- 1). Place a cork stopper or wine bottle cork on a sturdy work surface. Hold securely on both sides with your thumb and fingers so it will not roll.
- 2). Cut along the length of the cork from the smaller end to the larger with a knife. The larger end will ultimately be the front of the popper as it will cause more disturbance when pulled across the water.
- 3). Place a long shank hook into the cut in the cork. Position the eye so it extends just beyond the larger end. Push the shank into the cut so it is securely seated.
- 4). Glue the hook in place and seal the cut with epoxy glue. Many epoxy glues will need to have two parts mixed before using. Fill the cut in the cork completely with the epoxy and allow it to dry and cure completely before continuing.
- 5). Sand the cork stopper with fine grit sandpaper. Shape the cork so that it tapers in the rear to blend with the bend of the hook. Paint the popper with enamel model paints and a detail brush to create realistic detail.
Source...