I am heading out this afternoon and will be throwing buzz, popper and a spook. Also will have tied up a chatter bait. Gonna see how it goes from 1 - 5 in the afternoon.
Topwater Fishing
Interesting article on fishing topwater for bass all day:
http://wired2fish.scout.com/story/1467031-all-day-topwater-fishing
I've done it with a buzzbait, esp w/a cloud cover, but this is the first year I've done it successfully with, e.g., a popper. Have had at least two days when I caught fish all day on top, and part of the day with bright sun. Think ca. 65F water temps helped, as did seasonal timing (spawning season -- lots of aggressive males in shallow water).
I modified my Heddon Pop-n Image with a #2 Mustad Triple Grip short shank hook and an Owner #4 dressed treble on the rear. Most fish hook up on the front treble -- except, of course, the ones that don't.
But the Triple Grips really seem to increase my hook-up ratio and reduce the number of thrown hooks.
![Blue Azure Organism Line Art paint]()
FWIW // Joel
http://wired2fish.scout.com/story/1467031-all-day-topwater-fishing
I've done it with a buzzbait, esp w/a cloud cover, but this is the first year I've done it successfully with, e.g., a popper. Have had at least two days when I caught fish all day on top, and part of the day with bright sun. Think ca. 65F water temps helped, as did seasonal timing (spawning season -- lots of aggressive males in shallow water).
I modified my Heddon Pop-n Image with a #2 Mustad Triple Grip short shank hook and an Owner #4 dressed treble on the rear. Most fish hook up on the front treble -- except, of course, the ones that don't.
But the Triple Grips really seem to increase my hook-up ratio and reduce the number of thrown hooks.
FWIW // Joel
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Varying retrieve has certainly been the ticket for me lately. First day I fished a popper hard this spring, best retrieve pattern was something like pop-pop-long rest, pop-pop-pop-long rest, then rinse & repeat. Next trip I was getting only half-hearted blow-ups on that pattern retrieve. So started moving the popper much faster -- and the Pop-n Image will almost walk like a Spook when you need it too. Last time out I couldn't really find much of a detectable pattern other than make a whole lot of casts and eventually I'd hit a big 'un on the head.
Another suggestion would be to move and cover water, only stopping to work an area more carefully when you get a bite/blowup.
FWIW // Joel
Another suggestion would be to move and cover water, only stopping to work an area more carefully when you get a bite/blowup.
FWIW // Joel
My favorite topwater last few years is not what people think of as a topwater but a swimbait. I do really good on a Spro BB1z floater worked on top. But I will say one trip me and Jeff got our butts handed to us by 10 year old Nat throwing a monster sized Jitterbug. Kid caught three five pounders and lost another just as big at the canoe. All this in a few hours. Don't overlook Fred Arborgast! Maybe a big old Hula Popper would slay 'em out there
Tricked this big 7lbs 3oz gal into hitting a topwater popper this weekend. Driving rain for part of day, and slow bite at first. But for whatever reason, the few hits I got early were good sized fish. It was one of those days where I typically would have switched to another lure because of slow bite, but stubbornly continued to use the popper. This big fish hit late in day, although I prob made hundreds of casts (Advil is helping those aching wrists). Saw some things I don't often see big bass do, e.g., several big fish pursued the lure after initial miss. That happens a lot with smaller fish, but I don't see it so much w/big fish. Saw one big bass almost completely breach the water when she hit. Can't recall seeing that before. Fish were also full of energy and fought like saltwater fish -- water was 64/65F w/drizzle; guess fish were just able/willing to expend a lot of energy in the fight.
Same lure -- Heddon Pop-N Image w/hooks replaced (Mustad Triple Grip #2 front, dressed #4 rear)
![Water Outdoor recreation Beard Jigging Fisherman]()
Same lure -- Heddon Pop-N Image w/hooks replaced (Mustad Triple Grip #2 front, dressed #4 rear)
A big thank you to Spider Crack and everyone else sharing advice. My buzzbait is ON FIRE since I learned how to use it properly : )Interesting article on fishing topwater for bass all day:
http://wired2fish.scout.com/story/1467031-all-day-topwater-fishing
I've done it with a buzzbait, esp w/a cloud cover, but this is the first year I've done it successfully with, e.g., a popper. Have had at least two days when I caught fish all day on top, and part of the day with bright sun. Think ca. 65F water temps helped, as did seasonal timing (spawning season -- lots of aggressive males in shallow water).
I modified my Heddon Pop-n Image with a #2 Mustad Triple Grip short shank hook and an Owner #4 dressed treble on the rear. Most fish hook up on the front treble -- except, of course, the ones that don't.
But the Triple Grips really seem to increase my hook-up ratio and reduce the number of thrown hooks.
View attachment 70827
FWIW // Joel
1 - 20 of 27 Posts
