Favorite Size Topwater Walk-The-Dog Baits ?

[ChrisD46]

For the sake of argument - let's say you are trying to decide between a three hook Spook , Sexy Dawg , Vixen , Sammy , J-Walker,  etc.  size walking bait and the smaller two hook versions of each ... What goes into your decision as to which one you decide to throw - if (for the sake of argument again ) both three hook and two hook versions walk-the-dog equally well ? ... Is it time of year , water color , forage size , wind , sky conditions - or as simple as:  "I only throw larger 3 hook walk-the-dog topwaters" , or something else ? ... For those who are experienced  throwing  walk-the-dog  style Spooks , Sexy Dawgs, Vixens , J-Walkers, Sammys, etc. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on how you decide the best topwater walking bait size to use - Thanks in advance !

[A-Jay]

I rarely throw the walkers that have two trebles. 

The exception being the Duo Realis 110 Pencil  - great bait.

After that the list of non-three treble deals pretty much ends for me.

The reason is fairly simple, I get bigger brown bass with the bigger bait.

It's proven itself time & time again.

So I don't fight it.

A-Jay

[Deleted account]

With the exception of the Zara Puppy, I like at least a 100 sized walking top water. I choose by the action I'm looking for, not the number of hooks. If they are slashing short, I'm changing lures. 

[ChrisD46]

Good comments A-Jay & Basswhole! ... I already have enough smaller Sexy Dawg Jr's and I know that smaller walking bait size is popular based on TW inventory levels showing during a sale - but I'm re-thinking my strategy now : It would seem more prudent to start out with a larger walking bait until the bass tell you other wise . Bass can be pretty aggressive - especially spotted bass and smallies which have been known to hit some pretty large top water baits - often larger than they are !  All things equal - as A-Jay stated , he's after bigger bites with bigger walking baits . I suppose another benefit of the larger size  walking baits are increased weight for longer casts ... *Seems that the further you can get a walking bait away from your boat the more strikes and blow ups you get !

[A-Jay]

3 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

  All things equal - as A-Jay stated , he's after bigger bites with bigger walking baits . I suppose another benefit of the larger size  walking baits are increased weight for longer casts ... *Seems that the further you can get a walking bait away from your boat the more strikes and blow ups you get !

Yup ~

 

That bold text makes a big difference in my fishing.

 

A-Jay

 

[greentrout]

 

super spook jr ... for bass .... and ... bull reds and specks saltwater ... you can wade for 'em ...

 

good fishing ...

 

 

[smalljaw67]

From 1994 to 2015 my PB smallmouth came on an original 3/4 Zara Spook. That bite came on the first cast and 10 seconds after my friend told me it was too big for smallmouth. Since that time I've added a lot of walking baits and all have a purpose for me. For me the choice comes down to conditions mostly, if the water has any disturbance I go with larger baits while dead calm water I like a subtle approach but there is  little trial and error as well. My new favorite bait is the Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil 100, they are that good that I already preordered the new 125.

[WRB]

Post spawn / early summer 3" Zip n Ziggy in baby bass.

Summer 4" Wooden LC Sammy, Shad.

fall/winter 6" BD wood Lunker Puncker, trout.

Pre spawn 8" BD wood Lunker Puncker , trout.

Tom

[ChrisD46]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Post spawn / early summer 3" Zip n Ziggy in baby bass.

Summer 4" Wooden LC Sammy, Shad.

fall/winter 6" BD wood Lunker Puncher, trout.

Pre spawn 8" BD wood Lunker Puncker , trout.

Tom

Forage tends to get bigger as the year wears on ... The only forage much left in the winter & pre-spawn are the bigger forage that survived conditions and kept from getting  eaten .

Please Note : I equate the larger walking baits with having 3 treble hooks versus the 2 hook versions ...Perhaps better to equate as 110mm or larger .

 

[deadadrift89]

  I prefer to use Sammy100, Sexy Dawg jr, Super Spook jr from Spring through July.

During August-September I use the larger versions because I'm out in open water usually main lake chasing large schools. 

  When fish push back shallow further up creeks in Fall I usually downsize again.

 

[Bankbeater]

During the summer I usually fish with the spook jr., but as it cools down and the bass start feeding more I will throw the original size spook.  Sometimes the bass go after the larger bait and ignore the smaller version.

[papajoe222]

I only reach for the smaller bait under tough conditions and I rarely work it fast. The hits are very rarely the big toilet flush, water explosions and most fish are hooked on the rear treble, but it works for me. Come to think of it, I rarely fish the big ones fast as the fish don't respond well to one.

[Bluebasser86]

I catch a lot of fish on a Super Spook Jr. If it's up to me though, I'd much rather fish a bigger walker with 3 trebles like a Repoman, Arashi 13 or a pencil popper like a Cane Walker or Showerblows.

[tcbass]

KVD Sexg Dawg for me until the Whopper Plopper consistently outfished it by a ton. 

[Catt]

Well with a number of members who follow my Toledo Bend thread I'm gonna let a Catt out of the bag.

 

When conditions have "grass" just under the surface, say a foot or less, I will throw a bone colored One Knocker Spook.

 

Y'all will be amazed how well it'll draw big bass to the surface!

[Harold Scoggins]

Anymore I throw LC Sammy, Gunfish, MB Giant Dog X, and Diamante.

Does anyone use or has used Heddon/Excalibur Spit'n Image? I use to throw that a lot in the 90s and it landed me many nice bass. I have a few stored away somewhere and I should put one back in the box.

[MountainMan83]

Best walker I've used is the Bagleys Knocker B in in the 4.25" size. Perfect weight, great hardware, and a great sound. Open the package and throw it a mile!

[Drew03cmc]

Honestly, this is my first year giving walkers a real shot and I have amassed 13 of them, ranging from the Zip'n Ziggy to the Dog X Diamante. My favorites are probably the Damiki Dolphin 90 though. It walks super easily and smallies in creeks love them. I find it easier to toss walking plugs on spinning gear though, so until I find a good MH spinning rod to toss the Zara Spooks, Diamantes, etc, I'm sticking to the smaller stuff for now.

[ChrisD46]

Good thread - more useful information than I imagined ...

[Bassattackr]

I start big, no matter what time of year.  Then go smaller if I'm not getting the bites or fish are swiping at the bait.

[J Francho]

I have a one eyed Sammy 115 that has no finish left on it.  Been fishing catching with it for at least a decade.

[roadwarrior]

16 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I have a one eyed Sammy 115 that has no finish left on it.  Been fishing catching with it for at least a decade.

Nothin' to talk about.

 

[NYWayfarer]

32 minutes ago, Bassattackr said:

I start big, no matter what time of year.  Then go smaller if I'm not getting the bites or fish are swiping at the bait.

I'll downsize to a Rebel Frog-R for those pounders that swipe at my Zara Spooks.

[GreenPig]

I throw my 218.44 mm Megabass Megadog 10x more than standard topwater. 

[ChrisD46]

1 hour ago, GreenPig said:

I throw my 218.44 mm Megabass Megadog 10x more than standard topwater. 

*Now that's a man's man size walk-the-dog top water !! ... That thing must look like a Navy Destroyer cutting left and right (lol !!)