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| Are 54 degree water temps to cold for topwater. When do you start using the topwater baits? Some old-timers say when the baby ducks and geese are first seen.
Mark Sankey |
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Posts: 1310
Location: Washington, PA | Hooked up with a nice fish on a baby weagle in march, high 40's water temps. I've caught fish on topraiders before in february. Never to cold to throw topwaters........it's a myth.
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| You can catch muskies on topwaters anytime of the year ice out until ice up. My first blow up of the year was the last weekend of March on an Undertaker!  First musky of our Spring Challunge on the Chain was caught on a Viper. You never know with muskies what will work and they are often shallow chasing either bait fish and the warmest water in the system.  |
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Posts: 199
Location: Anchorage | If a muskie wants to eat and sees a topwater, it will eat it, anytime of the year. I was always told to not use topwater early or late in lakes, but they're excellent in rivers. Why? River fish are usually can't go as deep as lake fish, especially in coldwater situations, thus being more suceptable to topwater.
The only reason it might not work is if the fish are to deep to be effectively fished from the top, like often happens in fall cold-water. Spring cold-water fish can be shallower and usually had on topwater. |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Sanks...
Tonight after work, off your dock..., it's time to give them a try...
In my area of the northern WI zone, most years they'll eat topwater on the first weekend.
Flaptails, Topper Stoppers, Jr. Rattle Hawgs, jackpot-style (dog walkers) all some of my favorites early in the season. I like something not quite so agressive this time of year.
Also, last weekend just down from your house I saw a pair of geese out swimming with their little ones.. Creeper time...:) |
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Posts: 2091
Location: Stevens Point, WI | I fish topwater opener to close. I boated my first fish of the year on the souther WI opener last weekend on a Topraider and boated a pike too on the same Topraider. Water temps were about 54 degrees and in fast moving water. I have caught fish every month of the season with topwater. My favorite time for topwaters are hot humid stagnant evenings in the summer but have done real well early fall in the very early morning hours. |
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Posts: 699
Location: Hugo, MN | After last season, I fish topwater each and every day because they work. The only time I have not had success is immediately after a nasty cold front. Then I go to the DDD |
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Posts: 367
Location: Chicago | When the water is wet. |
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Opener to ice up. |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | My thoughts were from 55 degrees to 65 degrees. I could see it working anytime if the fish are aggressive.
Before 55 degrees I like gliders and after 65 I like bucktails.
I would toss a creeper when its glider time and a topraider next to a bucktail anytime if the conditions were rite.
Topwater rocks.................Are you ready Sanks........ |
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Posts: 110
Location: Albertville, Minnesota | On Opener....
Chris |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | If you are not using topwater early in the year, you are costing yourself some fish. The fish don't read, and have no idea what rules we have placed on them as far as when they are "supposed to" eat topwater. |
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Posts: 26
Location: Chanhassen, MN | Have to agree from opener to end of season. |
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Posts: 45
Location: Brooklyn Park | I have to agree as well with opener to ice-up top water. scored a nice fat 36" on wisc river on opener with a Weagle
Brian Maxey
Muskie Fix Tackle Co.
www.muskiefix.com |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | When do I start?....Usually about the first cast, and until the last cast! Tradition says slow presentations in cold weather conditions. What is slower than many topwater presentations?
Edited by Steve Van Lieshout 5/17/2005 12:45 PM
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Posts: 2082
| I feel there are better options when the water is below 50 - but any time it is above 50 I always have one on a rod - walk the dog baits are my preference for water temps in the 50's
Justin |
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Posts: 103
Location: Miller time Wisconsin. | When you see baby ducks out swimmin around. After all, that is what you are trying to mimic. |
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The baby duck thing has been a standard for a very long time. I'd disagree, the muskies don't know or care when ducks hatch. Yes, they will eat what is there when it is there, but they simply are not intelligent enough to reject a topwater because it's too early for baby ducks to hatch. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | I used to think it had to be into the middle 50's. Not anymore. Anytime is good, especially if conditions seem right for topwater. I also feel that any time that I am fishing water 3' or less, topwater is as aplicable or more so, no matter the conditions or season. I was also skeptical about the weagle, but decided to get one in the off season, in trade for one of my Rylure globes with Muskyboy. Several big fish caught and seen on it already this season have made me a believer. The thing has been on fire this week. I can honestly say that I feel I have boated more fish on it this week than I would have on a jackpot due to its weight, and not getting 'blown out'. Getting action where I couldn't move anything when the money counted a week ago, makes me wish I would have used it in the Tourney here last weekend. |
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Posts: 4266
| I remember the Tuffy Rep told me to fish top-waters when the ducks hatch.....back in 1977 at a manufacturers tourney up on the Eagle River Chain.
I wonder whatever happened to that guy?
Beav |
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Posts: 59
Location: WI | Saturday morning, May 28th here in Wisconsin. |
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When do you start fishing topwater?