Walking The Dog

[Mccallister25]

I'm not too sure where this js supposed to go, so I'll put it here.

What's the best way to "walk the dog" with topwater baits fishing from the bank? Sometimes I have a hard time getting it to walk due to the rod hitting the water/ground etc. what's the best line to use, and rod action?

[Felix77]

When I walk the dog from the bank I use the same setup I use from the boat.  A 6'6" MH F tip rod.  Instead of twitching it using downward strokes I twitch it overhead.  As the bait gets closer I lower my rod tip until at the very end it is pointed more towards the ground.  Hope this helps.

[FrankW]

Hi BigBlock496,

The easiest solution is to get a shorter rod.

When you walk the dog the technique is based on pull, slack, pull, slack. The bait doesn't know if the rod is directly in front of you or off to the side. You should be able to hold the rod to one side with the tip just above the water and walk the bait from this position. If you are using a really long rod then I would get a second setup with a shorter rod.

Frank

[boostr]

Or try it sideways.

[boostr]

He beat me to it.

[Mccallister25]

Thanks guys. Iv tried doing it with my rod tip pointed up, and I'm just no good at it. Ill just have to get a new setup. I need some braid anyways.

[dday07]

Yes...a shorter rod is best...i use a 6' m rod

[frogflogger]

5 1/2' med action fenwick glass with 30# - 50# braid has been a great spook rod for me. Casts far enough, very accurate and good at keeping the hooks in the fish.

[0119]

A 5'6" Med. pistol grip in no higher techno babble than IM-6 is the best.  Best thing is since the 'great' manufacturers have given up on such lowly ancient technology, you can get one pretty cheap sticking to bass pro or cabela's own in house models.  I use one every day to walk the dog from shore.

[bigbill]

There are different presentations using spook type lures.

Hold your rod horizontal and walk the dog.

Hold your rod a do a twitch(1), twitch(2), twitch(3), & pause.

The length or distance of the twitches has to be even exactly.

Hold your rod tip down and reel to make it dive under the water acting erratic the whole time then pause it and repeat. Change up on the distance you make it dive.

Make your presentations Oscar winning perfect.

[hooah212002]

Thanks guys. Iv tried doing it with my rod tip pointed up, and I'm just no good at it. Ill just have to get a new setup. I need some braid anyways.

 

Braid and slack like techniques with treble hooks don't go so well together. Yo Zuri is a good choice for this.

 

I, too, am shorebound so I just stand sideways when I need to walk my spooky dogs or pop-r's. I get along fine using 7' rods from land. Would it be a tad easier with a short rod? Sure. But that means one extra rod you are carrying that has few purposes.