Topwater Tips

[Goooh]

I've never caught on Topwater, laugh it up. But, it's definitely not a confidence bait for me. I've thrown it early and late in calm water.

When do you throw it? If it's cloudy or drizzling, does it open up the whole day to chunk TW? Is it more about time of day, or type of day?

I've thrown she dawg, too dawg junior and spooks, all in pretty natural coloring except the she dawg is a chartreuse/silver.

Obviously the best time is when fish are hitting the top, and when fish are around... Hopefully you TW masters can help me out with some more in depth tips.


Sent

[neus]

My first time fishing top water for trout was this summer so take my advice with a grain of salt, but this is what I learned. Most baits catch fishermen not fish, so just get one with a bright color on the belly. My best luck has come on bone color spooks and super spooks. Also had my best luck in the first 45 minutes after daylight when the water was fairly clear. Don't be too eager to set the hook, let them run for a second or two.

[marshrunner757]

The past 3 years I've almost been pure top water. Withe the exception of school trout. I throw topwater any time of day. Favorite baits are skitter walks and she dogs. Mostly pink, chrome/chtrse, or speckled trout. Sometimes they want it fast, other times slow and I've caught plenty with it just paused. Let the fish take the bait and when you feel him you basically just lift your rod.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk

[specktator]

Tie one on and don't take it off. Don't change baits. Put on a bone spook and stick with it. Certain times of year that's all I will throw all day. Once you catch a fish u will gain confidence. Fan cast. Throw every direction as far as you can.

[eman]

Make short cast and learn to walk the dog w/ the bait. once you learn how then make longer cast. once you can walk the bait practice at faster and slower speeds .
the guy that taught me could walk a spook around pilings and stumps.

[PotLikinisAhabbit]

Fish will either be in one of three moods. Aggressive, neutral, or negative. When fish are aggressive everyone's a hero and the trout will usually eat just about any lure and presentation. Of course they will only be in an aggressive mood for a short duration of the day. For the other 95% of the day lure choice along with presentation can be key. Pertaining to top water lures, presentation to me is the biggest determining factor. Large, small, noisy, and quiet are all factors that can be fine tuned once you establish lure presentation. The mistake i commonly see made is a rhythmic steady walk the dog retrieve. In nature very few things act this way especially an injured bait fish. Topwater lures can be thrown successfully all day depending on the structure you are fishing. As far as wind I think it is easier to fool a trout in rougher dirtier water when they are not feeding than clear calm.

[Clampy]

Originally Posted by PotLikinisAhabbit

Fish will either be in one of three moods. Aggressive, neutral, or negative. When fish are aggressive everyone's a hero and the trout will usually eat just about any lure and presentation. Of course they will only be in an aggressive mood for a short duration of the day. For the other 95% of the day lure choice along with presentation can be key. Pertaining to top water lures, presentation to me is the biggest determining factor. Large, small, noisy, and quiet are all factors that can be fine tuned once you establish lure presentation. The mistake i commonly see made is a rhythmic steady walk the dog retrieve. In nature very few things act this way especially an injured bait fish. Topwater lures can be thrown successfully all day depending on the structure you are fishing. As far as wind I think it is easier to fool a trout in rougher dirtier water when they are not feeding than clear calm.

I always use a rhythmic action covering water. After a few blow ups and I'm confident the fish are there i will slow it down or change it up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[PotLikinisAhabbit]

Originally Posted by Clampy

I always use a rhythmic action covering water. After a few blow ups and I'm confident the fish are there i will slow it down or change it up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

Not a proclaimed expert, just simply speaking from what I have observed of baitfish "especially wounded" a constant retrieve is the anti thesis. Throwing a lure out banging it around long enough may produce a strike but you also could be doing more harm than good. You even noticed yourself that by varying the retrieve after "locating" fish is a better method. Studies have shown that smaller trout (1-3)lb have a higher metabolic rate than larger trout making them aggressive for longer durations of the day. If fish are in an active feeding mood, like I said previously, just about anything will work. Catching inactive fish consistently will require a culmination of an anglers intuition along with a little help from mother nature. I have gotten flat out embarrassed by novice anglers dead sticking a topwater, out of ignorance, while I was doing what I thought the fish wanted instead of paying attention to the signs. Pride is a hard habit to quit.

