Topwater Tactics

Tools of the Trade : Topwater Tactics

  The sun sat high overhead, the sky  was a wide open bright blue without a cloud to be seen. The light glanced off of 200 square yards of algae bloom and lily pads coating the surface. As I peered through amber lenses, I could see dragonflies hovering just above the soup and dark figures passing through open pockets beneath them. From a broad lily leaf "Lithobates catesbeianus" made a long-legged jump towards the mat. He landed softly and sat still, watching the dragonflies. I was dealing with a case of afternoon lull ennui and tossed my Spro frog towards his position. The bullfrog, sensing my movements began to quickly retreat across the mat in short, high speed leaps. About half way across the water erupted just behind the frog. The frog made even more haste which in turn triggered five or six explosive strikes in a row. The bass stayed hot on the bullfrog's trail until he ran out of swimming room. "Can't beat the real thing" I mused. I hadn't got a frog bite in 4 hours. Then the lightbulb came on. I casted across the mat and began to retrieve the frog much faster then I had before. A 5 pound bass crushed the frog with fury. It was the largest fish of the day. That day, my topwater game changed. A couple years later, in the cloudless heat of an August afternoon, I would catch one of the biggest bass of my life in eight feet of open water on a frog bait. There is no mistaking, topwater baits produce giants at times when it seems nothing else is producing.

    If you know me, you know I have an absolute obsession with frog fishing. My two largest bass last year both came on a frog. However, topwater fishing in general is my favorite way to target big bass. It's not very challenging to fish topwater in the kayak, the bait is always in the strike zone which makes the presentation more forgiving. The keys to topwater fishing are confidence, observation, bait selection and also gear choice. Here's a bit of insight into these key things that I promise will sharpen your skills.

CONFIDENCE

You've seen it done, you know it works. This is the thought most anglers have when trying a new bait or technique. It is indeed true and if you are not having success with topwater it could be for a variety of reasons. It could be the speed of your retrieve or the size of your bait. Keep trying and experimenting, fish confidently as if you expect a strike at any moment. I like to always imagine a fish is following my bait and then anticipate ways to make that fish strike. All it takes is a few blow-ups to gain confidence in what you are doing. Try things like stopping the bait suddenly or speeding up the retrieve, try banging it off of nearby cover like you would a crank or spinner. Topwater baits work from the mid-40 degree water temps all the way to mid-summer heat. There are also always shallow bass to be caught. This makes topwater fishing an absolute must have skill for the tournament angler.

OBSERVATION & BAIT SELECTION

I can't help but recall watching smallouths take advantage of the locust hatch in Kentucky a few years ago. I never expected to tie on a jitterbug that day but the fish told me what they wanted. There is no better information available on what to throw when it comes to topwaters than what you simply observe on the water. If I see shad busting the surface, wakes, schools of feeding fish, flocks of diving seagulls or even certain marks on my sonar-I'm going to be throwing a shad style topwater like a zara spook. Other times in open water with colder temps, I might throw something noisy and slow like a tri-wing buzzbait or a jitterbug. If I'm fishing shoreline cover I will almost always throw a frog. Still, I always observe. If I'm fishing a mat and I see bluegills popping bugs off the surface, I might switch from the frog and start throwing a popper. Let your surroundings tell you what the bass are eating, pick the correct topwater imitation and find a way to fish your bait that makes the fish react.

GEAR CHOICE

It is crucial to have a couple different rods for topwaters that are matched with the correct baits. For frogs you will need a heavy weight rod on braided line. You are setting two big hooks into big fish that can bury themselves in the cover. You need the old broomstick and winch. I like a 7:1:1 reel for my frogs so I can fish them fairly fast. I also almost always throw super size baits (I'll get to why in a minute) so I'm not shy about a heavy, eight foot frogging rod. The action of the rod is a matter of personal preference. Some like to use a slower rod, personally I like a fast action rod (I'll get back to that too). I like to fish stickbaits, prop baits and poppers on mono line as it seems to help keep the fish pinned on the trebles. Braided line with a lighter, slower action rod works as well.





BIG BASS

So here are the juicy bits of this post. I am 100% sold on topwaters being one of the best big bass baits but I hear people complain they only catch small to medium sized fish on them. My theory is big bass like big meals most of the time. A frog  has the same appeal as fishing a swimbait in a way. It is a rewarding, realistic looking meal to the fish. When that meal appears vulnerable it ignites instinctive, hyper aggressive bites you don't get with other baits. I believe using big baits help spurn that instinctive attack mode from larger bass. Oversized frogs, stickbaits and poppers are what fill the compartments of my tackle box. If I have to downsize to catch fish, they are typically not the size I'm looking for. Don't be surprised though when a bass barely larger than the bait gets caught. Big topwaters provoke more strikes from bass period. There are tips you can use to also maximize your results. For instance, bending your frog's hooks slightly upward with a pair of pliers will increase hook-up ratio. Also, trimming the legs on your frog can help with short striking or less aggressive fish. There also accessories you can use to change the dynamics of your frog. The new buzz frog style baits offer a different action, there are also feathers, spinner blades and trailer hooks you can add. It is good to ponder when and why a certain bait would work better. Another tip is don't be afraid to fish a topwater anywhere. I will throw a frog in the middle of a brushpile, I'll also throw it over open water that is 50 feet deep. I've also learned that speedy retrieves produce more strikes than a stop and go retrieve. Sometimes, I'm reeling in as fast as I can and the fish will slam it just as it reaches the kayak. If you are fishing fast and not connecting, try letting the bait sit for a long time or pitch a plastic bait to fish that have revealed themselves. Some will debate me here but I am also a firm believer in immediately setting the hook on a frog bite. This is for the same reason I like a fast action rod. When big bass hits my oversized frog on a speed retrieve, it is usually a violent and very accurate strike. I have seen fish with the frog half swallowed after I immediately set the hook. The idea that it takes a fish awhile to get the bait is only true when they are going through a thick mat and even then, a very thick mat. The time it takes to react to a strike and set the hook is plenty of time. Bass eat things off the surface all the time, they have no problem catching a frog and when you see that explosion the bait is in the fish's mouth. A lot of food the bass eat is twice as large as the typical topwater bait. I catch most of my frog fish and I always set the hook immediately. Once again, I stress experimenting until you gain confidence. Hopefully, you found something useful here that you can apply on the water to strengthen your topwater game. Once you realize the power of topwater fishing, you won't want to throw anything else.