Smallies Missing Topwater

[ec1]

I do an annual trip 3 hours up north to fish a deep shield lake every first weekend of October (Lake of Bays in Ontario, Canada). The lake has minimal weeds, lots of rocks, boulders, humps, shoals, and sand flats. Water temps usually are between 58-63F. Most fish are caught in between 8 - 20FOW.

Of 6 fishing days, I've only ever had 1 day where the fish were actually biting topwaters well. (100 sized sammy) All of the other days, I would get fish jumping at the bait, but completely missing it. Usually on a Gunfish 115, Sammy 100. Haven't really had success on poppers, and haven't used a prop bait there before.

 

My only solution that I've thought of so far is to use a slimmer profile walking bait (Ima Skimmer), but even that seems kind of far fetched.

What are some remedies you guys would recommend?

Cheers & Thanks in Advance!

 

 

[J Francho]

Just keep a light colored wacky rigged senko or nose hooked super fluke rigged and ready to cast.  That usually seals the deal.  They are slapping at the bait in an attempt to injure it.  Throw some plastic that resembles an injured bait fish and you'll get them.

[ww2farmer]

They "slap" a lot too when they are on a bed. No interest in eating, just trying to "discourage" what ever saunters overhead from getting any closer. I had one the other day blow my spook out of the water a dozen times, wouldn't touch a senko tossed back to it's area. I just kept casting to it with the spook and eventually on one of it's slaps a hook point found meat.

[smalljaw67]

What is happening is you have the right action but there is something that make the fish turn instead of commiting, this happens a lot with jerkbaits and crakbaits also, you know it when you get fish following but not hitting it. 2 baits to have with you are a Zara Puppy and a Super Spook Jr., any color that has a white bottom or close to what you are getting the fish to come up on. I say to use those as the sammy and the gunfish both throw water which makes for a different, more pronounced sound but the Zara puppy is a silent subtle presentation with a small profile to entice the spooky fish and the spook jr. will give them a bit larger profile with a subtle sound if the puppy turns out to be too small that the fish loose interest.

[MarkH024]

Try a Heddon tiny torpedo. Those things are killer on smallies. Usually if you just hover it over a spot you know thats holding, the slightest twitch will make them explode on it.

[Crestliner2008]

Also, if you are getting a lot "hits" on a particular type of top water, but no hook-ups, try downsizing the offering. Sometimes it works.

[MichBassMan]

What Francho said

[ec1]

Looks like there's lots for me to try for this coming fall.

Thanks for the advice! Only thing that gets to me is that I need to put away the Sammy's and Gunfishs' to go add some other brands and baits to my already overfilled tackle box as a non-boater. lol. I'll definitely post and report back what works later this year!

[JunkYard814]

I was having this problem about a week ago. Be patient and don't set the hook until you feel the weight of the fish. As stated earlier, they'll whack but don't really grab it. If they let it be, keep working the bait back to the boat. I had a smallie hit the same spook three times on a single retrieve before finally grabbing it. 

[38 Super Fan]

Not much I can add to the above, don't get discouraged, even when you're doing everything right you can still miss fish on a walking lure. They're tremendous fun, but you'll never consistantly achieve a great landing ratio with them.

 

[lmbfisherman]

I do an annual trip 3 hours up north to fish a deep shield lake every first weekend of October (Lake of Bays in Ontario, Canada). The lake has minimal weeds, lots of rocks, boulders, humps, shoals, and sand flats. Water temps usually are between 58-63F. Most fish are caught in between 8 - 20FOW.

Of 6 fishing days, I've only ever had 1 day where the fish were actually biting topwaters well. (100 sized sammy) All of the other days, I would get fish jumping at the bait, but completely missing it. Usually on a Gunfish 115, Sammy 100. Haven't really had success on poppers, and haven't used a prop bait there before.

 

My only solution that I've thought of so far is to use a slimmer profile walking bait (Ima Skimmer), but even that seems kind of far fetched.

What are some remedies you guys would recommend?

Cheers & Thanks in Advance!

Buzzbaits man, I use a black one and a white/chart one...I am fishing this in a same type of lake as you are (Near Parry Sound Ontario).  They are usually in the 10-20 feet, lots of rock, boulders, shoals and humps.  There are sandflats man made for the cottage owners.  If they are short striking my buzzbait, I place a trailer hook on it. 

[papajoe222]

Two things I do when this happens to me, before switching out baits.  First is to pause the bait more often or for a longer time. Definately give a longer pause when fishing water that's 20ft.+ as a fish can only make so many adjustments when it's coming up quickly to inhale your offering.   Second is to slow down my presentation.  I see too many guys working a top water bait fairly fast and that's the only way they work it. I'll be trailering my boat and get the 'What'd you catch 'em on/' When I tell them a Spook, they look at me like  'that can't be because I tried them.  The other thing with smallies that I do is go with a bright frog or firetiger pattern.  For some reason they really key on 'em.

[retiredbosn]

Chartreuse and smallmouths go together like peanutbutter and jelly.

[bigbill]

When the bass miss I do a pause to see if they come back. Also when you walk the dog do it slower with a longer pause. Wearing polarized glasses you may see even more as to what's happening. I would try using a scent too. Make sure you wash your hands before fishing too. The fish have a very keen sense of smell.

When I walk the dog I do three even rips with three even pauses inbetween. The fish look for mistakes in our presentations.

I have a stupid question and suggestion. Since your up north more in October what are the temps? I think in the cold temps the fish move slower. I would suggest slowing down your speed. I say this because when I fish in November even in the snow falling I fish a swimbait very slow. When everyone is hugging there woodstoves I'm still fishing.

[ec1]

I have a stupid question and suggestion. Since your up north more in October what are the temps? I think in the cold temps the fish move slower. I would suggest slowing down your speed. I say this because when I fish in November even in the snow falling I fish a swimbait very slow. When everyone is hugging there woodstoves I'm still fishing.

 

In the last couple of years, I've had temps that were between 4-15C. (39 - 59F) The water is basically cooling with the air temps and the fish know it too. I feel that they have started feeding by early-mid September, and by the time I go and get them, they are pretty fat for the most part.

[dignan2121]

I fish near Algonquin park and they hammer buzz baits even with a fast retrieve.