Topwater Bass Fishing Tips
The Backwoods Angler TV crew traveled to Black Lake, NY to shoot during early July. I must first say thank you to Vinnie LaPrete, president of Vinnerbaits Lures, for hosting us up in NY. Check out the quality stuff they offer on their website. We really had good weather for July, and got absolutely remarkable topwater footage of both smallmouth and largemouth bass eating popping lures from the surface!
It is the heat of the summer, and topwater action is warming up as well! The hot season can last through much of October. Here are a few important tips for improving success when fishing hard-bodied topwater lures.
1. DO NOT set the hook on the "visual"! I will always wait at least 1-3 seconds before I set the hook. Yeah, I know that seems like heresy, to not get too excited when a bass slams a surface lure! It is absolutely best to wait until you feel the weight of the bass on the rod tip. Many missed "blow-ups" occur due to premature hook sets.
2. Allow the lure to set motionless for as long as it takes! What I mean by this is on the intial "touch down" after the cast, let the lure alone for a period of time. Then pop or walk the lure for a stretch and kill it again. A large number of strikes occur while the lure is motionless after popping or walking it. As with many other hard baits, let the fish dictate the cadence of retrieval.
3. Low light penetration periods are best. HOWEVER, do not simply put the surface offerings away because the sun comes up "too high". I have caught some of my largest bass during the highest light periods of summer days. Target thicker cover like wood and grass edges as well as mid-lake shoals and humps. Mid-lake humps with grass can be killer spots! AND if they do stop eating one specific color during higher light periods, try a transleucent solid body lure, one that will allow light to pass through it. this can entice tiopwater strikes from bass that might just lie a few feet under another solid colored lure without striking it.
4. Copolymer lines, especially Gamma Polyflex copolymer line, is an excellent choice for fishing popping, walking or prop-style topwater lures because it's more buoyant than fluorocarbon. And with a small amount of stretch and a slightly slower action graphic rod, treble hooks are more likely to stick into a fish upon setting the hook. Braid can be used too with a glass or composite rod similar to those used for crankbaits.
There are 4 important tips that will surely put more fish into your boat during this "HOT" topwater season! Stay tuned as I will have video clips of our topwater fishing soon!
Good fishin!
'
Blaine
It is the heat of the summer, and topwater action is warming up as well! The hot season can last through much of October. Here are a few important tips for improving success when fishing hard-bodied topwater lures.
1. DO NOT set the hook on the "visual"! I will always wait at least 1-3 seconds before I set the hook. Yeah, I know that seems like heresy, to not get too excited when a bass slams a surface lure! It is absolutely best to wait until you feel the weight of the bass on the rod tip. Many missed "blow-ups" occur due to premature hook sets.
2. Allow the lure to set motionless for as long as it takes! What I mean by this is on the intial "touch down" after the cast, let the lure alone for a period of time. Then pop or walk the lure for a stretch and kill it again. A large number of strikes occur while the lure is motionless after popping or walking it. As with many other hard baits, let the fish dictate the cadence of retrieval.
3. Low light penetration periods are best. HOWEVER, do not simply put the surface offerings away because the sun comes up "too high". I have caught some of my largest bass during the highest light periods of summer days. Target thicker cover like wood and grass edges as well as mid-lake shoals and humps. Mid-lake humps with grass can be killer spots! AND if they do stop eating one specific color during higher light periods, try a transleucent solid body lure, one that will allow light to pass through it. this can entice tiopwater strikes from bass that might just lie a few feet under another solid colored lure without striking it.
4. Copolymer lines, especially Gamma Polyflex copolymer line, is an excellent choice for fishing popping, walking or prop-style topwater lures because it's more buoyant than fluorocarbon. And with a small amount of stretch and a slightly slower action graphic rod, treble hooks are more likely to stick into a fish upon setting the hook. Braid can be used too with a glass or composite rod similar to those used for crankbaits.
There are 4 important tips that will surely put more fish into your boat during this "HOT" topwater season! Stay tuned as I will have video clips of our topwater fishing soon!
Good fishin!
'
Blaine
Posted by Blaine Mengel at 7/17/2011 8:46 PM 
Categories: Bass Fishing
Tags: Backwoods Angler TV topwater bass fishing Rebel PopR Zara Spook Black Lake New York Zell Pop
Categories: Bass Fishing
Tags: Backwoods Angler TV topwater bass fishing Rebel PopR Zara Spook Black Lake New York Zell Pop
Thanks for some great information, I have been trying to hold my hookset for over 35 years, and still find excitement overwelming my knowledge.
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