Proper use of Topwaters

[Jerkyourcroaker]

I'm not that comfortable fishing topwaters because I don't fish them very often. I don't use them very often because I'm not comfortable/confident that I use them right (see the conundrum).

I generally try them at first light and give up after a half hour or so and go back to TTF Red Killers or TTF Hackberry Hustlers - baits I've had good success with, know how to fish, etc.

I've seen a number of posts lately that make me think some of y'all use topwaters almost exclusively. Am I reading that right? I'm headed out on an afternoon trip tomorrow and may hit it again Saturday morning.

Probably the best thing to do is burn the boats and only take tops with me and see what happens!

[$peckmaster]

It really depends on the conditions.When you see bait getting busted or fresh slicks over shell, topwaters are the way to go. Start with a slow steady walk the dog retrieve and keep switching it up until you find out what they want.If a trout misses don't stop right away speed it up a little and most of the time he'll try again.

[SUPER SPOOK]

practice, practice, practice

[Curmudgeon]

practice, practice, practice

x2!
Twitch, twitch, twitch..

[Robalo]

work it so lure "walks the dog"-i.e. goes back and forth-change up speed of retrieve now and then to get what the fish want. Gotta do the twitch/reel/twitch/reel

[Baby Tran Cat]

This is a great question. I learned on bass lakes. Like said above you just have to do it and learn while you are. You then start learning nuances with them...using different kinds of tops, etc. Like you said, take 'em with you and start chunkin'. Let us know how it goes...

[slickfish]

patience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BayPounder]

If the gulls are hovering over it you are doing it right.

[SLPass-Assasin]

All good answers ! I've been fishing tops almost exclusively since the mid-late eighties when the Rebel Jumpin' Minnow first came on the scene. There are alot of variables that come into play when fishing tops but try not to over analyze it or make it too confusing. Number one you need to be " in " the fish. Number two you need nervous water or nervous bait for tops to be considered in my opinion. Glass minnows scattering , a hopping shrimp or surface mullet activity are all signs you need to be looking for. Be persistent and stay with it. Presentation of your lure will change on any given day and throughout your day. Colors do matter but not as much as you might think. Size of lure does matter......downsize in calm water and upsize in choppy water especially if offcolor. As an example, I fished WGB three mornings last weekend exclusively with tops. The calm water called for a SS jr. The only retrieve I could get any action on was a very slow erratic retrieve.....sometimes with a short pause. Nothing else would work and it may be something different this weekend. You have to experiment. I fish tops almost exclusively because that's what I like to do........but they will let you down and tend to work much better in the conditions mentioned above. GOOD LUCK........stay with it !

[Moe]

The particular lure matters sometimes. I can walk Super Spooks, Spook Jrs, Top Dogs, Top Pups, and She Dogs, but I can't work a Skitterwalk at all! The Spooks and Dogs seem easier to work. I like just a little slack in my line and very short twitches. Don't jerk or pull the lure. You just want to twitch it. It takes time and practice. Once you get your first fish on top, you will be hooked! Tops are an addiction!

Moe

[Robalo]

And if a fish hits but misses hooks, don't rip it, let it sit a few seconds or give it a slight twitch-they usually come back and slap it again.

[reeltime]

If the gulls are hovering over it you are doing it right.

What he said i had six different gulls that wanted to pick my top up yesterday morning.

[FISHORGOLF]

Thanks for starting this post Jerky. I am in the same boat you are. I have numerous ones in my tackle box, but never take them out. I tried at one time, but never did any good. To be honest, I have NEVER caught a trout or red on a top. I usually start out with live shrimp, then switch to tails. Guess I need to suck it up and try it again. Can somebody tell me the type of knot I need to use? Tks.

[Curmudgeon]

Most use a loop knot. I use a San Diego Jam knot.

[GHSmacker]

Take a topwater, throw it as far as you can, wave your rod around like a madman, catch fish, repeat.