Topwater Smallies

[rebell]

With the rivers blown out, I decided to go through my bass tackle and start getting organized for this spring. When I got in to my topwater baits I was thinking that I have spent a lot of money on baits that simply have not produced for me. The last couple of years I have tried topwater fishing for smallies on the river more and more. There is nothing better than having smallmouth blow up on a Zara Spook. So I thought I might get some opinions on what everyones favorite topwaters for the river were.

I love Zara Spooks!! So let's here what your favorite topwater bait is for those river smallies!

[MonkeyBoy]

Gotta be the spooks! I would have to also include Rico's and Lucky Craft products! Gotta love them bustin smallies!

[BuKuBass]

Tiny Torpedo! To call the big boys, rip it a few times then let it sit. Also, I've watched them track it while it's still in flight and hit it before it lands.
Dang-nabit rebell; now you've got me drooling on my keyboard.

[rebell]

Now you know what I was doing most of the afternoon BuKubass, drooling all over my bass tackle.

I can't wait to do some smallie fishing! I am going to go nut's if I can't get out and catch some smallies soon. I guess for now I am going to have to travel down to GP and do some largemouth fishing.

[bucketmouth]

Spooks are great on the River. I have had success with pop-r's on lakes but not as much on the river. Another River topwater I really like is the minnow imitating Rapala #9 or 11.

[shalom]

I like the Zara Spook JR., I have had my best luck with the smaller size. I have been told that the Zara Spook is not to big, but I don’t have the confidence to fish it enough to catch fish ..I agree with BUCKETMOUTH that POP-R- are a great top water bait .

[rebell]

shalom, You have an email from me.

I need directions to the meeting this wed.

Rusty

[Airborne]

Hula-Popper and most any Buzz Baits, really though I have caught bass on all of my top water baits I seem to pick the one to use depending on the locations and the type of water, like if it is open I will throw a Spook or a Hula-Popper, If it is choked or a lot of pads my go to bait is Mister Twister Hawg Frogs they are DEADLY. I love Bass fishing and had the chance to fish with Bucket Mouth & Mbass last year out of Hebb Park. Had a great time a lots of fish. I relly want to fish with Wannabe sometime, I always get good Intel from him while he is at work....

[ 02-01-2004, 11:06 PM: Message edited by: Airborne ]

[Wannabe]

I too went through the tackle this weekend. Organized all the boxes...even labeled them!! Put most of the hard baits in waterproof boxes. Retied spinnerbaits...made jigs. I don't know if I've been this organized in years.
I would have to pick the ol "Super Spook" and then the "Spit'n Image Jr". My favorite is when you see several spots or smallies all trying to get your bait and you just keep waiting to "Feel the Weight"....OH Yeah!!
&lt))><

[BuKuBass]

re: hardbait storage
What has worked well for me is putting them into Plano 3701 (14x9x1 3/8) utility boxes in the following categories: top-water, suspending jerk, -4' (runs four foot deep and less), -8', +8'. I write the maximum depth acheived with a magic marker on the bill. A 3704 (same dimensions) holds the spinner and buzz baits. All six boxes fit into a tackle satchel made by Cabela's for the 3700 series.
For wading and pontooning I use a http://www.basspro-shops.com/servlet...rTarget=browse
which holds four Plano 3500s as well as lots of other gear including an insulated pouch for drink. By using different 3500s, I can tailor the chest pack for different species.

[salmurai]

Tiny Torpedoes! The smallmouth love 'em. Plano 3700 series are great for tackle. I've been packing mine around in a rectangular bottom athletic bag I picked up at K-mart for around twenty bucks. It will hold about fifteen 3700s and it also has end pockets for other stuff. K-mart also markets a Plano bag which holds six 3700s. Just right for day trips.

[SCUTZ ZA]

Rapala skitterpop in frog pattern works well in all water situations. Also pop-r's, however I like the action of the Skitterpop the best. This talk is makin me crazy. I want to fish now.

[Tanner]

My all time favorite is a Hard Bodied Popper on my 6 weight flyrod. I tear up the smallies on those. In late summer I even use them in the evenings on the lower Willamette around Cedar Oak and do real well. White with grey scale anjd black hackle with white wings is the preffered pattern when the sky is clear.

[squirrel fisher]

Bomber long a rainbow trout on brownlee when no wind and setting sun temp water 53 and above. Hard to beat when there is brown ball of smallies waiting for the next twitch and they explode on the bait. I have caught smallies on all baits that have been talked about.Love those brown fish when they hit on top.

[Sublime]

I'd have to second the Zara Spook.

[Wreckless]

I love the Rapala skitter pop, but since I put a crow bar in my wallet and bought a "Dog X", I find that I don't use my spooks much.

I know this goes against the grain of the "bassin' guy" with 825,487,462 lures, but I have 1 Dog X and I've caught Smallmouth and Largemouth every where from Eagle lakes Wa., the John Day (upper & lower), the Willamette / Columbia and Hagg, all on the same lure.

My $.02 (worth every penny!! [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] )

[shalom]

I have never heard of a DOG- X topwater . I will have to look in BASS- PRO .

[MarlinMark]

Wreckless- would you purchase another Dog-X tomorrow if you lost your one? What color pattern do you have?

Mark