In my first blog I listed 5 specific baits to help you catch more bass in the dog days of summer here in Texas. Last week we broke down deep cranking and today we are going over topwater baits, which are my personal favorite!! I will break them down into 5 basic bait categories.
Hollow Body Baits- For fishing in heavy cover of any sort, a hollow body bait is hard to beat. When there is grass of any kind, these are my go to bait, especially in the summer when pads and hydrilla are growing. I throw a popping frog like a Spro or Booyah Pad Crasher most of the time and have started using the new Live Target Sunfish as well. These baits will get in the nastiest cover and will get you bites that no other bait will. I fish these with an erratic action and use frequent stops when the bait comes into an opening in the pads or grass mat. I throw these baits on 50-70 lb braid and use the same rod for buzzbaits.
Unique- I label these type baits in a category all their own. My favorite 2 baits like this are the River to Sea Whopper Plopper and the Lucky Craft Kelly J Pop. They are kind of a mix of prop bait and buzzbait. They can be stopped and still float unlike a buzzbait. But you can’t walk them like a Spook or Sammy. These baits have recently come onto the scene when Chris Lane got 2nd on Toledo Bend using the Whopper Plopper 130. I throw the 130 and don’t even own a 90 size. The bigger profile is what I want when I am looking for that kicker fish and it has a sound that is completely different than any other bait. I throw the Plopper on 50lb braid and the Kelly J on 15-17lb mono. I use a heavier action rod with the plopper and a medium action for the Kelly J.
One more tip, when you do get a huge explosion on your topwater bait, make sure to wait at least a second to set the hook. If you jerk as soon as the fish explodes, you will miss a lot of fish!!
I hope these tips help you this summer and be looking for my next blog on Carolina Rigging.
Story by Byron Smith
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