Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Topwater Fishing is so exciting, read up and sharpen your skills!

My friend Eric Prey at Focused Fishing writes articles on fishing and is one of the best guides out here in the Tri-Lakes Area. He submitted this article for Branson's newest fishing website www.Tablerocklures.com where you can purchase custom painted lures and get area fishing reports, maps, fishing tips etc.


Eric Thanks for the extra time you spend reaching out to help other fisherman enjoy the sport.

Top Water Baits
 
      One of the most exciting moments in fishing is a topwater strike, a bass hits a topwater bait can be a heart stopping experience. From post spawn through summer suspended bass take advantage of schools of bait fish shallow in the water column and become susceptible to topwater lures mimicking injured bait fish or terrestrials.
Types of lures:
      Topwater lures come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles. From poppers to walkers to jointed wake baits every design has an application and a purpose. All of these baits are lumped into the broad category of topwater lures or plugs.
      Walkers: One of the most effective and commonly used types of topwater lures are walkers. Spooks, Sammys, Pencils, Spittin’ Images and many others are all examples of walking plugs. These lures get their name from the walking action imparted by the angler to entice a strike. The walking action comes from short jerks or twitches of the rod tip as the lure is reeled in. Walkers are extremely effective under all conditions but shine brightest when fish are suspended, particularly during post spawn.
      Poppers: Loud and splashy best describe poppers. With a concave face, poppers attract fish from a distance, the splash and popping sound created by a popper mimics an injured bait fish or frog struggling on the surface. This popping sound is a result of quick jerks and twitches of an anglers rod tip. Poppers are effective in a variety of locations and conditions but are most effective on flats and shallow areas where fish are roaming in search of forage. The loud popping sound and violent splash of a popper will draw fish in from hundreds of feet away on a shallow flat.
      Jointed Wake Baits: For decades anglers in the Ozarks modified jointed minnows to create lethal topwater baits. Jointed Red Fins, Rapalas and a host of other baits were modified by changing bill angles and line tie locations to create baits that would swim on the surface with a snaking, waking action that perfectly mimicked a wounded gizzard shad swimming on the surface. Recently, several bait companies have recognized the effectiveness of this bait and created “out of the box” lures that have the same action and allure of the modified baits. Mickey Jr., BBZ 1 and Sebile Minnows all have been created to mimic this action. These baits are easy to fish, simply cast and retrieve at a moderate fast pace keeping the bait on the surface through out the retrieve. Jointed wake baits are most effective on suspended post spawn bass, known as big fish bait they account for some of the biggest fish caught every spring.
      Prop Baits: The loudest group of topwater lures are prop baits; Boy Howdys, Torpedos, Nip – I –Didees and Crazy Shads are all members of this clan. Usually a slender walking type bait with a propeller on the front, back or both ends these lures churn the surface as they are retrieved. Ripping these lures across the surface in quick short bursts will draw violent strikes from a variety of game fish including bass, pike and musky. This family of topwaters is most effective in the low light hours of the early morning and evening; the loud noise and vibration created attract fish from a distance even in the dark.
Locations:
      The best location to fish a topwater lure is wherever predator fish swim. From shallow ponds to pools on a river to deep tree lines or shallow flats on a reservoir there is are topwater plugs for every location and almost any fishing situation. Primarily a warm water lure, topwaters become effective as water temperatures rise and fish move to spawning locations. Post spawn females will move away from bedding areas and suspend in and around available cover recovering from the riggers of the spawn by feeding on bait fish in the upper portion of the water column. During the post spawn tree rows, boat docks, and ledges become very important, females will use the available cover as shelter and an ambush point to feed. Jointed wake baits and walking baits usually shine during this time frame.
      As water temperatures continue to rise bass will move from spawning areas to deeper summer haunts close to shallow flats and points. During the warmth of late spring and early summer bass will move from deep haunts into these shallow areas in early morning and evening hours to feed on bait fish. During these hours fish can be seen chasing both individual and schools of shad at or near the surface. Poppers and prop baits are great selections when the fish are up on these shallow locals. Hungry bass will swim great distances to investigate the sound and vibration caused by poppers and prop baits looking for an easy meal of an injured bait fish.
      The dog days of summer can be some of the toughest days on the water for a bass angler. Those that get out of bed before day break or stay until dusk are often rewarded with some of the finest topwater action of the year. Looking for the security and comfort of cooler deep water bass will stay as deep as the thermocline will allow through out the heat of the day only moving shallow during low light hours to feed. Bass become very active during low light chasing shad in the upper portion of the water column either close to the bank or open water depending where the bait fish are located.
Retrieves:
      Retrieving a topwater correctly is critical to angler success. Each type of lure must be retrieved correctly depending on its design:
      Walkers: Working a walking bait requires some practice and skill, short jerks or pulls while reeling make the bait dart from side to side, coordinating the jerks while reeling will make the bait walk across the water in a zig – zag pattern. Once a cadence is achieved pauses and “slides” enhance the retrieve and draw more strikes.
      Poppers: Retrieving a popper is fairly simple; make short jerks with the rod tip low pausing between jerks to allow the bait to settle. The jerks will cause the bait to spit and pop on the surface and most strikes will come as the bait is stopped. A cadence of two thre or even four jerks can draw strikes so it is important to pay attention to how the lure was being worked before each strike. Much like fishing a jerkbait it is critical to keep slack line at a minimum to insure a solid hook set.
      Jointed Wake Baits: Jointed wake baits are the easiest to retrieve; simply hold the rod tip high and make a constant moderately fast retrieve, maintain speed and direction even when a fish is following the bait.
      Prop Baits: This style of topwater can be one of the most difficult to fish, the propellers on the lure need to be churning the surface to draw strikes and are most effective when “ripped” across the water in short sporadic bursts. With the rod tip held close to the water make short, hard jerks causing loud busts of noise, splash and flash to draw strikes. Much like a popper don’t allow slack to build up in the line or strikes will be missed
      With all topwater baits it is important to understand the strike and when to set the hook. A topwater strike can be violent and heart stopping, it is critical to wait until you feel the bite before setting the hook, if the hook is set on the initial strike the bait will be pulled away from the fish.
Equipment:
      Tackle should be matched to the size of lure and fish being targeted. Spinning tackle or casting tackle will both work well for any style of topwater lure as long as the equipment is rated for size of lure being used. The only critical issue of note is line type; fluorocarbon is not recommended for topwater lures as it sinks and will impair the action of the lure. Either monofilament or braid will work well, remember that many topwater strikes are violent and heavier line should be used to absorb the impact.

