It was a typical Georgia summer afternoon, hot and humid. I had taken one of my friends fishing in one of my coveted honey holes, a farm pond in my hometown of Moreland, where I had fished since I was a child. My friend was from the Northwest and was only in town for the week, and I intended to show him a good day of southern bass fishing. Unfortunately, the fish weren’t cooperating. We hadn’t been able to make a single catch all day. Just when we were about to give up all hope of a fish fry that night, I decided to strap on a Zara-Spook and make one last push. I dumped it near a thick bed of weeds near the center of the lake. After a few jolts, the water around the lure exploded like a depth charge when it was gobbled up by a six-pound bigmouth. Having secured my prize on a stringer, I decided to try my luck again near the same spot. To the surprise of both my friend and myself, there was a repeat performance by a fish that could have passed as the other twin. I guess we were eating fried fish after all!
In the same pond a year earlier he had caught two fish at once on a Bagley Chug-O-Lure, one on the front treble hook and one on the back. They weren’t trophy-sized by any means, maybe a pound each, but memorable nonetheless. And I find that, reflecting on all the big, memorable fish I’ve caught, the only ones I can remember the exact details of the catch for are the ones I’ve caught with topwater lures. There’s nothing quite like watching a fish explode from the depths to attack a topwater lure, or watching a huge bucketmouth poke its head out of the water while sucking your lure into its mouth. There is something about not only feeling but also seeing this event as it happens. And over the years, I think that’s why the topwater lures in my box have become my go-to for fishing in almost any condition. Some of my favorite lures and techniques are listed in this article.
buzz baits
The buzz-bait is a fairly new lure design in that it has only been around for the last twenty years, but it is very effective. I have found that some anglers have yet to add this lure to their arsenal or are hesitant to use it. I think that’s usually because they haven’t given it a chance or taken the time to learn how to fish it properly. This is one of the most versatile lures I have come across and is also an excellent fish finder as it can cover a large area due to its high retrieve speed and long casting distances.
Buzz-baits are available in a variety of sizes and designs. Some have 2-blade propellers, some have 3-blade propellers, and some have an extra “clucker” blade that slaps against the propeller during retrieve. My personal favorite is a simple two-blade medium-sized propeller with a simple white or Chartreuse skirt.
These lures are especially effective in shallow water near shorelines and around obstructions and vegetation, places where bass tend to congregate in the late afternoon and early morning; however, they can also attract the attention of fish in deeper water and bring them to the surface. The lure’s design makes it fairly weed free, allowing you to fish in areas where you might not be able to use other topwater lures. I sometimes bounce the blade on purpose against a log or other obstruction during the retrieve, as this seems to drive even stubborn bass crazy, resulting in furious smacks.
For the beginning buzz-bait user, it may take a couple of tries to perfect your technique, but don’t be discouraged. The rewards of learning the proper use of this lure will be great. You will have to start retrieving almost as soon as it hits the water and keep it on the surface of the water. To do this you will need a quick retrieve and you will need to keep the rod tip high. As you get used to the lure you will also learn to steer it around obstructions by moving the rod tip from side to side, this is useful for bouncing the blade off an obstruction as I mentioned earlier.
walking the dog
The technique of walking the dog has been around for a long time, but it still works like a charm. I still use the original Zara-Spook for this method, but there are also many other lures now made with a similar design. The size of this lure seems to attract the big fish, but it will also catch many smaller ones.
To use this technique with a Zara-Spook or similar lure, simply flick the rod tip to the side on the retrieve, which will cause the lure to wobble from side to side. This movement seems to be one that really attracts fish, probably because it resembles the actions of an injured minnow.
Another advantage of the full size Spook lure is that you can cast it a country mile. But it is also available in smaller sizes depending on your preference and fishing conditions.
Topwater Worm Rig
This worm kit consists simply of a soft plastic worm mounted without weeds and without weight. You will probably want to use light spinning tackle with this rig due to its light weight, making it difficult to cast.
Any type of worm can be used with this kit, but some will float better than others. Many anglers use the old fashioned long straight worm that does not have a curly tail as it offers a unique action when fished this way and tends to float well. The recovery method is up to you, jerky motion or direct, slow or fast recovery. Experiment yourself and find what works in the given situation.
Properly rigged, this is one of the least weedy lure setups, making it ideal for casting in dense lily pads and weed beds. It is also ideal for fishing near shore, such as around cattails and other vegetation. Bass can’t seem to resist this rig, even finicky or spawning fish will attack this lure if you can get it close enough to them. If bass are on the bed, I have found that sometimes this is the only lure they pay attention to. If you see a big bass on the bed, or hang out in the shallows, don’t be afraid to cast this lure in the same area more than once because sometimes it takes multiple times to really get their attention.
poppers
Poppers have also been around for a long time and come in many different styles, but they are all fundamentally the same. The main feature is a concave mouth at the front of the lure that traps the water and makes the popping sound. This is a fairly simple lure to use, simply retrieve the lure with a jerky motion which causes the lure to explode. I usually let the lure sit for a few seconds after it first hits the water. This allows time for any fish that have been momentarily startled by the cast to return and investigate. Sometimes you’ll even take hits while the lure is sitting there. I usually try to allow enough time for the ripples caused by the spatter to subside.
The speed of recovery is up to you and you may want to vary it to see what works best on a particular day. An old trick I’ve used is to remove the rear treble hook and replace it with a trailer of some kind, like a curly tail or minnow jig attached with a short leader. Larger noise poppers are sometimes good to use on a windy day when you’ll need to cause a little more commotion to get over the waves.
In closing, I hope everyone can have as many memorable experiences using topwater lures as I have had and continue to have. Try all of these methods if you haven’t already and don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment with these techniques to make them your own. I can’t wait to get back on the lake and experience the next memorable catch!