[Clampy]

Originally Posted by PotLikinisAhabbit

Not a proclaimed expert, just simply speaking from what I have observed of baitfish "especially wounded" a constant retrieve is the anti thesis. Throwing a lure out banging it around long enough may produce a strike but you also could be doing more harm than good. You even noticed yourself that by varying the retrieve after "locating" fish is a better method. Studies have shown that smaller trout (1-3)lb have a higher metabolic rate than larger trout making them aggressive for longer durations of the day. If fish are in an active feeding mood, like I said previously, just about anything will work. Catching inactive fish consistently will require a culmination of an anglers intuition along with a little help from mother nature. I have gotten flat out embarrassed by novice anglers dead sticking a topwater, out of ignorance, while I was doing what I thought the fish wanted instead of paying attention to the signs. Pride is a hard habit to quit.

I hear you but I ain't looking for much. A swirl a follow a blow up. Something to get me to slow down a bit. Now if I know they are there then my presentation is different.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[Sightwindow]

Originally Posted by Clampy

I hear you but I ain't looking for much. A swirl a follow a blow up. Something to get me to slow down a bit. Now if I know they are there then my presentation is different.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

Agree with this methodology. When covering ground, it's important to me to be efficient. Efficiency is making long casts and getting in a rhythm not only in bringing the bait back to the boat, but getting it out there again. I don't do this near well enough - both time-wise and in my mental state - when I'm fiddling around with cadence.

Once I get a "look", then I've got the confidence to commence figuring them suckers out.

[bgizzle]

Originally Posted by Clampy

I always use a rhythmic action covering water. After a few blow ups and I'm confident the fish are there i will slow it down or change it up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

But but..... U don't catch fish without chrinkle... Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Ask coot


"Go ahead, share your opinion! I won't cry"

[Clampy]

Originally Posted by bgizzle

But but..... U don't catch fish without chrinkle... Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Ask coot


"Go ahead, share your opinion! I won't cry"

Like I said before you just learned how to throw a bait caster last year. You think you are special cuz you caught a few fish in the bay the last few days. Just remember you would still be perch jerking ditches if not for me. Like I said when ever you ready for a big lake or v bay challenge I will be ready by next Friday. Leave your shrimp tipped jigs at home son and bring your wallet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[bgizzle]

Originally Posted by Clampy

Like I said before you just learned how to throw a bait caster last year. You think you are special cuz you caught a few fish in the bay the last few days. Just remember you would still be perch jerking ditches if not for me. Like I said when ever you ready for a big lake or v bay challenge I will be ready by next Friday. Leave your shrimp tipped jigs at home son and bring your wallet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

You hear that boys? It's the sound of jealousy!!!
Natalie ain't letting you make no bets! And as a matter of fact you still owe me for monthly friend fees and round trip to bring your baby a zzz home yesterday!


"Go ahead, share your opinion! I won't cry"

[Clampy]

Originally Posted by bgizzle

But but..... U don't catch fish without chrinkle... Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Ask coot


"Go ahead, share your opinion! I won't cry"

This is coming from a dude who runs a trailer hook with a shrimp behind his topwaters so take with a grain of salt.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[bgizzle]

Originally Posted by Clampy

This is coming from a dude who runs a trailer hook with a shrimp behind his topwaters so take with a grain of salt.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

79 fish 3 trips..... All I'm saying. No it's not.... Wait yea it is I gotta go clean more fish ... Haha


"Go ahead, share your opinion! I won't cry"

[speck-chaser]

You could try putting market shrimp on the treble hooks. Big confidence booster.

[MarshRat89]

Originally Posted by speck-chaser

You could try putting market shrimp on the treble hooks. Big confidence booster.

Lmao walk the shrimp


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[bgizzle]

Get a skitter walk or top dawg and throw it under birds! Seriously! It'll pick up ur confidence in it. And when u see a specks reaction to it you'll be hooked


"Go ahead, share your opinion! I won't cry"

[RigRatNoMeaux]

Originally Posted by bgizzle

Get a skitter walk or top dawg and throw it under birds! Seriously! It'll pick up ur confidence in it. And when u see a specks reaction to it you'll be hooked


"Go ahead, share your opinion! I won't cry"

Under birds if you are fishing for gulls!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

[ThePinkBanana]

Originally Posted by bgizzle

Get a skitter walk or top dawg and throw it under the birds!

I've thrown top water under the birds for many years, and mostly catch birds. Don't get me wrong, it's great when the birds don't grab it... But that seldomly happens.... I've also found that fishing the birds is extremely less productive on BL opposed to the south east side of the state.