Hi. I want to get a couple more some popping corks for my late November trip in the Galveston areafor trout and redfish.

What are your favorite corks that I should get? Are there specific conditions where you prefer specific ones? Flats vs. open water? Do you prefer specific ones for trout vs. reds? Cigar vs. egg shaped vs. cupped popper style? Brand? Color?

Last year, on day, I used the rattling H & H rattling green and red cajun floats on the open waters of galveston bay and I did real well on the trout and one bull red with a jig and shrimp. Galveston November 2012 What other popping corks do I "need" to add to my arsenal? Anyone try the Bass Pro Shops "offshore Angler Inshore Extreme Floats"?

the only one I will use is made by capt lou Austin in port Isabel when Im low I just give him a call and have him send me some more I only use them for bait I don't bother with a cork when im using lures

http://austinfishingsouthpadre.com/

Is lou still guiding? I have not seen him around in a while.

Nolte, what do you like about this captain Austin's corks? What style are they (egg or cup shaped)? He doesn't have them on his site.

Color doesn't matter, I like pop n prop and pogeaux pop. I use the bigger cigar or cupped shaped when I need to cast further out.

they are the dish top type if that makes sense its more of how they are made with the large beads on top and bottom of the cork and the heavy mono where the cork slides

you know I don't have a clue if he is still guiding he is getting older and I haven't fished down there in a long time hopefully I will be back down there for the shallow sport tourney next year though

I like the almeda or comal rattle in I think it the 3 inch smaller one for trout when it's rough in 3' plus.

My favorite click cork is still the Sid Walsh Guide and Tackle cigar click cork. He also has a clear rattle bubble float for throwing shrimp or live bait shallow for redfish.

And if you are fishing rocks or oyster for redfish I like just a small foam popping cork about 2". no weight. Hackbetty Rod and Gun use these a lot with a lot of success.

I ran across these cat's peddling their wares at this years Houston fishing show.

http://texasrattlinrig.com/trr_pg1.htm

Glad I did. I purchased a couple at the show and my son & I had great success with them that entire week of spring break.

Since then I have purchased some of the individual rattles (that act as the weight) and beads/parts and done a little self-customizing on some rigs for fine tuning. I've learned quite a bit and had a good time in the process.

I like a little longer slide before the popper hits the back bead. This makes for a bigger surface splash and a little louder pop. But I also use a longer rod than many (9' graphite steel head with some backbone but a very fast action tip). My son uses a shorter rod and had a little more difficulty finding a rhythm with mine.

The rattling weights seem to have a huge factor on bait presentation. I think it effects the rate of decent. I had better luck with a lighter weight than what came equipped with my poppers. But, the live shrimp we were scoring was nut the jumbo's either. I started using a Yozuri crystal shrimp in a gold 3-D, with great success. I switched to a heavier rattle weight with that lure, and ultimately began using two smaller rattles connected.

If you accidently install your cork onto the rig backwards, it still works, doesn't really pop, but does make noise. It kind of skitter-walks, with this faint pop-slurp noise. I did this by accident when rebuilding a rig after getting it snagged. I caught my largest spec-trout to date using this abomination. Go figure...

That's a little to much "jewelery" for me - especially when fishing with live shimp.

With live bait I just use a #8 - 50 lb. test S-Pro swivel & then just some mono leader .... and the Red #4 treble by Eagle Claw to get as "natural presentation" as I can for trout, reds n' flounder underneath the rattling cork.

... same deal if I am using soft plastics, I use heat shrink to attach a rattle to my hook then attach a soft plastic --> then just mono leader underneath the rattling cork.

Cajun Thunder or H&H brand that looks similar. use 20 lb. fluoro leader.

See ya here. I'll be doing it again next year. Hoping for better weather this next year.

do you know when it is

Around may 20th. I want to say.