Fishing with Kenny: The Insight on Topwater Techniques

article by Kenny Covington

Someone once said that they would rather catch one bass on a topwater lure than ten bass on a plastic worm. I can remember my father and uncle repeating this same phrase and I must admit I am somewhat of a topwater fanatic myself. In this month’s BayouLife I want to explain the different types of topwater lures and give you some tips on how to fish them.

Topwater lures can be broken down into several different categories. You have your walking type baits such as a Zara Spook or a Storm Chug Bug. You have your chugging baits like a Yellow Magic or a Pop R. But we can’t forget the prop baits such as a Devil’s Horse or a Heddon Torpedo or the direct retrieve prop baits such as the Buzzbait and the Whopper Plopper.

There are a lot of lures to choose from and why fishermen get confused by which one to use at which time is understandable. To fully get the most out of your top water fishing you just need to understand a few basic guidelines. Granted there are no set rules but at least we can create a good starting place.

The magic water temperature for consistent topwater action is 70 degrees. By late April into the month of May, the spawning activity for bass is over and the fish are more dialed into a pre-summer feeding mode. This activity begins right after the spawn has finished and they are looking for an easy meal. A lot of bigger bass will stay shallow during this time and topwaters are especially effective.

So now that we have determined why so many bass are shallow, what lure would be your best choice? I have had as many as six different topwater lures tied on for late spring/early summer tournaments. Overkill? Perhaps, but I can easily narrow my choices down to three: a Yellow Magic, a Buzzbait, and a Spook. Each lure will give me a specific presentation for whatever body of water I may be fishing.

If I am fishing a clearer water situation I like the subtle movements of a small topwater such as the Yellow Magic, or I like to use faster moving lures such as a Spook. If I am fishing stained to slightly muddy water and I want to move more water, a Buzzbait or a Plopper might be my best choice. Popper baits such as the larger Pop R are a good in-between choice because they can be effective in both clear and muddy water environments. I like prop baits like a Devil’s Horse when I am fishing specific targets such as cypress trees and bushes.

While the color of your topwater lure is probably the least important factor it can’t be totally ignored either. I keep my color choices pretty basic because that is where my confidence is. In Buzzbait fishing, I use either black or white. When I throw my poppers I use a shad pattern 90% of the time and I do the same with my walking baits. Those have always worked for me so I see no sense in going away from those color schemes.
The only time I traditionally go against a shad theme on my topwaters is when I am using a prop bait such as a Devil’s Horse or Crazy Shad. Over the years I have better success using a bream or perch pattern. I believe this is because of the high population of bream and sun perch in the areas I normally target with these lures and they do a good job of mimicking them.

Now that we have our choice of lures, what are some other things we need to consider when topwater fishing? First of all, and probably the most important aspect of this technique is the retrieve and the speed of it. Do I move the lure fast or slow? Do I use small rod twitches or do I twitch harder to create more water movement? Do I burn my Buzzbait or do I slowly crawl it along the surface? There are no easy answers.

As a general rule I start my retrieves on the slow side. The clearer the water and the brighter the skies the faster I move my topwater lures. I am trying to get a reaction strike so I don’t want the fish to get a good look at my lure. In muddier or stained water situations I move my lures slower allowing the fish time to find it more easily. With topwater fishing presentations, patience can be your best friend; a lack of patience your enemy.

Another rule I steadfastly stand by is matching my equipment to the lure I am using. When throwing smaller topwaters or prop baits with smaller hooks, I like a 6’6 medium action glass rod usually matched with 15 lb. monofilament line. On all my walking baits and heavier topwaters I use a 7’0 medium/heavy glass rod with 50 lb. braided line. On my Buzzbaits I use a 6’10 medium heavy spinnerbait rod with 25 lb. test monofilament line. I never use fluorocarbon lines when topwater fishing. In each situation I am trying to put the fish landing odds in my favor and using the right equipment is especially important.

Well, it looks like I have used all of our space for this month. I do hope the things I shared will give you the confidence to try one of bass fishing’s best techniques. There is nothing like the explosion when a big bass hammers your topwater offering. It can be the thrill of a fisherman’s lifetime and it is bass fishing at its finest!

Please be careful out on the water in the coming months as they will become more crowded. Don’t forget your sunscreen, drink plenty of water and above all else, please catch one for me! See you next month!