By nature, I'm a lazy fly-tier. If I can find an easy way to tie fly patterns that work just as well, if not better, than a similar fly that is difficult to tie--I'll opt for the easy way every time. This fact lead to the development of the PC style popper.

An assortment of PC Poppers and PC Sliders.

If easier is sometimes better, I was met with the challenge of tying warm water, surface patterns that did not entail the lengthy procedure of spinning deer hair for the body and matching saddle hackles for the skirt and legs. Eliminating the deer hair was easy by substituting EdgeWater pre-formed, solid foam popper bodies, but finding a substitute for the hackle feathers took some effort. Fortunately, fly tying evolves almost daily with new materials and techniques so it was just a matter of time before I came across two synthetic products that met my requirements.

The first material I use is Super Hair from Hareline Dubbin. This synthetic is a long, crinkly nylon that replaces the easily waterlogged, traditional hackle-feather legs. The nylon fibers (unlike the feathers) have a tendency to return to their original position after popping the fly so the syntho-legs create a "kick" or "flare" when the bug rests between strips. To replace the bothersome job of matching saddle hackle feathers, I came across a substitute that was easier to tie-in and ultimately gave the fly a more bass-attractive movement. Dan Bailey Body Fur is a suitable replacement for the final feather often tied in for the skirt. This material is easy to use, durable, available in a rainbow of colors, and in my opinion, replaces the traditional saddle hackle feather quite nicely.

When it was all said and done I came up with the name Politically Correct Popper because no animal was harmed in the production of the bug

The Flare
When I replaced the saddle hackle with the Super Hair, I was simply trying to avoid matching feathers and dealing with the hassle of tying them on the hook shank in an attractive fashion. The fact that the synthetic fibers have a tendency to flare back into place than feathers was an unexpected bonus and advantage.

Flare the legs at a 45 degree angle so when you strip the fly they "kick" and give the popper extra motion.

Here's how it works:
(A) You cast the bug as you would any popper. While at rest on the water surface, the legs are pretty much at the same angle that you tied them in at.
(B) Once you take up line slack and start a sharp retrieve to create a "pop" sound that warmwater fish love so well, the water pressure forces the legs to the rear.
(C) As you release the line and create slack, the legs will push back to their original positions.

The leg movement is not overly obvious and works in slow motion so I suggest you wait five or six seconds between pops. It seems once the legs have a chance to flare forward the fish will strike. Sometimes, minor movements sell the popper better than major ones so be ready for a vicious attack the second it hits the water.