      Catching a fish on a topwater lure is one of the most exciting aspects of fishing, from strike to landing there are few experiences in fishing that match it. Learning the proper retrieve for each type of topwater is critical to success, but the investment is well worth it. Choosing quality, well designed and manufactured lures will insure that when the topwater bite is on you are ready to take full advantage. 

Remember visit www.focusedfishing.com and www.TablerockLures.com 

Monday, April 19, 2010

Bass fishing is great on Tablerock

Yesterday we caught fish up in Piney Creek on the James River arm of Tablerock Lake and in Flat Creek. We threw Gene Larew Salt Craws early and switched to the Tablerock Lures Pop-Rock Jr in the small mouth version with a Gitzkirt trailer. The new lures are shown on Tablerocklures.com and the gitzkirt is a trailer created from the lower portion of a tube bait. Its an amazing way to create a life like trailer that is in the colors Bass regularly hit on.  I caught 8 large mouth 2 of which were keepers over 15 inches going over 3lbs each and the rest of them right at 14 inches.  One small mouth came from the back of a cove. The topwater bite is early and late, as the water temperature was right at 65.6 degrees. Its turning on and Bass are biting throughout the day and we are really close to seeing some heavy feeding. The males are up on the bank and the sows are still out in deeper water right now. Check out the new bates as I took pictures last night and am selling them in the Central Pro-Am offices at the Branson First Stop and online. I will be posting pictures of the new lures tonight.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

TOPWATER Action is coming soon!

Okay Ive been hiding out in the workshop trying to crank out a bunch of new Mega Popx colors for Tablerock topwater fishing this spring. This post is just a break in the madness of working all day trying to finish our house to sell and getting lures ready for the great spring fishing here on Tablerock Lake.

Ill be out on Tablerock this weekend fishing with my buddy Al and trying out some of the new colors. I have a watermelon and a new Tablerock Shad in a DT Rapala style bait as well as some Top Secret Lures we are going to be trying out on this stained water. I cant wait and I will post some more information soon on when and where you can get the new lures. www.TablerockLures.com will be carrying lures and a few locations in Branson Missouri. Happy Fishing! See you on the Lake!

TablerockLuresco Twitter Posts

Twitter / TablerockLures http://twitter.com/TablerockLures Twitter updates from Paul Miller / TablerockLures. en-us 40 TablerockLures: Putting up website and getting ready to launch all of the older lures on hand then post new custom painted lures. TablerockLures: Putting up website and getting ready to launch all of the older lures on hand then post new custom painted lures. Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:12:16 +0000 http://twitter.com/TablerockLures/statuses/8597358135 http://twitter.com/TablerockLures/statuses/8597358135 TablerockLures: http://stores.ebay.com/White-River-Trading-Company TablerockLures: http://stores.ebay.com/White-River-Trading-Company Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:02:21 +0000 http://twitter.com/TablerockLures/statuses/8597026720 http://twitter.com/TablerockLures/statuses/8597026720