Cotton Cordell Pencil Poppers

The classic pencil popper. Affordable. Tail-down sit, walks the dog.

Cotton Cordell Pencil Poppers have been a striped bass surfcasting staple for decades — and they earn it. The weighted tail section makes them sit "tail-down" in the water, which gives the dog-walk and chug retrieve a more pronounced, fish-triggering action than the average plastic pencil popper. Affordable enough to throw into the rocks without flinching, and durable enough to take the bluefish chops they often get.

Key Features

• Weighted tail design for the signature "tail-down" sit and walk-the-dog action
• Long-casting profile reaches working fish through wind
• Classic striped bass surfcasting plug — proven across decades
• Available in 3/4 oz to 2 oz for matching cast distance to wind and target species
• Affordable enough to throw aggressively in rocky water
• Wide color range from natural baitfish patterns to high-vis attractor colors

Specs

Rigging & Use

• Cast and let the lure settle so the tail drops before starting the retrieve
• Rod tip down, sharp short twitches for the walk-the-dog
• Hard pops with pauses for stripers chasing bigger bait
• Many anglers add weight to push casting distance further into the wind
• Pair with a softer rod tip — too stiff a rod kills the walking action

Why We Like It

Cotton Cordell taught most surfcasters how to fish pencil poppers — that legacy isn't going anywhere. They cast well, walk well, hold up to blues, and don't cost so much you cry when you snag one in a rock. Stock a few colors and a few weights and you've covered most pencil-popper scenarios on the East Coast.