Hard Baits – 2nd of a 2-part series:
Topwaters
POPPERS: are excellent tools to locate fish that are in stained or muddy waters
Characteristics:
- Multiple treble hooks
- A carved or hollowed-out recess area where the line attaches to the lure itself (no bill)
- Always buoyant
- Colors & patterns to imitate baitfish
Applications: Used by casting out at a great distance to keep the boat from spooking the fish. Keeping the rod tip in the 9 o’clock or 3 o’clock position to “pop” & pause to mimick an injured or struggling prey.
Things to look for when purchasing:
- Try to match the hatch in size and color to the predominant baitfish in your lake or river
- Some have bearings within to put a little “noise” in the water as well
- Many poppers will come with a feather arrangement in varying colors tied-on to the tail-end treble for added attraction!
- I like to pick up a package of “RED” treble hooks to replace the belly hook, as well, for even more added attraction!
Strike King Spit-N-King
WALKERS: Most often referred to as a “spook”… Used mostly in clear to slightly stained water by casting long and “walking” or Skipping the bait on top of the water with a side to side cadence and minimal pauses.
Always vary the speed of your retrieve until a bass tells you which speed it wants to chase!
Characteristics:
- Multiple treble hooks
- No bill
- Always buoyant
- Cigar-shaped to help keep the nose of the bait (where the tie-on is) out of the water to allow the bait to slide back & forth on top of the water with a walking motion.
- Try to match the hatch in size and color to the predominant baitfish in your lake or river.
- I like to pick up a package of “RED” treble hooks to replace the belly hook, as well, for even more added attraction!
Applications: Used by casting out and “walked” back via steady retrieve while working the bait with a subtle jerking or twitching motion of your rod to mimick an injured or struggling prey.
Typically retrieved with the rod tip in the 10/11 o’clock position to keep the lure nose riding above the surface.
Things to look for when purchasing:
- Try to match the species of the baitfish in your body of water when pickin’ out your walkers in both color and predominant size.
- Some will contain rattles as well for added attraction in stained or murky water. Check your packaging!
Heddon Zara Spook
Lucky Craft Sammy
PROPBAITS: are great to use in all water clarities, as they “gurgle” as they are retrieved, allowing the fish to hone-in on the noise and disruption of the water.
Characteristics:
- Small “airplane-like” props in front of, and behind the bait to offer attraction/commotion in the water as well as a constant “noise or gurgle”
- Buoyant with multiple treble hooks
- No bill… tie-on is located just ahead of the front “prop”
- Colors & patterns to imitate baitfish
Applications: Used by casting out and retrieved steadily, the fish will tell you what speed they want on any given day.
Things to look for when purchasing: Once again, I like to pick up a package of “RED” treble hooks to replace the belly hook for added attraction!
- Try to match the species of the baitfish in your body of water when pickin’ out your propbaits
Live Target Double Prop
Any questions? Just fire ‘em my way on the “Ask Brian” feature.
Next week, SPINNERBAITS!
Until then,
Stay warm & dry!
BasserMac
