With the coming of summer Im looking forward to my most favorite way to fish. I dont just bass fish, I fish for saltwater species as well, stripers, flounder, bluefish, even my own bait. Mackeral, pogies, even the original dropshot rig for squid, But that aside, smallies on top rules in my book. I know many of you will reach for a tube, some a dropshot, others a inline spinner, some the favorite jerkbait, or a jighead and plastic,..but for me nothing excites me more than the anticipation of a topwater strike while smallie fishing, a largemouth is welcome too, but that smallie hit is usually what gets my pulse racing.
The hit itself can be explanatory, mostly an explosive strike dictates a smaller fish up to a 3 lber (usually), But when they just seem to nip at it or just suck it under the surface is what tells me that this fish may be a bigger version. There are times under extreme heat and hot surface temps that Ive caught smaller smallies that will "nip" but typically that "nip" is a larger smallie utilizing what I call a largemouth trait,... good sized largemoths will just open their mouth to create a suction action to suck that topwater under without expending much energy.,.. And I believe that big smallies will do the same once their mouths are big enough to do it. Ok Ive expeirenced it first hand, but theorize this is commonplace.
Meaning,.. I know bigger largemouths do this,.. and have caught larger smallies that did the same thing, but never read this to be common, or have discussed it with other smallie anglers. But after all the years of smallie fishing, and I mean alot of outings. I get all pumped up for that light topwater hit, I actually have dreams during heavy sleep sessions during winter months, of summer days that this had occurred. Adding to the cabin fever a bit, but a welcomed dream considering they could be nightmares of other fishing outings,...lol,.. I think you know of those outings.
Back to topwaters, I like the original spooks for laydown surface conditions, sometimes when they strike short I'll tie a 8 inch leader to the tail hook and tie a streamer fly of the previlant baitfish's pattern on, A trick I learned from a old club member, and it works wonders,. I prefer a white bellied model, sometimes the chrome gets a nod, a clear model works well too.,. And is there a retrieve for zara spooks that doesnt "walk the dog"
.. and a slight ripple gets my favorite topwater choice,.. a popper, or let me be specific a Pop-r, and yes i'm old enough to have been using them well before Zell Rowland made them even more famous than they were. I usually tweak them a bit to, I will open the gaps on the front hooks a bit, and if bought without a feathered rear hook, it gets one. I own every size made and use each one for specific reasons.,.. My favorite color,? Bone, without a doubt Ive caught more quality smallies on that lure hands down. sometimes i'll use a chromed model, white bellied, or yellow. My retrieve for poppers is always the same, a single pop, pause repeat
Next up? a little more than a ripple? prop baits,... i own several different types, but prefer the heddons torpedoes. from 1/4 oz on up i like them all,.. colors? chrome is no 1 in my book, something about that slightly rougher water and chrome is a good bet, frog patterns with the yellow belly in sun works well to, and the bass pattern with white belly is about the same in my eyes. retrieves vary and i let the fish choose, either a twitch twitch twitch, pause,.... or single twitch pause, sometimes a straight retrieve. or quick twitch pause, like walking a spook.
Next top presentation,...Rain,...yeah rain,..I like to fish the rain, lightning is totally another thing, I avoid it like a case of herpes., I have no desire to become a available lightning rod on the water. But fishing the rain can be quite fast, furious, and benificial. and what topwater do i fish? all of them depending on amount of rainfall, a drizzle? spooks,...light rain?,.. a pop-r,... straight rain?,.. a propbait,... but heavy rain I like best, and it calls for a buzzbait for topwater presentation, a spinnerbait will do, but its not a topwater.,.. I like the double bladed buzzbaits in white or chartruese, I add a split tail trailer and sometimes a trailer hook, and bend the blade shafts so the blades just barely touch each other making a slight clacking sound. And this doesnt just work for smallies, but they like it too.,.. I have caught some giant buckets, huge pike, and the biggest pickeral i ever caught, using these buzzbaits in the heavy rain.
Now for night fishing,... first off, night fishing is a different world. using sharp hooks on fiesty fish in the dark requires some due diligence on your part. If you havent nightfished before, dont just go and wing it, read up some on it. Get acclimated, educated, and if possible fish with Catt a few times first,...lol,.. im sure he would teach you the ins and outs,....and trust me there is plenty to learn. But say you want to try it from shore, dont go without a black jitterbug,... these lures have probably caught more smallies at night than any other,. a steady retrieve is all you need and once you start using it you will get the speed down quickly. It will tell you how fast to retrieve,.. too fast is just mayhem, to slow and it barely makes noise, the right retrive will blub, blub, blub all the way back to you and thats all you need.
These lures and techniques are MINE and by no way are written in stone,... Im sure many of you have your favorites and I (and im sure others) would like for you to reply with them. The topwater presentation for smallies is a blast, can be fast paced and will certainly get your heart beating a bit faster. Any replies or rebuttals for that matter are welcomed and actually sought after.
I hope this helps some of you newer anglers and respect the thoughts, techniques, and input of all you.
Keep ya line wet!
