top water

[falcon29]

when is the best time of year to start throwing a top water plug on big lake? and what type of areas seem to have the best results?

[meaux fishing]

Schools of mullet are the best places

[Bdub]

Water temperature is key not so much the time of year summer time can be tougher, you have to catch the bite early in the morning before the water heats up, or later in the day towards the evening but you could still find them eating top water during the middle of the day sometimes.

[Gerald]

Any time of the year is good to try Top Water baits in Big Lake.

If there is any kind of "action" on the surface, that usually means fish are there. By action, I mean bait swimming, fish swirling/feeding or birds diving.

I have caught fish with top water when it is dead calm and when the wind is blowing 20 mph and hard to see the bait due to wave action.

[AubreyLaHaye458]

Originally Posted by Gerald

Any time of the year is good to try Top Water baits in Big Lake.

If there is any kind of "action" on the surface, that usually means fish are there. By action, I mean bait swimming, fish swirling/feeding or birds diving.

I have caught fish with top water when it is dead calm and when the wind is blowing 20 mph and hard to see the bait due to wave action.

Yes. This.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TroutSupport.com]

ditto...

can happen all year depending on the water temp, tide level, barometer. Surface Bait activity is one of the best indicators.

In the cooler months it tends to happen more the day before a cold front with normal tide levels...but not always. If you try it with water temps less than 70 degrees, give it a few cast here or there but keep working plastics as primary. If you start getting a few slaps at the topwater switch to something like a Broken Back or a Fat Boy (slow sinker). if no action, go back to the plastic.

Ive caught fish on top all year in almost all conditions...go for it.

[trophytroutman]

I fish em year round.

[Marque]

I was fishing a cove on Big Lake last week and there were was an abnormally high amount of mullet busting and jumping for this time of year. The water temp was in the mid to high 50's so I hadn't setup a rod for topwater but rigged one when the bait remained agitated. Ended up throwing 3 different topwaters, small to extra large with a variety of presentations. No bites or blow ups. Water was stained but clear enough to see a foot or so but the fog was thick and there wasn't much sunlight. Caught a red when I switched to a 3" swim shad and the guy with me landed on a broke back corky. Action picked up when we got to the end of the cove. They were hitting the bait about 15 yards off the bank but they appeared to be following it for a while and would hit it on the fall in about 18" to 2 feet of water. Put on the smaller suspending kick a mullet and it was church. They were eating but not really attacking the bait hard like they do when they feeding heavily. Finished out our limit in 30 min. There were redfish swirling in the middle of the cove but they weren't hitting anything. It almost seemed like they were trying to push the bait to the guys in the corner but I've never seen them feed like that. They were more than likely just swimming in a big circle and and stopped to feed once they had cornered enough bait.

Redfish are weird about hitting topwater though. I've never caught any trout on topwater in the winter but would assume they would be more inclined to hit a top than a red this time of year. Especially a big one. I will tie on a plug when its cold if there are indications they are feeding on top. I would have more faith in a Skitter Walker than anything because it rides the lowest in the water. Suspending baits are working the best for me right now. The fish I have caught lately have all been sluggish for the most part. I think I will start throwing topwater more when I catch a fish that doesn't fight like an old man I just woke up.

[PaulMyers]

Great report! Thanks for posting

[Marque]

Originally Posted by falcon29

what type of areas seem to have the best results?

I've had a pretty good amount of success throwing across the tops of areas where there is some sort structure just below or at the surface and drops off 2 to 4 ft. Like the outside reefs of VBay and the old jetties on BL. They bite the best when there is just a couple of inches of water covering the reef.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk