[Dean McClain]

I prefer poplar for my poppers. If maximum buoyancy is a priority for you, then you may prefer a wood with higher floatantential properties than poplar. I llike a popper that sits lower in the water, rather than on top of it, giving it a more natural baitfish presentation; a higher hook-up percentage, for bass, and particularly, stripers in a chop; and that spits and dives a little when I'm walking it. Poplar also takes screws well, and casts nicely in the wind. If you're looking for more of a popping cork type bloop, as for sea trout you may prefer another more buoyant wood, but if your inshore bag contains redfish, again the lower sitting poplar is a much better choice...all other factors being equal, and of course IMO

Dean

[Crimson_Death216]

Nice... Floatantential. I like it.

[LaPala]

I said this in another forum, "there is no best wood". Even for a lure like a popper it has different action that you are looking for and how it should perform. Target species whether it's toothy or not is another consideration. Best way to go about it for lure making is look for wood that has tight consistent and even grain patterns. Search the web for wood density chart which will give you an idea of its floatantentiallity, some woodworking sites has a lot of info on the workability of a particular wood species too. Then design your weighting around that. So best wood is "builders choice". The fishes will let you know if you've made a bad one