I love the feeling of a deep-water bite as much as the next guy. That solid THWUMP when a big bass inhales a Carolina rig. But it just doesn’t compare to the adrenaline charge you get when a big largemouth blows up on a weedless topwater bait in thick cover.
Of all freshwater predator fish, none are better-designed for surface feeding. The way a bass’ eyes are set is ideal for upward vision. The shape and size of a bass’ mouth is perfect for topwater strikes. And when they un-hinge that jaw, they impart the powerful suction action needed to slurp even large prey from the top.
This leads me to a helpful tip. Obviously, some surface strikes are so violent they can practically be seen from outer space. But because of a largemouth’s suction, sometimes the strikes are incredibly subtle. A bass will often creep up to a surface meal and literally suck it in like a vacuum. From the fisherman’s perspective, the bait simply disappears like a bobber being pulled under. For that reason, fishing topwater baits requires constant vigil over your lure. Be ready at all times!
The Baits
For the purposes of this column, we’re talking about slop fishing â heavy emergent and submergent weeds, often times with wood mixed in. This scenario absolutely requires a weedless bait. For clean, open-water topwater fishing, I much prefer a surface bait with a couple of treble hooks.
There’s a wide variety of weedless surface baits available. I personally recommend a wide-profile, soft-bodied creature with dual hooks that come up on the back of the lure rather than hanging down. Why these three characteristics? First, the wide profile improves the visibility of the bait, displaces a lot of water when twitched and is more apt to trigger strikes from bigger fish. The soft body (and often times hollow) is important because it collapses when bit and exposes the hook points better. Finally, upward hooks will ride above most of the cover and also are better-positioned for solid hook-ups in the upper mouth.
“Frogs” and “Rats” are two of the most popular patterns, and I can’t say that one is superior to the other. I think it’s that profile that gets them, and not the appendages hanging off the back. Color can be critical however. Get yourself a black, white, green and chartreuse and you should be pretty well covered.
The Edges
When you get into the slop, you’ll find a variety of edges within the cover. The edges of open pockets, points and inside turns, and the transition points where one type of vegetation meets another are all key edge areas that attract bass. They are ambush points from the fish’s perspective. Key in on them and you’ll get more topwater bites.
The Presentation
There’s really no wrong way to fish topwater baits. Some guys cast out and work them in fast. Others are more methodical. I highly endorse a slower presentation that mimics the way a live frog would swim. One thing I ALWAYS do is this: I pick my landing target and cast the bait right on it. Then I just let it sit there for at least 5-10 seconds. That initial “plop” often gets the attention of a nearby bass and he comes to investigate. He’ll often hang just below the unmoving lure, waiting. After the 5-10 second wait, I’ll then give it a subtle twitch. I can’t tell you how many bass I’ve hooked following that first twitch.
On the way back to the boat, make sure to pause that bait in and around any pocket or transition point that’s between you and the lure. Those are all ambush points as I mentioned.
The Hookset
The biggest mistake anglers make with topwater baits is setting the hook too early. We’re inclined to set the hook the instant we see the bite. When we do, it often results in a miss. Instead, give the bass a two-count before you lean back on him. It gives the fish a chance to really inhale that bait and helps ensure good hook penetration.
The Fight
Be the aggressor when fighting fish in heavy cover. Get the bass up high as quickly as you can and keep him there. If he buries in the jungle, it becomes much more difficult to keep him hooked and get him in. Use heavy line. At a minimum, 20 pound monofilament. Go with 30 or more if it’s really thick cover. Many anglers like using braided line of 50-pound test or higher, which is fine. But I like the way mono resists sinking so I never have to worry about my line sagging down into the cover. It makes for better lure action too. Plus, I believe buoyant mono helps me get and keep that fish up high during the fight.
The Reward
The payback to spending time in the slop for largemouth bass is the exhilaration. It’s simply a ton of fun. Plus, those thick-cover haunts are key locations for big fish. If you haven’t done any slop fishing yet, spool up some heavy line on a rod with a lot of backbone and get out there. The cover is easy to find, easy to fish and will keep you coming back for more.
Good Fishing!
Babe Winkelman is a nationally-known outdoorsman who has taught people to fish and hunt for more than 25 years. Watch the award-winning “Good Fishing” and “Outdoor Secrets” television shows on Versus (formerly OLN), Fox Sports Net, Comcast Southeast, WILD TV and many local networks.By: Babe Winkelman / Babe Winkelman Productions
