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Location: Athens, Ohio | I was re-reading Jason Smith's excellent article on The Finer Points of Figure 8's in the articles section (glad y'all could save that gem for us!). He says he never lets his topwater bait go subsurface during a figure 8. I've been taking my topraider under and I'll admit to not hooking up with a fish using that method. What do you do? m |
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Posts: 222
Location: Hartland, WI | I use and believe in the under water figure eight with topraiders. My first fish of this season came on one. I was bringing my cast in after a long day on the water without seeing a fish. I did not figure 8 that cast and when I pulled the bait out of the water a good size fish came flying out of the water at my bait and missed. I threw a cast back out brought it to boat side and did not see anything following the bait in, but I decided to to figure 8 it anyway. The next thing I saw was flash and my rod doubled over. After a short at the boat fight I landed a 42.
I have since caght a few fish using this method. I would keep using it if I were you, and results will show. |
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Posts: 2378
| I will say that I generally go under that water, but I watched Dick Pearsons video this weekend and noticed that he keeps his bait on top.
I actually usually try to mix in both. Go under water at the boat and break the surface on the turns.
Edited by BALDY 12/21/2004 10:05 AM
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Posts: 1046
| 3 underwater figure 8`s this season on top-raiders( 1 was a super) I never 8 on the surface. Seems as soon as I go subsurface and that bubble trail starts, its all over! |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | Mikie,
Topwaters offer many chances to trigger a following fish, moreso than most baits because you can usually detect a follow further out.
Sticking to the boatside stuff though, I always go subsurface on my eights with topwater. After using all the triggers in the book before I get to the boat, I figure the best one left in the bag is submersing the lure. Not only does that present the bait right in front of the fishes yap, it also gives a direction change on a plain that you normally can't alter, except at boatside. There is also the possibility that the bubble trail created when submerging the bait could have some sort of additional trigger on the fish.
I usually dunk my topwater a few feet before the actual eight, that gives the bubble trail and depth change a chance to trigger the fish before going into the figure eight. I catch a ton of my topwater fish in this couple of feet between the topwater retrieve and the figure eight when the lure first goes under. Give it a shot, especially if what your doing now is not triggering them. |
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| I figure 8 on top two or three times, and then I go deeper and deeper until the fish hits or disappears. I have taken fish on the third underwater figure 8 on a Topraider.  |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | Thanks, guys. Norm, you bring up an interesting issue on change of plane. Jason notes that in his article when he's discussing Bucktails. When he comes to a corner of the 8, he raises his bait up in the water, giving it an 'escaping fish' look that will sometimes trigger. Perhaps the opposite will also work, a topwater prey diving down may look like it is diving for escape or cover? any more thoughts?
What factors would tell you to keep your bait up top? m |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | I start with an underwater, go around once, then start to bring it back up. I'll take it down again if neccessary. Quite often this year, the fish hit just as I brought it back to the top. I have really improved my success with tail baits taking them under. Other surface lureslike creepers, jackpots, some hawgwobbler types are useless underwater. For creepers I like to walk the fish around the boat a bit. |
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Location: Duluth, MN - Superior, WI | One thing I like to do with topwater prop baits and bucktails is, switch your bait from side to side. You must use a longer rod I us a 7’6” rod. This will slow down and speed up your bait. I think the most important is it stops a strait retrieve and helps setup your figure 8. The thing I like the most, is just before I get the bait to the boat I have it going across in front of me. Now I have an improved look than a strait retrieve for following fish. Use a longer rod will help out to a large extent in the figure 8. I always go subsurface two or three feet just before I get to the first turn. When I make my turns the bait will slowdown and start to rise to the surface when you move in the straightaway it will speed up. I think this is where most go wrong and try and keep the bait moving at the same speed. So when it slows down in the turn they speed up just in time for the strait run making the bait going faster now. Getting the fish excited and making the fish run out of room or off timing.
I get most of my hits when I turn the bait on my retrieve or just as the bait goes under water. I think it is the slowing down then the speeding up when you turn the lure that trigger the majority of fish.
-Corey
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Posts: 4266
| I take all of my flaptail/turd type lures for a ride under water all of the time.
Down on the straight aways, and up around the corners where I let them break water again tends to get their attention.
Beav
Edited by Beaver 12/21/2004 5:08 PM
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Posts: 2089
| Mikie,
Do you remember the 39 that ate the AHL Globe? Go under! Steve |
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