Topwater Insurgency

Happy Tuesday, Spacefish!

So right now is the time to fish topwater – there is no more exciting way to catch fish than to go up top! So let’s start slinging them plugs!

My Top Baits

I won’t really dive into the brands so much as I will the types of baits I like. My number one for inshore saltwater, and I do get a lot of production with Bass in the sweetwater as well – is the classic topwater plug, the “walk the dog” style baits. My two favorites right now are the Heddon Super Spook Jr in Bone, and Bone Silver for inshore fish like Snook and Trout; and Florida Bass, and Golden Shiner for Largemouth Bass. As well as the Rapala Skitter Walk (SW-08) in Bone, and Holographic Bone.

Trial, Error, & Adjustments

I like to go heavy in my approach, because one of the reasons I love topwater fishing (beyond the blow-ups) is because you can get away with heavier line, and heavier leader because the bait floats and it is all on the surface. I’ve lost some really quality Snook over the past few weeks to breaking of 40 pound leader, and factory terminal tackle, like treble hooks bending out. So I made some adjustments. For starters I went and bought some beefed up tackle, Heavy action rod, new baitcaster, 50 pound braid, and 60 pound Mono leader (Mono floats – better for topwater than fluorocarbon!). By the way (war on tackle industrial complex alert) you don’t have to go out and break the bank to get what you need, pictured below is my set up, after having my heart broken again this past Thursday morning, I went to Bass Pro Shops with my kids and bought the cheapest casting rod, the cheapest casting reel, the cheapest braid, the cheapest leader and the cheapest plug (which happens to be my favorite), the Heddon Super Spook Jr. I went for the cheapest of all, and 12 hours later I had caught 2 40+ inch Snook the following morning before 7 am. So don’t let anyone on the Florida Insider Fishing Report convince you that you have to go out and spend hundreds of dollars, just buy the stuff that is rated to help you win the battle.

The other adjustment I have made is switching out the terminal tackle on my plugs. You will ned a split ring remover to do that. If you don’t know what that is, go to Strike Zone (or any fishing store) and ask someone. You will need this special tool to remove the hooks and split rings. I use Owner stainless steel split rings, and VMC Wide Gap 1/0 Single In-line replacement hooks. You will need in-line hooks so that they fit the right way on your plug. Make sure the front hook points forward, and the back hook points backwards. I have had 0 issues since making the switch in terms of hook up ratio, and I have had 0 fish come off or bend hooks. It is much safer for me as the angler when dehooking the fish, and it is also safer and better for the fish. Which is something that we should all rally behind. Catch more fish, land bigger fish, and protect our gamefish. Let’s go people, break up with trebles this summer and never look back!

As far as getting set up, I like bait casters for these big heavy plugs, working the bait in the “walk the dog” action is easier, but also, casting accuracy is a big deal for me when slinging baits with exposed hooks. Because even though you’re probably fishing topwater in low-light conditions (dawn/dusk/rainy overcast skies) Snook and Bass are still structure oriented ambush predators, and they will prefer to lie in wait and ambush. Which means you are going to have to drop these plugs in tight areas – dock pilings, on the edges of mangroves, bridge structure, overhangs and laydowns – whatever structure you can find, cast as close to it as you can!!!

I tie my braid to the leader using the FG knot. This is a thin, but strong knot that is slightly complicated to tie. My best method for good FG knots is the pinky method, which I have found is much more efficient in regards to time and effectiveness than the teeth clenching method. This knot, when tied correctly, is both strong and thin, which if you use baitcasters, you will understand why thin knots are important with the smaller guides on the rod. I tie my leader to the lure using what some call the non-slip loop knot, and what some call the Rapala knot. Whatever you call it, this knot is vastly superior to a snug type of knot because it allows your lure to have significantly more action. I much prefer the loop knot to terminal tackle like split rings and snap swivels – target a big snook and you will understand why! Those rinky-dink pieces of terminal tackle are just one more thing to keep up with, and one more piece of equipment that can malfunction and cause heartbreak and the loss of a once in a lifetime trophy catch. Don’t waste your time or money!

Best Times to Fish Topwater

Here in Florida, the best times are in “low light” periods – dawn/dusk, sunrise/sunset, or on cloudy overcast days. When fish are not harassed by the sun’s rays in the water, they are more likely to come up to eat. Late spring, all summer, and the early parts of the fall are usually when the topwater bite is hot inshore. I like to plan my topwater fishing based on shade as well, If I am fishing in the mornings, I like to be able to fish on the west side of islands, and shoreline to extend the bite an hour or so longer. In the late afternoons, I like to fish on the east side of islands and shorelines to maybe tap into that topwater bite window a little sooner.

Walking The Dog

So a lot of novice or new and inexperienced anglers I speak with seem a little intimidated by this style. It really isn’t as daunting as it may seem, the key to walking the dog is popping the bait, and “throwing” slack back at the bait and doing it in a rhythmic cadence. It’s easier to learn by going fast and once you get it, then slow it down. You’ve got to listen to the fish, they will tell you what they want, but if you make a great cast, don’t be in a hurry to rush it out of the strike zone! Let that puppy walk, glide and sashay and let the dinner bell ring.

Let’s Get Froggy

Outside of the classic walk the dog plug, the other big Florida topwater must have in your arsenal is the frog! I like two styles, in two colors. I like hollow body popping frogs, and soft plastic frogs that buzz the surface. Fish, or Die sells the Ambush, and I like the Hendrix Fishing Voodoo Frog, but any brand will work essentially. I like them in two colors, black and white. Bitter’s sells a unique version called the Buzz’n Gator which is the topwater bait that has caught me the most Bass this year. I usually start with the fast moving soft plastic frogs and cover water, then I go to the Popper to fish slowly and thoroughly if I know this is an area that can yield quality fish. When I say slow, I mean slow. Cast it out, let it sit for about 20 seconds or so, then POP. Then wait 5-10-15 seconds, then POP POP POP then wait (the longer the better), then POP POP. Then wait. Rinse, and repeat. These two styles of topwater are weedless and snag proof and it doesn’t take an experienced angler to work these baits properly.

As far as rigging frogs for Bass you can go braid straight to the hook, honestly it’s probably BEST to do it that way for Bass, the leader will actually stretch and provide shock resistance, but that’s really not what you want if you hook a lunker in vegetation or cover. You want to stick that pig with a strong hook set and pull that big girl out. BAM! Now with Trout, Snook, Redfish you will probably want a leader probably. Snook can shred a 40 pound leader with their mouth and gill plates, but even Trout and Redfish can rub your line against barnacle crusted hard structure and mangrove roots and leave you feeling like a very tired and confused young man/woman.

My last tidbit about frogs, don’t be afraid to throw them inshore, some of these soft plastic frogs skip really, really well, and they are great under docks and mangroves, and I really think to an inshore fish they look like a crab floating by on the surface, either way they work better inshore than a lot of people think. Just don’t tell the overlords of the tackle industry that. Just because something is packaged for freshwater or saltwater doesn’t mean it won’t work in the other. I like to rig my soft plastic frogs on a 3/0 EWG worm hook, and most recently I’ve been using the BKK Hooks 2/0 EWG Worm Hook, Screw Lock. I get these bad boys at Strike Zone and they work pretty well for me.