It’s Topwater Time!
Ask anyone who knows me what my favorite way to fish is and you will get the same answer over and over again; with topwater baits. Once Bass season opens, some of the most exhilarating and heart stopping fishing happens literally in front of your eyes. There are hundreds of different types of topwater baits on the market, some have cupped mouths designed to “chug” or “spit” water, while others have noisy spinning blades that leave a trail of bubbles on the surface. There are dozens of different soft bodied frogs and just as many cigar shaped lures that rely on the angler to impart the “zig zag” action known as “walking the dog”.
Here is my list of tried-and-true topwater lures guaranteed to help you land the big one this summer!
1) Poppers and Chuggers – Poppers and chuggers sit on the surface of the water and will pop or chug water when the rod tip is quickly jerked to the side. The slack line between your rod and your bait suddenly goes tight causing the lure to lurch forward. The unique design built into the mouths of these style baits, digs into the surface and results in a spray of water sometimes accompanied by a popping noise.
2) Buzzbaits – These are a close relative of the spinnerbait, but have a double or triple veined blade attached to the wire (think feathers on the end of an arrow). The blades are designed to spin like a propeller across the surface when the lure is cast and retrieved. The bait will gurgle and bubble its way along the surface as long as the speed of the retrieve is fast enough to prevent it from sinking.
3) Soft Bodied Frogs – Most of these type baits have hollow bodies and are designed to be fished in and around lily pads and other types of heavy vegetation. These baits will sit at rest with their head above water with the rest of the bait slightly submerged. Try short little hops in between and over the pads, slowing down or stopping the bait in open areas.
4) Floating Worms – Out of all the topwater baits, the floating worm has probably put more Bass over the side of the boat than all the others combined. As the name implies, this is simply a rubber worm that floats, rigged Texas style with a light wire hook and it can be fished anywhere!
5) Walking Baits – Walking baits require a little practice on the anglers part in order to become proficient at getting them to react in a zig zag pattern. The rod tip is twitched while the handle of the reel is turned and the bait reacts by darting left and right. These baits are great for covering a lot of water quickly and are effective in generating strikes in deeper waters.
In my opinion, there is never a bad time to throw a topwater bait. Early morning and evening are by far the most productive times as fish are foraging in the shallows in search of prey. In the Kawarthas, this consists of small baitfish such as Sunfish, Perch and Rock Bass, as well as Frogs and Crawfish. Once the sun starts getting high, I like to target shaded areas along the shoreline. This can be the shadows of trees or boat houses, the shady water under docks or the cool water under lily pad beds.
Whichever topwater bait you decide to tie on this summer, get ready for some great memories!
Good luck and get outside!
Mike Quesnelle, GOAT Angling Adventures
(705) 934-1450
