation of the littleneck draws strikes when a pencil won’t. Legendary plug for sure.
Couldn’t agree more Daniel. Don’t see them all too often out here, but they certainly work!
Nice video. What rod & reel are you using. Thanks
This is a Van Staal 200x paired on a Century Stealth 10′ rated 1-4oz.
Good video. I will give it a try later this week when I get on Cape
Thanks for tuning in Mark! Good luck out there!
Nice video! Good Action! Looking to convert a couple of my plugs!
Absolutely Love this lure, I fish the Black and red eye exclusively, I also tie tails and add a tiny bit of flash to the hooks, these lures “swim” Great on a slow retrieve, plane back up and “pop” easily, I personally like the 2 3/4oz sinking, this will be a Go-to plug on many occasions.
Interesting! What about adding two split rings and leave the wire as is? This way you don’t risk breaking it and the fish has even less leverage once hooked.
Good point Patrick! I guess its just preference. I personally wouldn’t want to have the hook hanging that far back with two split rings. It probably would be very functional though. If only the Super Strikes had barrel swivels off the back wire, that would solve all the problems!
Great information Andrew. I thought I was watching a John Skinner video!
Haha thanks Dex! That format is pretty instructional, so I figured I’d try it out. Hope your season is going well!