Topwaters and Corkys

[Primer]

How many times do you twitch before pause? How long do you pause? I'm still new to tops.

Corkys, How many times do twitch before pausing? How long do you pause?

[imhammer]

Tops - I always start with a steady medium retrieve and vary it until I find what they want.
Corkies - Start with a couple of twitches and a 2-3 sec pause and adjust longer or shorter until I find what they want.

[GreenTide]

I haven't met Aquapimp yet but I sure like his advice - and follow it often. I couldn't find the original post or article I got this from, but I had his name with this quote. I am merely passing on his great wisdom that I he generously shared and that I wrote down a while back- I hope he doesn't mind and be sure to give him all the credit for these great tips:


Water temps and clarity plays a roll a lot of times on my retrieves. Most of the time just a slow to moderate 1 hop retrieves works well for me. Water temps below 60 degrees will definitely require a slow retrieve in most cases. But I have seen time in the winter where a fast retrieve will work. Muddy water I like a slow retrieve too along with a dark or black bait.
I kinda play with my retrieve. I will generally start off with my standard 1 hop then after 10 casts speed it up, maybe double hop the bait, or add slight pauses between hops. The key is to experiment to success is found then duplicate.
I only own 2 leads heads.1/8 ounce generally produces all year long, but when the Trout seem real finicky I like to switch to a 1/16 ounce lead head. A lot of times in the winter a 1/16 ounce lead head does better. Keeps the bait in the strike zone a little longer.
A trick I do quite a bit is take a soldering iron and melt more lead off of a 1/16 ounce lead head and make it even lighter. This is great in the winter time over shell too, less hang-ups.

[Primer]

I haven't met Aquapimp yet but I sure like his advice - and follow it often. I couldn't find the original post or article I got this from, but I had his name with this quote. I am merely passing on his great wisdom that I he generously shared and that I wrote down a while back- I hope he doesn't mind and be sure to give him all the credit for these great tips:


Water temps and clarity plays a roll a lot of times on my retrieves. Most of the time just a slow to moderate 1 hop retrieves works well for me. Water temps below 60 degrees will definitely require a slow retrieve in most cases. But I have seen time in the winter where a fast retrieve will work. Muddy water I like a slow retrieve too along with a dark or black bait.
I kinda play with my retrieve. I will generally start off with my standard 1 hop then after 10 casts speed it up, maybe double hop the bait, or add slight pauses between hops. The key is to experiment to success is found then duplicate.
I only own 2 leads heads.1/8 ounce generally produces all year long, but when the Trout seem real finicky I like to switch to a 1/16 ounce lead head. A lot of times in the winter a 1/16 ounce lead head does better. Keeps the bait in the strike zone a little longer.
A trick I do quite a bit is take a soldering iron and melt more lead off of a 1/16 ounce lead head and make it even lighter. This is great in the winter time over shell too, less hang-ups.

Sounds more like he's talking about bottom bouncing lures like bass assassins and gulps with a lead head. Still good info that I've never heard and will remember.

Does this also work with tops and Corkys?

[dbarham]

Corkys are an art, if you really wanna learn them. I suggest you go with the pimp or shallowist or sneekypete for a hands on lesson!! sneekypete taught me Kevin Cochran also has a great video how to at FTU

[txwhaler 22]

corkys are a slow ...slow...slow retreive they kinda have a mind of their own it took me a long time to adjust from what i was used to with paddle tail jigs...patience is the key when fishing with them i have found

[GreenTide]

You are right, Aquapimp's comments were for jig headed tails not necessarily for tops and Corky's. I think txwhaler 22 has it right. Corky's are great because they have a slow action about them naturally and act like a wounded fish naturally without a whole lot of action.

[txwhaler 22]

heres what happens when they like it

[aqua pimp]

Yea, that was for Assassins and other soft plastics. I don't even throw Gulps, I hate those things lol. But water temps still play a roll in retreives for me. Colder temps usually require a slow slow retreive. Sometimes a steady slow retreive and then sometimes a steady slow retreive with pauses. I normally do 10 to 15 cast with the same retreive then either slow it down or speed it up depending on condtions the next 10 to 15 cast and so on until I find what they want or like.

AQUA PIMP

[shallowist]

all of the above is good advice. Keep in mind, you vary the retrieve to determine the trout(or other targets depth range) when fishing a corky or other suspend baits. If they are lethargic, from cold water or high presure, slow the speed of the twitch and the retrieve over all. also critical is that the fish almost always eat those type of baits when they are not being moved, so let the bait "die" every few twitches. if you know where they are, twitch it into the area, then pause for a second or two, and repeat. Best practice is to hold on tight to the rod at this point!!

[plugger]

Yep, all the above. If you are over shallow shell, you have to time it right to keep from getting hung up. In those cases, a FLOATER corky is good because it sinks way slower. Bend the tail up slightly to cause it to go up as you twitch it. Bending the tail down slightly causes it to dart lower as you twitch it. You have to factor in current speed. I try all different retrieves until I start getting strikes. Often I'll work it fast at first like a subsurface topwater to get their attention, then slow it down to a twich, twitch pause. By the way, corkys catch fish all year round like 51 MR'S. Just work them faster.