It's Time Again For Topwater
By Adam JohnsonI've noticed the temperatures in the lakes here in Minnesota have been dropping. That's good news for me since I like fishing for big bass in the shallower water and this cooler water along the shoreline pulls those big bass out of the deep water. This is also a perfect time of year to be chasing those big largemouths with a topwater lure.
You often hear that bass like to relate to cover, and that is true, for small to medium-sized bass. With bigger bass, cover is not as important for sanctuary as it is for an ambush point. But even then I will see big bass swimming right out in the open because they know they're at the top of the food chain and don't have to worry about being eaten.
With this in mind you should realize that any spot in shallower water that affords some opportunity for the bass to intercept forage will be a high-potential location. Boat docks, inside weedlines, shallow rock piles, or sunken shoreline timber all become hotspots once the bass move back into the cooler shallows.
And who doesn't like the excitement of an explosive strike on a topwater bait. I can only think of a few things I enjoy more when I'm on the water.
There is only one hard rule when fishing topwater lures. That is to hesitate for a split second before setting the hook. There is the initial reaction where we want to bury those barbs as soon as we see the swirl. Too often that results in a missed fish. I know it's tough, but just a slight hesitation while the fish inhales the lure and turns to swim away can mean landing the bass.
Some people profess a slower retrieve when the fish are in a neutral mode and a fast retrieve when the fish are aggressive. I use a two-tiered approach.
Start out with a more aggressive retrieve. In most cases when the fish are shallow they are feeding and will react aggressively. In that case you will get some solid strikes. When the fish are neutral you either won't get a reaction or they might swirl on the lure but not grab it.
For those times when the fish don't inhale the faster retrieve have a lure set up on another rod that is a twitch bait or one that can be retrieved slowly. Send this lure out to the swirl and let it sit in that spot while you twitch it. Big bass can't resist, no matter what mood they're in.
The shallow topwater bite can be here today and gone tomorrow. Don't let this one slip by.
Reading Outdoors Archives
