The pop-R can be a knockout at the right time. First hour or two and last hour or two of the day is when they work best. Changing the retrieve is key, as is the length of time that you pause in between pops. Don’t give up on em yet. I also agree, clean up the knot. Lots of good ones and if what you’re using isn’t coming undone, keep using it and trim the tag end down to an eighth or so. Best thing I can say is that you’re paying attention to what differences have what results, that makes a big difference. Keep after it, you’ll figure it out.
Creativity is just intelligence fooling around