How To: Topwater Bass

Where to Throw It: Trees and standing timber. How to Fish It: Use a sharp, downward rod motion on a slack line to grab air and create maximum pop without too much forward movement. Contrary to walkers, a fluoro leader can help here by pulling the popper down for a deeper blooping sound. In either case, a loop knot allows for maximum motion. How to Fish It: Same as with poppers, twitch these baits on a slack line to get those blades sputtering while maximizing the commotion with short spurts. How to Fish It: Leave the fringy legs intact for maximum profile over bass beds. Hooks that Hold Thrown hooks are the bane of topwater fishing. Red Alert When fish are short-striking, a red front hook presents a target point and often improves hookups. Know Your Knot Walkers and poppers do best with relaxed motion, so tie up with a loop knot. Remember, the first thing you see is the fish pushing a wall of water toward your bait, so stay calm and let the fish come tight before reacting.
Popper

Where to Throw It: Trees and standing timber. Typically smaller than walkers, poppers can also play the short game with brief, targeted casts to structure. A concave face pushes water and air on every twitch for a bold display that pulls deep fish topside.

How to Fish It: Use a sharp, downward rod motion on a slack line to grab air and create maximum pop without too much forward movement. Contrary to walkers, a fluoro leader can help here by pulling the popper down for a deeper blooping sound.
Buy It Now!

Walker

Where to Throw It: The classic side-to-side, walk-the-dog saunter excels in any open-water scenario, but it’s especially productive when bass school on bait pods or target early-morning shad spawns. Also, use these lures to probe points and bluff ends, and crisscross reefs (killer smallmouth structure).

How to Fish It: A braided main line can gather in front of your walker and foul the front hook. A short monofilament or fluorocarbon leader remedies this. But understand, also, that too much fluoro pulls the bait’s nose down and mars the presentation. In either case, a loop knot allows for maximum motion. Try using both high- and low-pitch rattle options to determine daily preferences.
Buy It Now!

Prop Bait
PROP BAIT

Where to Throw It: Near bass beds in deeper water, or shallow bluegill beds later in the spring and summer. Both long and slender, and short and stubby configurations prove highly effective for irritating…

Tags from the story
, ,
Written By
More from Staff Writer
How to Sneak Up on a Pronghorn
Four Tips for Sneaking Up on a Pronghorn. The pronghorn, with its...
Read More
0 replies on “How To: Topwater Bass”