| It's 5:30am and you're already on the water. | | | | |
| The water is like glass and all is quiet | | | | When it comes to lures, there are a great |
| around you. Next to you in the boat is a | | | | many to choose from. Here is a list of the |
| cooler filled with your favorite beverage | | | | top ten that I have had success with: |
| (whether it's beer or Pepsi is up to you!). | | | | |
| As you approach your favorite hole, you pick | | | | 1. Heddon's Zara Spook. |
| up your rod and tie on a surface lure. You | | | | |
| cast your line toward the shore and present | | | | 2. Custom Bait's Senko. |
| your topwater offering. | | | | |
| | | | 3. Yum's Floating Worm (with a Texas style |
| All of a sudden, the water explodes and you | | | | rig). |
| are in the battle of your life with a lunker | | | | |
| largemouth! He feels like he goes maybe 3 or | | | | 4. Zoom's Superfluke. |
| 4 pounds. As you get him boat side, you reach | | | | |
| down and lift him out of the water. Larger | | | | 5. Heddon's Torpedo. |
| than you expected, around 5 pounds! You turn | | | | |
| and drop your prize into the live well and | | | | 6. Lazer Eye's Buzzbait |
| prepare for the next cast... | | | | |
| | | | 7. Smithwick's Stick Bait aka Hard Jerk Bait. |
| The thrill of topwater bass fishing is | | | | |
| addictive. There is a BIG difference between | | | | 8. Rebel's Pop-R bait. |
| catching that elusive largemouth off the | | | | |
| bottom, from the middle or from the surface. | | | | 9. Snag Proof's Tournament Frog. |
| Topwater bass fishing is a more visual | | | | |
| experience than other types of fishing. There | | | | 10. Any spinner bait. These are manufactured |
| are specific types of rods and lures for | | | | by numerous companies. |
| topwater bass fishing. | | | | |
| | | | All these lures have their own unique |
| Rods | | | | presentations. When presented properly, these |
| | | | baits are historically known to produce |
| Most anglers will tell you that a 6 to 6 ½ | | | | quality bass. This is true across regional |
| foot rod with a medium action will suffice. | | | | boundaries, weather conditions and water |
| If the action of the rod is too stiff, you | | | | tempuratures. |
| will yank your bait right out of the fish's | | | | |
| mouth when you set the hook. A medium action | | | | A big tip |
| rod is the best fit for topwater bass | | | | |
| fishing. | | | | Now you have the rod and the lures you need |
| | | | for topwater bass fishing, there is one more |
| These rods are available in a price range of | | | | thing you should know. Here it is: Since |
| about $20 to over $200. Do you need to spend | | | | topwater fishing is a visual type of fishing, |
| a bunch of money on a rod? Regardless of the | | | | most anglers will set the hook too soon and |
| price tag, medium action is medium action. On | | | | jerk the lure right out of the fish's |
| the other hand, if you go with a $25 rod, you | | | | mouth. To prevent this, do NOT set the hook |
| can expect $25 worth of performance. Chose a | | | | immediately when you see the strike! Wait a |
| rod somewhere in the middle price range and | | | | second, reel in some slack and when you feel |
| you won't go wrong. | | | | the pressure of the bass on the line, THEN |
| | | | set the hook. You will boat more lunkers that |
| Lures | | | | way and be a much happier fisherman to boot. |