Fred Raby
Volbasser@att.net
Pensacola Blue
Angels
Bass Page
hook.
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"FISHING WITH FRED"
Covering Tidal Waters And Impoundments
Topwater Excitement
No fishing experience can match the excitement of the topwater bite. There are numerous topwater baits that have proven to be successful in all types of situations.
I want to share some of my favorites.
Chugger or popper lures come in a number of proven name brands, Chug-bug, Pop-R, Lucky 13, Chugger, just to name a few. These baits have been proven over the years to not only catch fish but to catch big fish. My first big bass a 5.3 pound largemouth came on a red and white Lucky 13 by Heddon at
age 11. I was on a family picnic when I took my Zebco 33 to the lake and cast to a brush top down the shoreline, a couple of pop-chugs later and the water exploded. The fish took off and the drag screamed as the fish ran from shore. After a fight that seemed like eternity I managed to land the fish.
My favorite time to fish a chugger type bait is when there is some wind or water movement. A pop pop pause action is most productive and will usually produce some action in a short time, however the possibilities are almost limitless for creating an erratic and enticing presentation that the bass cannot refuse.
I like a 6'6" light action casting rod and 14 pound test mono. This rod is forgiving and not only allows the bait to respond to the action you put on the lure but also gives the bass time to take the bait under preventing you from over reacting and pulling the bait away from the bass.
A continued cadence with your rod tip near the water will walk the dog' with these baits, sharply lifting your rod tip will make the lure gurgle under the water for a few feet, a jerk and pause action will make the lure 'spit' and 'sputter' as it splashes water out in front of it. All of these actions create different reactions to the bait and will produce bass under different circumstances. The key is to work the bait in these different styles and different speeds until you find the one that works best. If the action stops change the retrieve and you can often get it started again.
I recently fished a tournament that the key was for the bait to be pulled from the deep water to the shallow water to trigger the strike. We had been fishing points for two days and catching fish, but the third day the action changed. Thanks to my partner watching what I was doing I caught three fish on three casts once I started working the pattern from deep to shallow. He did not seem to be getting the number of strikes and his strikes were short, not taking the bait. I attributed that to the fact that he was using a solid white bait while I had a shad color. Once he changed to my color he started getting more hits and fish.
White or shad colors seem to be the best I feel they match the colors of baitfish as bass look up to see them.
Stickbaits, Bang-O-Lure, Rattlin Rogue, Repala, Thunder stick, Devils Horse, Boy Howdy are probably my all time favorites for top water. I have won several tournaments with these baits and caught some of my biggest fish.
Again the presentations are pretty similar to the chuggers, as well as the color selection.
These baits are well suited for calm water as well as windy conditions. My best day was on Lake Okachobee a few years ago. My partner and I were caught out on the lake with 35+mph winds, we found protection in a reed lined pocket and made a couple of casts. My first hit was a 9+pounder, we continued to fight the wind, and catch fish for over an hour and boated 27
bass from 3 to 11 pounds. That day the only action you could put on the bait was to cast it onto the waves and let it ride the fish did the rest.
Give these ideas a try, and add some of your own, just do not overlook the excitement of the topwater bite.
Keep your worm wet
Fred Raby
