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Posts: 129
| Been a hardcore fisherman for 40 years and love topwater for FW bass and SW stripers. I've spent 90% of the last 5 years targeting muskies. I've had good results catching a respectable number of fish in various lakes and rivers on bucktails, gliders and bulldawgs mostly, so I know the waters have fish and know where to target them. I've thrown whopper ploppers and big spooks in the a.m. the p.m. and in the dark but just cant seem to even move a fish let alone catch one. Seems like the fish love topwater in the midwest but not having any luck in the northeast.
Any experiences or insights on how to improve my topwater game for muskies would be appreciated. Thanks
Edited by Mike D 2/18/2014 4:24 AM
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Posts: 42
Location: Pewaukee Lake | My best topwater action consistently takes place when water temps are between 63-70. Don't be afraid to stay out into the night or get out a couple hrs before daylight. Boat traffic will be minimal so take your time and pick apart those high percentage classic spots with a variety of topwater presentations. |
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Posts: 1106
Location: Muskegon Michigan | My two most productive top water lures are as follows , first the Ace Scooter in a green frog. This lure shines during the duck and goose hatch periods. When baby ducks are swimming around throw those prop baits. My overall best producer is an older Cady Weagle (Maple 4.8 ounce) It barely floats and forces me to slow the cadence down to what has been called the death march. This lure moves so much water and makes a very distinct swooshing sound. I would say it mimics a dying or floundering fish on the surface. I have caught over 80 Muskies on that one Weagle. I have tried others that were lighter, different wood types, copies and such but that one lure has never left my front line. I have owned 50 or more side to side top water baits and none have even come close to the productivity of that one Weagle. The original finish was gone by about the 40th fish and I had to repaint it in the same orange belly perch and it keeps on doing the job. I kept the weight exactly 4.8 ounces. To me this one lure is priceless. Ill never sell it, trade it or modify it. I would look for one of those 4.8 ounce models. Get a couple Ace scooters in the Green Frog pattern with the green and white tail. Good luck
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Posts: 24
| Usually i get atleast one to hit a topraider early in the morning casting shallow weedbeds or tight to shorelines. Towards dark casting bullrushes with topraiders works too. |
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Posts: 275
| I'm no expert by any means, but I would say....Don't be afraid to throw topwaters throughout the day for muskies. Although it's a great low light tactic, don't get too hung up on the low light periods only for topwater. I catch my fair share of muskies on top raiders and hawg wobblers mid-day.
Jaimy |
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Posts: 574
| It's more about water temp than anything for me..
I have the most luck with tail rotating baits like a top raider or Lee's chopper once the water gets near 70 in spring, and down to near 60 in fall.. Not saying they wont or cant eat them other times, but this is just when they seem to be most effective for me.
Hawg wobbler slyle baits like itself, and the Top H2o seem to work a little earlier in the year than the tail rotators.. I've had pretty good luck on them on a few different lakes in as cold as 58 degree water in spring..
I pretty much stop using these at turnover..
Keep throwing them, it will happen..
Good luck. |
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| Kingfisher - 2/18/2014 7:48 AM
My two most productive top water lures are as follows , first the Ace Scooter in a green frog. This lure shines during the duck and goose hatch periods. When baby ducks are swimming around throw those prop baits. My overall best producer is an older Cady Weagle (Maple 4.8 ounce) It barely floats and forces me to slow the cadence down to what has been called the death march. This lure moves so much water and makes a very distinct swooshing sound. I would say it mimics a dying or floundering fish on the surface. I have caught over 80 Muskies on that one Weagle. I have tried others that were lighter, different wood types, copies and such but that one lure has never left my front line. I have owned 50 or more side to side top water baits and none have even come close to the productivity of that one Weagle. The original finish was gone by about the 40th fish and I had to repaint it in the same orange belly perch and it keeps on doing the job. I kept the weight exactly 4.8 ounces. To me this one lure is priceless. Ill never sell it, trade it or modify it. I would look for one of those 4.8 ounce models. Get a couple Ace scooters in the Green Frog pattern with the green and white tail. Good luck
is that 4.8 with all terminal tackle or just the lure body? |
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Posts: 9
Location: Hayward | For a long time I really struggled with topwater success. Obviously topwaters are more successful on some lakes compared to others. But I think we often forget to choose our topwaters based on the conditions. Too many topwaters get thrown into the same category "topwater". Unlike other lure categories topwaters clearly can only run one depth. So the only variables are speed, sound and profile. It sounds really simple minded but that's what it took to up my topwater game. Too often we hear of a topwater bite on lake X, get to the lake and snap on our favorite topwater lure without much thought. But rarely do you hear someone say there is a hot bucktail bite somewhere. What does that mean? Double Blades, single blades, hair, flashabou, fast, slow??? For whatever my 2 cents is worth topwater success relies on selecting the right topwater for the right situation. And as we all know that situation can change multiple times throughout the course of a day. Its one of the most exciting ways to catch a fish. I recently wrote an article on this topic regarding my learning curve to topwater success on another site. If your interested let me know. |
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Posts: 32
Location: Tower, Lake Vermilion | Lots of good information from the guys here but I just thought I would ad one thing here. After guiding on one of the best topwater lakes in Minnesota for 27 years the thing I see most anglers do wrong with a topwater bait, no matter the style. They just fish them to darn fast much of the time, if you slow it down you're success rate will go up. JMHO
"Ace" |
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Posts: 2686
Location: Hayward, WI | I'm not sure what to say other than keep chucking them and you'll probably have some luck. I've caught fish on top in clear and stained water. Most of my topwater use (and resulting success) has been on stained flowages where I'm fishing them in 2-6 feet of water. Some guys use them on suspended fish over 40 feet of water though too.
I'd offer the same advice as aceguide. I see a lot of guys burning in tail rotators. I tend to go the opposide direction with topwater and fish it painfully slow. I often fish a Pacemaker as slow as I can go and still make the tail plop. Also like Weagles and fish them pretty slow. I especially move them slow at night.
If nothing else, I don't have many fish totally whiff on the slow moving topwater baits.
The conditions I like best for topwater have been cloudy, calm, drizzly days on flowages over big weed flats during late August/early September when the water starts to cool down into the mid 70's and cooler. Almost a sure bet! |
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Posts: 129
| Thanks for all of the feedback. This gives me some new methods to focus on this year. |
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Posts: 243
| Find a good spot and take the dog for a walk at prime times. Active fish will pound it and neutral fish can become active quickly. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | Where in the northeast? I fish Topwater on 3 smaller rivers in Northern NY and do pretty well. Hit a 50" on a loon topraider couple years ago. |
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Posts: 572
| I'm learning to work the top water prop baits even slower than what I thought was slow. However, there are times where I like to rip those baits. I've gotten a few muskies attention by ripping, pausing, reeling fast, etc.
Regardless of the retrieve speed, after seeing a muskie following a prop bait, a quick pause or hesitation may trigger the muskie to strike. I get excited just thinking about it. |
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