Walk The Line- How to Fish Topwater Lures Like a Pro

AMONG THE WIDELY VARYING artificial offerings available to entice shallow water game fish, topwater lures elicit the most intense surface strikes that are quite possibly the pinnacle of adrenaline-filled inshore exploits. And although the strikes are predictable when ambush predators are nearby, anglers must be dedicated in their efforts and fish a topwater with purpose to achieve the most effective presentation, not simply fan-casting a flat and ripping the lure back to the boat.

Topwater lures are available in several styles, with the most basic designs based around a walking or popping retrieve. While gurgling poppers with concave heads push a lot of water and attract fish from great distances, walking baits like the legendary Zara Spook —which has remained relatively unchanged since the late 1930s—provide a more subtle attraction with a side-to-side walking action known worldwide as walking-the-dog.

Commonly called plugs, stickbaits or hard-baits, walking-style topwater lures have stood the test of time as one of the most effective inshore presentations, but only when in the hands of a skilled and educated angler.

Long before selecting the appropriate topwater plug for a specific species and season, one must initially outfit themselves with the appropriate rod and reel outfit. While many bass anglers cast topwater lures and walk-the-dog with baitcasting reels, the high gear retrieve of modern inshore spinning reels is ideally suited.

Since the technique that makes topwater lures glide and slide from side-to-side requires slack in the line during the rhythmic twitch, a rod’s tip action is also an important variable to be mindful of. Modern graphite 7’0” to 7’6” rods with a fast tip greatly enhance the effectiveness of the technique.