"walk the dog" and topwaters

[fishingchef80]

Ok, im going out to try some of my topwaters like the zara puppy, spook, chug bug, tiny torpedo.  what is walk the dog technique?? I read some articles and i dont think they gave a decent description on how the perform this technique.  So I'm asking you guys thanks

[robalo78]

really simple answer: just cast it out and start twitching your rod tip down making sure you have a little slack left in the line when you reel.  Develop a cadence where every time you twitch your rod tip you have just enough slack in the line for that side to side motion to occur.  Its one of those things you just have to practice.  Just make sure to use mono or braid, I prefer mono for topwater...don't use fluourocarbon because it sinks and hinders the action of the lure a bit.

[Avalonjohn44]

I keep my rod tip around 2 o'clock, snap it down to 7 o'clock, lift it back to two, reel a bit and then repeat.  You have to work on the proper cadence, it will take a little practice, but it is pretty easy to learn with a spook or a cultiva Tango Dancer if you can get one...

[T-rig]

Get yourself a LC Sammy! This is a very easy bait to walk the dog with.

[Triton21]

The easy way is to use a 5' rod.  The shorter the rod the easier to walk the dog.

Kelley

[FishTank]

I agree with T-rig, go for a Lucky Craft Sammy.  It has been one of the best topwater bait I have ever used.

[mike bat]

if i where just starting i dont think id drop 20 bucks on a lucky craft ..... just IMO .... id look at the sway back spook ,,, they have an arch in the middle that helps with the action ,,,, also attach a bigger sized o ring to the nose of the bait and tie direct to the o ring ..... i do this and it really helps me get the action im looking for .....

[fishingchef80]

yeah i really dont trust myself to throw a 15 dollar lure out there to lose!!! but i have an assortment of topwaters that i havent tried like the zara spook and puppy, and is the tiny torpedo a walk the dog lure or just retrieve??  and whats the action that im looking for to see that im doing it right?? thanks guys for the info btw

[mike bat]

well the main one is just a steady snapping of the rod tip ..... not a steady retrieve .... more like fishing a huskey jerk .... i like to pause the bait in the strike zone ( or where i believe the strke zone is ) lol .... just give it a pause for a seconed or two ..... then start the snapping again .... try to find a rythm .... and dont just use one switch it up till you get bit .... you want that lure to look like its walking back and forth ,,, left and right left and right .....  just when you first try it get your self a sway back spook they are 3 bucks and real easy to walk IMO ..... the puppys are sweet too but a little harder to work IMO ....  keep that rod tip down at the water when snapping and be sure to snap the rod tip on a semi slack line ,,, in other words dont just snap on a tight line ..... i use mono because it floats ,,, dont use flour it sinks .....  hope this helps ya .....

[fishingchef80]

thanks for the info man.. ill go to gander mtn and check em out i "sway" the company name or just the name of the bait??

[Blue Streak]

After you jerk the bait make sure you snap your rod back to the lure to allow some slack this gives the lure freedom to move.

[mike bat]

its the same company that makes the spook or the puppy or the super spook ..... the lure is called the sway back spook ....

[mike bat]

ok i grabbed one outta my closet ..... its a Heddon sway back spook ..... also put a o ring where you would normally tie the line ..... then tie the line to the o-ring ..... this will help getting the action down ,,, i just learned to use these baits my self ..... well last season ,,, i love them ....  ;D

[islandbass]

one thing that will really help a beginner is to use a duo lock snap. the flexibility it will provide will make learning easier and faster for newbies vs. a direct tie to the lure.

I will also agree that walking a sammy is definitely easier than a spook, but that is not to say a spook is difficult to walk. It isn't, but sammies are easier. Also I think learning with a bigger one might make it easier for you.

Look out. Topwater strikes rock!

Oh yeah! Don't forget about the Rapala Skitter walk. Despite being small, it is pretty easy to walk.  

[jomatty]

i hear what you are saying about not wanting to lose a $20 lure but the good news is that in my experience topwaters are the easiest lure to not lose.  i mean your not gonna get caught in the brush or the rocks and even if you somehow throw it off they float.  i throw my topwaters on 50# braid so unless I tie a bad knot a fish isnt gonna break me off either.

im not saying that you should go out and get one, just that if you do find you like this style of lure you should not have problems with losing them.

[BassPonder72]

and whats the action that im looking for to see that im doing it right??

The action is side to side, so that the bait walks back and forth across the water.