IMA Popkey 80 | 80mm 9g – The Finesse Surface Assassin

At Gerry’s Fishing, we know that sometimes a big splash is exactly what you don’t want. When the water is glass-calm and the bass are focused on tiny “pin-fry” or small sprats, the IMA Popkey 80 is the finesse tool you need. At 80mm (3.1 inches) and a featherweight 9g, this is the scaled-down version of the legendary Popkey 120, designed for maximum stealth and high-frequency surface commotion.

This “pencil-popper” hybrid is a master of the surface film. Its unique, sloped-face design allows it to skip, spit, and walk across the top, providing a versatile topwater presentation that larger lures simply cannot mimic.

Why the Popkey 80 is a Surface Essential

1. Hybrid “Pop-and-Walk” Action

The beauty of the Popkey 80 lies in its responsiveness. On a steady, rhythmic “Walk the Dog” retrieve, it zig-zags side-to-side with a subtle shivering motion. However, give it a sharp twitch, and the cupped head “spits” a burst of water forward. This combination mimics a panicked baitfish trying to break the surface to escape a predator from below.

2. Aerodynamic Finesse Casting

Casting a 9g surface lure can be tricky in a breeze, but IMA has balanced the Popkey 80 for stability. It is back-weighted, meaning it flies tail-first like an arrow. This allows for the pinpoint accuracy required to drop your lure into small gullies, current seams, or near overhanging structure where trophy fish wait in ambush.

3. Visual High-Response Flash

In clear water, realism is everything. The Popkey 80 features a highly reflective finish that catches ambient light, creating a shimmering “strobe” effect as it dances across the surface. Its slim profile is a dead ringer for a young-of-the-year mullet, sandeel, or bleak, making it a “universal” snack for both saltwater and freshwater predators.

Technical Specifications

Product Details and Uses

Mastering the Shallow Water Hunt

The Popkey 80 is at its best in estuaries, salt marshes, and shallow rocky flats. Because it sits horizontally in the surface film, it presents a perfect silhouette to predators looking up. In freshwater, it is an absolute “killer” for large Perch and Chub. Its 80mm size is non-threatening, meaning you can often draw strikes from fish that have been spooked by larger, noisier surface lures.

Finesse Retrieval Tactics

This lure is highly responsive to various rod inputs:

• The “Slow Shimmer”: Use very light twitches to make the lure slide side-to-side without the “pop.” This is perfect for gin-clear water and spooky fish.

• The “Panic Skip”: Retrieve at speed while vibrating the rod tip. The lure will skip and dance across the top, mimicking a fleeing baitfish.

• The “Spit-and-Stall”: Give it one aggressive snap to throw water, then let it sit for two seconds. Often, the strike comes the second the lure stops moving.

Hardware Built for Performance

Despite its small size, the Popkey 80 doesn’t compromise on durability. It is equipped with ultra-sharp, high-quality treble hooks designed to penetrate the tough jaws of a Bass or the bony mouth of a Pike. The robust construction ensures it can handle the violent surface strikes that topwater fishing is famous for.

Gerry’s Pro Tip:

When the sun is high and the water is very clear, try a “High-Speed Crawl.” Keep your rod tip up and reel just fast enough to make the Popkey 80 “vibrate” on the surface without actually popping. It creates a subtle V-shaped wake and a shimmering flash that is irresistible to Bass cruising the shallow margins. Remember, on a 9g lure, use a lighter fluorocarbon leader (10lb to 12lb) to ensure you don’t kill the lure’s delicate natural action.

Compact, versatile, and visually stunning—the IMA Popkey 80 is the finesse surface hunter that turns “follows” into explosive hookups.