topwater question

[dieselaw]

well i had some questions about topwater fishing. i read the articles and there some good info, but i am not sure how much it applied to summer fishing when fish go deeper.  i was wondering how far a bass will go to get a topwater bait. are there any signs that topwater fishing would b productive, and any signs that it would not be productive.   i am just trying to get some info so i dont spend an hour fishing topwater when it is not the right situation.  any advice or answers would be great.  thx

[fishfordollars]

Right now on Sam Rayburn the frog fishing is hot. Tons of large bass being caught on them. These fish are not deep, just laying up in the heavy grass.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

In general, when it's flat calm, maybe a cold front, and NO LIFE happening on top (bluegills pecking at surface, etc)  it's gonna be tough.

Fish will come from very deep to take a bait but remember, the bait has to be worth expending the energy to go get it.  I use big baits in deeper water (I only use big baits everywhere, but kind of off the point,lol)

I think the Heddon Excalibur spook said on the package that it will attract fish from 30 ft.  Again, the fis won't travel all that way to get something that will give it less energy than it just used to go get it.

On the other side, you can have fish exploding on bait all over the surface and can't get one to take anything you throw at it.  TOO much bait.

Just throw, throw and throw, that's what I do, you'll be able to tell soon enough if you are wasting your time and you will learn from that experience.  

Personally, being primarily a wake baiter this year, I'm up top 24/7.  I'm learning this bait so.....next year I will go sub surface with these bigger baits and will have the top covered.

Remember, even when you're not catchin', you're learnin'.  Hours on water will help you recognize prime windows with better efficiency if you pay attention each and every time.

[FD.]

I have been using a spook to pull them from 15-20 ft.  I have been fishing brushpiles in a fairly clear lake 5-6' visibility, and they have been coming out of the water on the strike.  My new favorite way to fish......

[TopwaterBassin]

Topwater is the best fishing out there if you know the tricks, I avidly fish topwater, hence my screen name, , and have a few pointers for you:

1. Calm water is ideal, so early morning, or at sunset is the best time. I have caught some on top during the day in active waters as well, usually deep in coves around weeds (even in open water) and docks

2. Watch for feeding patterns in your climate, I fish Az a lot, but I am from Ca., and I have noticed that the BASS react differently in Az, and have different times that they will come to the top, best luck on top is at sundown and nightfall.

3. Watch for a chaser, then, repeat, repeat, repeat, do not get discouraged if you dont get a fish on the first two or three casts, be persistent. If you tick off the fish, it has a natural instinct to strike.

4. Change up your retrieve, try a couple of pops, let it sit, next time, pop it all the way in, next time, walk it, next time, try all three presentations on the same retrieve

5. Look for structure, cast over the structure if you are fishing in a boat, and bring it back to you from the shoreline. If you are on the shoreline, look for cover, sticks poking at the surface, rock piles, drop-offs, and cast the entire 180 degree area, not just one spot.

Just a few pointers for you, I have caught many a LM using these techniques on topwater, and the guys I fish with have all began to do the same and have improved thier take on the top as well. When casting from shore, you would be amazed at how many LM are lurking just along the shore line in an overhang you can't see. Hope this helps, and good luck.