Be ready for fish breaking the surface; watch for the birds. This can happen right next to the boat. I have been scared right out of my skin a few times not expecting it then all of a sudden the lake comes to life.

A Top water presentation is virtually guaranteed to draw a strike. I think that you will find out that is the best fishing in the world, nothing can get that heart started any better than have a eight Pound Bass Hog explode on the surface after your lure. It looks like someone threw in a 55 gallon drum on top of your lure.

You will hear every fishing person tell you to wait until you feel the fish before setting the hook and sometimes I do and other times I hit him right off the bat. As time goes by, you will make your own decision on when to set the hook.

Here is another short story while we are on Top water Baits.

By now everyone knows that I fish PickWick Lake in Tennessee a lot, but in May they have what they call May flies that come out and I can not tell you the thousand that are found on trees and the top of the water.

Well, I had a buddy that I was showing how to fish and I knew he would get all excited if I showed him a big bass, so I told him to look under that little tree. There was at least a six pound bass laying

under it and I was going to let him have a shot at it. 

I knew what was going to happen. He got so excited that when he casted it landed in the tree and he began to jerk it back and then all the May Flies fell in the water and were creating a lot of top water action. I threw a Buzzbait in there and caught the fish. I had heck to pay for that, but we were fishing a tournament and we both got credit for that fish.

What Kind of Top Water Bait Should I Use?

There are a million Top Water Baits on the market made by everyone. My best advice is trial and error. I will give you some of the ones that I would start off with to pursue the bass hog.

Jitter Bug, Devil Horse which is a Prop Bait with a small Prop in the front and back of the lure, Hula Popper(Chug Bait), Zara Spook, Floating minnows, Tiny Torpedo, BuzzBait and now they have them double and triple blades.

Later, on the website, I will break down the baits a little better, but this will get you out there in search of that hog.

Good Luck

Keep the Hooks Wet

Steve McGoldrick