How to catch trout on topwater..............................

[Hit-n-Miss]

..........? I don't know, I was hoping someone could tell me. What lure, color, and how to work it? .......Thanks in advance, for I have never caught one on topwater.

[birddog]

Pick up a skitterwalk or mirrolure top dog jr. and learn how to "walk the dog" I find it easier to use a 6 1/2 ft rod and use a downward stroke with the rod to propel the lure. On your downward stroke you want to have just a little slack in your line, so that just the last of the downward motion moves the lure. You have to establish a rhythm to get the side to side action out of your lure. For trout you need to incorporate some pauses in your retrive. Vary the pauses 3-20 seconds. I've caught a lot of trout while the topwater bait was sitting still as I stopped to do something else. I'm still not convinced that the color makes a difference. Early or late all the fish will see is a sillouette on the surface. Good luck with it.

[catchin1]

I would have to agree with Birddog, the "walkin the dog" action probaly is most deadly on trout. But as he said it takes a little practice to get the rythem down pat. If you get frustrated take a break and try a Ratlin Redfin. Pretty simple to work, I jest give it a jerk make it dive under the water, pause and do it all over again. I can assure you this is an effective method also.

[Chalk]

Sometimes an old chugbug is all it takes....

But I like the skitterwalks from rapala, I would be chunking a mullet, trout or menhaden/threadfin/pilchard colored bait right now....Method of retrieval is debate-able...some days they want you to walk the dog fast, some days a lazy walk with a pause...You have to find the rhythm

[Frank Bradfield]

Trout on top water ?? Someone should have told me..

[T Smith]

Always had good luck with the Chug Bugs, and if the water is a little choppy they throw up a little extra water and noise to get the attention of fish. As stated before finding the right speed and rhythm is important I vary my retrieve until I catch something. Then try to remember what I was doing that worked and keep doing the same. Haven't tried walking the dog much cause the chug bugs have always worked for me and they're easy to work. However I have always wanted to try it and plan on doing so in the future.

[Reel Slow]

A small advantage at times for chugbugs is you can work them slow. Pop a few times and sit. This can help if there is alot of floating grass and you can cast to pockets of open water. Can give a bit more time till you begin pulling weeds. A major negative is reds will bend the hooks straight.

[RHTFISH]

Suggestion: change out hooks on Chug Bugs to Daiichi red hooks.

Haven't had any of those bent up. Only problem is they are so
sharp they will grab ya if you aren't very careful.


Good Luck!

[Reel Slow]

Thanks for the tip RHTFISH. I buried a hook into my thumb last trip out so I hear ya about being careful. Always fun with a trout wagging your hand around by a topwater lure.

[tin can]

Everything everyone said. The only thing I would add is there is no wrong way to work a bait. Work it fast. Work it slow. Work it in between. Keep it moving. Pause it. It's all about presentation, and what the fish want when you are fishing. Keep chunkin. You'll catch some sooner or later.

Good luck.

BTW, don't listen too much to Birddog. He's the only person I've ever seen walk the dog 327 miles per hour.

[RodBow]

...some days they want you to walk the dog fast, some days a lazy walk with a pause...You have to find the rhythm

Chalk, what you actually talking about fishing .. or having cozy congicalizations?

[gatortrout]

Depending on the direction of the red tide in the shallows, a sturdy dip net may be all you need.

[Hit-n-Miss]

Update I caught 15-20 trout sunday on a Mirrolure prop lure in choppy conditions............I'm hooked!!!! Do yall have a line size and color preference for your topwater pole? I caught at least 2 out of 3 strikes. I must be a quick study.

[Sir reel]

AAAAH the sweet story of success but then HnM wrote:

I caught at least 2 out of 3 strikes. I must be a quick study

Never fear ole buddy .... most of the better known Card Readers, Root Workers and Conjure Doctors all agree that there will be a humbling day of topwater misses, shortstrikes, etc in your future

[wevans]

AAAAH the sweet story of success but then HnM wrote:

I caught at least 2 out of 3 strikes. I must be a quick study

Never fear ole buddy .... most of the better known Card Readers, Root Workers and Conjure Doctors all agree that there will be a humbling day of topwater misses, shortstrikes, etc in your future

SO TRUE, SO TRUE